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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive


Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski
Radio Call Sign: November - Echo - Papa - November

Mackerel (AGSS-570)
T-1 (SST-1) / Mackerel (SST-1)


T-1 Class Submarine: Planned as Auxiliary Submarine (AGSS-570); Laid down, 1 April 1952, at Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT; Launched, 17 July 1953; Placed in service as T-1 (SST-1), 9 October 1953; Renamed Mackerel (SST-1), 15 July 1956; Commissioned USS Mackerel (SST-1) in 1971; Decommissioned, and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 31 January 1973, at Naval Station Key West, FL.; Final Disposition, sunk as a target off Puerto Rico, 18 October 1978.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 303 t., Submerged: 347 t.; Length 131' 3"; Beam 13' 7"; Draft 12' 2" (mean); Speed, Surfaced 10 kts, Submerged 10.5 kts; Complement 18; Armament, one 21" torpedo tube; Propulsion, diesel-electric, single screw.
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Mackerel
0857017
NR T-1 (SST-1) originally planned as AGSS-570 was laid down 1 April 1952 at Groton, Conn., by the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp.; launched 17 July 1953 & sponsored by Mrs. Charles R. Muir.
As of yet, I haven't found a photo of her, but this is close, there is even a photo of a boat & water!
Text courtesy of DANFS.
Mackerel 2.30k T-1 is reached as the the countdown ends and the submarine T-1 (SST-1) hits the water at Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT., 17 July 1953. USN photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
Mackerel81kLots of children dream of participating in the launching of a real submarine. Some times that wish becomes true. John Robison is the 10 year old that is standing third from the rear of the conning tower as the T-1 (SST-1) floats on the Thames River at Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT., 17 July 1953.
The fleet boat in the background is the Cobia (SS-245).
Official USN photo, courtesy of Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp.
Photo submitted in memory of Clifford E. Robison, Electric Boat Co, by John Robison.
Mackerel1.14kThe T-1 (SST-1), bow view 45 degrees, 12 October 1953. Photographed by Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp, Groton, Connecticut. Small in size but large in responsibility, the Navy's T-1 will act as a target for anti-submarine forces. Only 131 feet long and 250 tons as compared to the 1500 tons of conventional size sub, the T-1 carries the same general equipment as her sisters but carries a crew of sixteen. Photo # USN 630975, courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, via flickr.com.
Mackerel 608k T-1 (SST-1), broadside view, at Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT.,12 October 1953. US National Archives photo # 80-G-199151, from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Mackerel133kThe T-1 (SST-1), shown here three days after her commissioning at Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT.,12 October 1953.USN photo.
Dogfish, T1 & T236kThe Dogfish (SS-350) with T-1 (SST-1) inboard & Marlin (SST-2) outboard, circa post 1953.USN photo courtesy of Electric Boat / ussdogfish.com.
Mackerel415kNew London, CT., 23 January 1954. Target sub dwarfed by conventional sub, Barb (SS-220)
Moored at the Navy's submarine base here, the little T-1 (T stands for target) is a product of the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp, Groton CT. The little boats job is to work with the antisubmarine forces, as a target for them, and also as an experimental vessel, to try out some ideas the Navy has. The T-1 has a carefully selected crew of 14 enlisted men and two officers. She holds within her 131 feet of length the same general machinery and equipment as the GUPPY submarines more than twice her length and displaces 250 tons to the conventional submarines 1500.
A.P. Wirephoto courtesy of David Buell.
Mackerel
0857016
NR 137 Foot Sub, Navy's Tiniest, Turns Up New Combat Ideas
New London, Conn.: Crewmen work on the deck of the submarine T-1 (SST-1) as she pulls away from the dock at the sub base. The T-1 holds within her 131 feet the same general machinery and equipment as the Guppy submarines more than twice her length, and displaces 250 tons to the conventional submarine's 1,500 tons. Her job is to work with the anti-submarine forces as a target for them, and also an experimental vessel to try out the Navy’s latest ideas.
A.P. Wirephoto
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 24 January 1954, Image 2, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Mackerel NR Midget Submarine Goes To Charleston Yard For Overhaul
GOES TO YARD—One of the U.S. Navy’s smallest submarines, the T-1 (SST-1), departed from the Key West area Monday afternoon for Charleston, S. C. Under the command of Lt. J. M. Snyder, Jr.. USN, the T boat will undergo overhaul at the Charleston Navy Yard and will re- turn here in December. The T-1 is a unit of Submarine Squadron 12.
Official U.S. Navy Photo.
Image and text provided by University of Florida.
Photo from The Key West Citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 05 October 1954, Image 8, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Mackerel25k The Mackerel (SST-1) in the Cooper River at the Charleston S.C. Naval shipyard. The Mackerel was at the yard for repairs to the hull in October of 1954. The hull was coated with neoprene rubber to protect from the corrosion. This was a major project for the paint shop.USN photo courtesy of Robert Hall.
Mackerel71kThe Mackerel (SST-1) at Naval Base Mayport Fla. in mid to late 1975.Photo owned & copyrighted courtesy of Bob Royes.
Medregal726kFrom left to right:Mackerel (SST-1), unknown, Medregal (SS-480), Batfish (SS-310) & Chivo (SS-341) at Key West, 1955.Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Chivo 82k Mackerel (SST-1) & Chivo (SS-341) on the way to Gulfport Mississippi, January / February 1957. Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Trutta 205k Ceremony for 4 boats at a pier in sea major.
Sealion (APSS-315), centre, with Trutta (SS-421), at left, alongside unidentified tender, and Sea Cat (SS-399), at right. The small boat at the other pier is the Mackerel (SST-1).
I believe this to be a Change of Command for the Commanding Officer of the submarine squadron, not just the Sealion. All of the boats have their crews topside and in whites, including the tender on the far left of the photo. This indicates something larger than just the Sealion. They used her deck to set up the podiums because she has the largest deck aft of the conning tower. Her deck was expanded during her amphibious conversion.
The Sealion would have left Key West not long after this photo was taken, for decommissioning in Philadelphia, so it is unlikely that she would be having a CoC at that time.
Photo i.d. & text courtesy of Ric Hedman & David Johnston.
Photo # MM00041228x by Don Pinder from the Ida Woodward Baron Collection in the Florida Keys Public Library via flickr.com courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Thornback 651k Birds of a feather not all flocking together: Mackerel (SST-1), Thornback (SS-418), Clamagore (SS-343) & Chivo (SS-341) with the Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16) in the distance. Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Mackerel70kSquadron 12, Key West Fla, in Mid 60's: Marlin (SST-2) and Mackerel (SST-1).Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Mackerel577kMackerel (SST-1) in dry dock to get wheels installed. Wright Langley Collection. Florida Keys Public Libraries. Image # MM00046504x courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Mackerel337kNo trouble finding parking on the bottom for the Mackerel (SST-1) in dry dock with wheels installed. Photo courtesy of Wright Langley collection. Florida Keys Public Libraries. Photo # MM00046587x via Robert Hurst.
Mackerel302kMackerel (SST-1) inboard, and Marlin (SST-2).Photo # MM0000New-T8 from the Ida Woodward Baron Collection in the Florida Keys Public Library via flickr.com courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Mackerel134kThis boat is Mackerel (SST-1) or Marlin (SST-2) and was probably taken at Key West. It could have been taken at one of two of the following periods; in June/July 1967 Mackerel had "special equipment" removed from her during this drydocking, equipment that had been used to prove concepts for the NR-1. It looks as if most of the aft superstructure has been removed. It is also possible that the photo was taken shortly after her decommissioning on 03 January 1973. She may be undergoing preps for disposal.
Marlin was preserved for museum donation and retained her superstructure.
USN photograph courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Photo i.d. courtesy of Ric Hedman & David Johnston.
Text i.d. courtesy of David Johnston.
Marlin349kCutlass (SS-478), Trutta (SS-421), Odax (SS-484),Tirante (SS-420), Marlin (SST-2) & Mackerel (SST-1), alongside for inspection. Wright Langley Collection. Florida Keys Public Libraries. Photo # MM00046694x. via Robert Hurst.
Marlin338kMarlin (SST-2) and the Mackerel (SST-1) in the floating drydock at the Naval Station Key West on 23 January 1973. Photo MM00003290x from the Ida Woodward Barron Collection, Florida Keys Public Libraries via flickr.com courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Marlin216kThe Marlin (SST-2), the T-1 and the Quillback (SS-424) at the pier at the Naval Station Key West in March 1973. Photo from the Ida Woodward Baron Collection in the Florida Keys Public Library via flickr.com courtesy of Steven Gower.
Mackerel49kModel of the Mackerel (SST-1).Courtesy of Rick Spector.
Mackerel71kThe Mackerel (SST-1) at Naval Base Mayport Fla. in mid to late 1975.Photo owned & copyrighted courtesy of Bob Royes.

View the T-1/Mackerel (SST-1)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

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USS Mackerel (SST-1)

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