NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
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Drum (SS-228) (AGSS-228)
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| Click On Image For Full Size | Size | Image Description | Source | |
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341k | The Grayling (SS-209) is shown inside the old erection shed at Portsmouth just before her launching on 4 September 1940. The more leisurely building schedules prior to the war permitted the boats to be brought to an advanced stage of construction before they were launched. The Drum (SS-228) is under construction on the adjacent ways to the left. |
Photo i.d. courtesy of David Buell & Ric Hedman. Text & USN photo courtesy of The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy: A Design and Construction History by John D. Alden. | |
 | 39k | Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of the Drum's (SS-228) keel laying ceremony, 11 September 1940, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME. | Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory). | |
 0822829 |
NR | New Sub Launched The Drum (SS-228) slides down the ways at Portsmouth Navy Yard. The 35th submarine built there. Mrs. Thomas Holcomb, wife of Gen. Holcomb, commandant of the U. S. Marine Corps, acted as sponsor for the undersea boat. | Image and text provided by Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records; Phoenix, AZ. Photo from Nogales International. [volume] (Nogales, Ariz.) 1926-1979, 31 May 1941, Image 2, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. Insert image via findagrave.com |
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 | 162k | Drum (SS-228) sliding down the lauching ways at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME, 12 May 1941. | USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org. | |
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683k | Drum (SS-228) gets a tug at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME, 12 May 1941. | Photo # 08 # _06_023286 & 87, courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection via Sean Hert & flickr.com. | |
 | 25k | Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of the Drum's (SS-228) launching, 12 May 1941, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME. | Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory). | |
 | 25k | Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of the Drum's (SS-228) commissioning on 1 November 1941, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME. | Courtesy of petloveshack.com. | |
 | 507k | Drum (SS-228) made her fifth war patrol between 24 March and 13 May 1943,
searching the waters south of Truk after she had made a photographic reconnaissance of Nauru. She sank two freighters in April, then refitted at Brisbane, Australia. She is seen here off the Australian coast on 4 June 1943, 3 days before her next war patrol. | Text courtesy of DANFS. USN photo # 80-G-394380 by Cdr. Edward J. Steichen, from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. |
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256k | The cargo ship Nisshun Maru as she settles in the water after being torpedoed by Drum (SS-228) near the equator, 18 April 1943. | Image from United States Submarine Operations in World War II, by Theodore Roscoe via Robert Hurst. | |
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640k | Photo caption reads: Submarines refitting alongside Fulton (AS-11) in the Brisbane River. A torpedo is being loaded onto one, and bridge modifications to reduce silhouette are in progress on another. Boat #1: Grouper (SS-214), Boat #2: Peto (SS-265), Boat #3: Scamp (SS-277), Boat #4: Albacore (SS-218), Boat #5: Drum (SS-228), 4-7 June, 1943. EB plan 2053-29, and BuShips plan 388778. Its a general outboard arrangement for SS-214-221 and SS-253-254. It shows very plainly that boats from SS-214 onwards only had the one small boat locker. Grouper only had the one small boat locker offset to port, but she carried the bulge to starboard as if she had one there too, only she didn't! The plan very clearly shows the bulge to starboard for Grouper, but then states, "DECKLINE FOR SS-214 ONLY." Grouper being modified with her bridge being cut down after her May 29 return from patrol with a high fairwater as in the US Subs Down Under photo, which would explain the whitish look to her bridge face; it was probably primer or wet paint. The bulge to starboard that I originally thought indicated either Gato (SS-212) or Greenling (SS-213) is there, but there just isn't any locker beneath it! Why EB built Grouper like this is anyone's guess. Perhaps when the change order came, construction on Grouper was already too far ahead to stop and re-contour the deck casing? EB wasn't known for deviating from the plans lightly, so perhaps this was the best the Navy could get out of them? They then went to the single locker and no starboard bulge of any kind starting with Growler (SS-215). This might explain why the Manitowoc boats had the single locker, too, since their contract was to build copies of Growler herself, portholes in the bridge face notwithstanding. EB initially resisted pressure from the Navy to alter the plans, citing concerns about delays in production if they did. What they were really worried about was making a profit, each little change cost more and ate into their profit margin. This attitude was somewhat understandable, as EB is a civilian company and they existed to make a profit for their shareholders. However, EB's intransigence got so bad that the Bureau of Ships had to threaten the company with making them build the boats to the Government plans supplied by Portsmouth, wiping out their design capability, which would have put them in a very bad spot commercially after the war. EB backed off when they realized how serious the Bureau was. They took on a whole new attitude and their resistance to change quickly evaporated. What you are seeing with Grouper is an outgrowth of this situation. As part of an attempt to eliminate what the Bureau thought was "frivolous" peacetime equipment on the boats, an order was issued on 10 May 1942 to eliminate the motorboat. This was the official order that legitimized a practice that was already going on in the fleet. Many of the submarines beached the motorboat(s) between patrols as it became clear that they were just not needed anymore. Grouper was probably built with the original capacity of having two boats, as was the original intent for the Gato class. But she may have only gotten one boat when she was finished. Albacore's patrol report backs up her being Boat #4. It reads, in part, "Major items accomplished during refit - alteration of bridge superstructure for mounting additional 20 mm gun." This was for her refit between 27 May and 10 June, 1943, so the dates connect up nicely with the photo. Either way, the dates look solid, and the activity in the photo looks like a June, 1943, photo. Peto would depart on patrol on June 13th, so the boxes on her foredeck are probably supplies being loaded up. |
Photo i.d. & text courtesy of Robert Morgan & David Johnston.(USNR). Photo courtesy of Robert Morgan courtesy of US Subs Down Under, 1942-1945 by David Jones & Peter Nunan. |
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391k | The boats shown are all Gato's. Boat #1: Grouper (SS-214), Boat #2: Peto (SS-265), Boat #3: Scamp (SS-277), Boat #4: Albacore (SS-218), Boat #5: Drum (SS-228), 4-7 June, 1943. |
Photo i.d. & text courtesy of David Johnston.(USNR). Photo courtesy of Gerhard Mueller-Debus via Gary Priolo. |
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 | 112k | Only the periscope and periscope shear are seen after Drum (SS-228) conducted a crash dive on 22 March 1944 after her overhaul at Mare Island. | USN photo # 1890-44, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 352k | Stern view of the Drum (SS-228) off Mare Island on 22 March 1944. | USN photo # 1892-44, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 162k | Broadside view of the Drum (SS-228) off Mare Island on 22 March 1944. She was in overhaul at the shipyard from 16 January until 21 March 1944. | USN photo # 1895-44, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
0822812 |
786k | The Drum (SS-228) was commanded by Maurice H. Rindskopf from 01.06.1944 15.11.1944. He was the youngest commander of an American fleet submarine during World War II. He commanmded the Drum on her 10th & 11th patrols. | Official US Navy photo of RADM Maurice H. Rindskopf, dated 16 July 1967, from the files of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum courtesy of Darryl L. Baker & Wolfgang Hechler. | |
 | 139k | Bow view & crew of the Drum (SS-228), entering Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, circa 1941-45. | USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org. | |
 | 111k | Twin 20mm mount on Drum (SS-228) on the 'cigarette deck' aft of the bridge, circa 1943-45. The object on the pedestal just forward of the guns is the torpedo bearing transmitter. | USN photo, text courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired). | |
 | 497k | Bow view of Drum (SS-228) 3 July 1945 at Mare Island, California. | USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
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58k | Seven decommissioned subs berthed at New London, 1946. The second sub is the Dace (SS-247). What looks like the Drum (SS-228) lies to the port side of the Dace, with what looks to be the Lapon (SS-260) beyond her. | USN photo courtesy of sealeopard.com. | |
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476k | Bow view of submarines post WW II at New London, Conn. From inboard to outboard are six boats, four identified by hull numbers: Drum (SS-228), Halibut (SS-232), Haddo (SS-255) and Paddle (SS-263). Outboard of her are two numberless boats. All the boats are decommissioned: none are flying colors or union jack. Date is after 16 February 1946 when Drum was decommissioned and before Halibut was sold for scrap on 10 January 1947. Halibut had suffered major damage by the Japanese and was considered beyond economical repair. She is the only one of the group not freshly painted, and has been stripped of deck guns and other gear, probably in preparation for sale. The outboard boat has a small pennant flying from her jackstaff. The boats in commission popped up with numbers right away soon after VJ Day, so the outboard boats may just be getting painted up in Haze Grey in preparation for mothballing, with the numbers to follow. These two boats are older EB-built boats. The inboard of the two numberless boats is likely the Gabilan (SS-252). It has a very distinct cutdown of the fairwater. The only similar picture I could find is the Gabilan (look at the last pic from the bottom of the Gabilan page). Same bridge cut down low like most other Gato's but the sides of the wagon train were not cut out so it is solid, not open like most other Gato's that were cut down that low. Also location of SJ and SD radar antennas is the same as the latest pic of Gabilan . Also venturi looks the same. Gabilan was decommissioned in 1946 and laid up at New London which would match the timing and location. |
USN photo & text courtesy of David Buell. Photo i.d. & text courtesy of John Hart. |
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380k | Stern view of submarines post WW II at New London, Conn. From inboard to outboard is the reverse of the above. |
USN photo & text courtesy of David Buell. Photo i.d. & text courtesy of John Hart. |
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279k | Line up of decommissioned subs at Groton, CT., circa 1947. From left to right:Archerfish (SS-311), Flasher (SS-249), Cobia (SS-245), Croaker (SS-246), Drum (SS-228) & what looks like the Cavalla (SS-244). | USN photo courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory). Photo i.d. courtesy of Ric Hedman. |
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 0822832 |
NR | SUB HAS PROUD WAR RECORD —Lt. Comdr. Frank Alvis, commanding officer of the submarine Drum (SS-228), which will serve as a training vessel for Naval Reservists here, points out its war record flag to John McNelis (center), 6041 street N.E., and Patrick W. Zilliacus, 5001 Thirty-seventh place, Hyattsville, Md., both torpedoman's mates 2/c. | Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo & text by Evening Star. Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 19 March 1947, Image 5, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 0822831 |
NR | Submarine 'Classroom One night a week, members of the Potomac River Naval Command Organized Reserve, submarine division, muster on the deck of the Drum (SS-228), moored at the naval gun factory. Divided into lecture groups, they study all phases of underwater operation. The Drum is stripped of diving gear at present, so battle drill problems are "dry runs. Plans call for training cruises with full equipment in the future. The permanent staff of the Drum comprises 10 shipkeepers, Naval Reservists who returned to active duty at their own request... | Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo & text by Evening Star. Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 20 April 1947, Image 115, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 | NR | Gun Factory Sub 'Sinks' Three Ships
in Atlantic Naval Reserve trainees ready the submarine Drum (SS-228) for a mock dive at the Naval Gun Factory. The three reserve sailors, all 18, are being instructed here bv Lt. William B. Van Dusen, 4330 East-West highway, Bethesda. They are (left to right): George Dean. 2203 Channing street N.E.; William Bowles, 3269 Queenstown drive, Mount Rainier, and William Nesbitt, 14 East Woodbine street, Chevy Chase, Md. | Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo & text by Evening Star. Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 23 May 1950, Image 23, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 0822824 |
3.32k | Drum (SS-228) at the Washington, Navy Yard in 1967. | USNHC 79763 photo courtesy of Pim van Wijngaarden. | |
 | 294k | Picture from Norfolk Naval Shipyard newspaper of 25 April 1969. Show shop 38 (Marine Machinist) and shop 72 (Rigger) installing 5"/25 deck gun aboard Drum (SS-228) in preparation for the boats trip to the Park, Mobile, Alabama. | U.S. Navy photo, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 343k | Pages 4 & 5 of the Drum (SSN-677) Commissioning Program covering the history and picture of the World War II submarine Drum (SS-228). | USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 668k | CDR James Willis (CO, Drum (SSN-677)) presented plaques following the commissioning to RADM Maurice H. Rindskopf, commissioning speaker and former CO of Drum (SS-228), and Capt. Newton B. Foss who accepted the plaque in behalf of the ship's sponsor Mrs. Henry Bringle. | USN photo # 110102-4-72 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 114k | Builder's plaque (Fleet Introduction Site) on display during the commissioning ceremonies for the Drum (SSN-677) on 15 April 1972 at Mare Island, detailing the history of the first Drum (SS-228) and her awards. | USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 41k | Drum (SS-228), dockside at Mobile, Alabama. | Courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired). | |
 | 147k | Deck of the Drum (SS-228) dockside at Mobile, Alabama. | Courtesy of Judson Phillips. | |
 | 142k | Very deteriorated stern section of the Drum (SS-228) at Mobile, Alabama. | Courtesy of Judson Phillips. | |
 | 127k | Drum (SS-228) in her shoreside cradle. | Courtesy of Jim Richardson. | |
 | 170k | Main hydraulic control manifolds of the Drum (SS-228). | Courtesy of Jim Richardson. | |
 | 160k | This photo of the Drum (SS-228) shows the advanced state of rust which has opened up on the starboard aft side of the boat, 28 January 2004. | Courtesy of Jim Richardson. | |
 | 168k | Aft torpedo tubes of the Drum (SS-228). | Courtesy of Jim Richardson. | |
 | 136k | Diesel engine of the Drum (SS-228) with the cut open top revealing the rocker arms. | Courtesy of Jim Richardson. Text courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired). | |
 | 107k | Drum's (SS-228) forward engine room. | Courtesy of Jim Richardson. Text courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired). | |
 | 45k | Starboard bow of the Drum (SS-228) in her shoreside cradle, 3 March 2004. | Courtesy of Eric Dahlstrom. | |
 | 47k | Port quarter view the Drum (SS-228) in her shoreside cradle, 3 March 2004. | Courtesy of Eric Dahlstrom. | |
 | 150k | Information Systems Technician 1st Class Joshua Shepard works inside a torpedo tube aboard the decommissioned World War II-era diesel submarine Drum (SS-228) to help prepare the submarine for the film "USS Seaviper." Mighty Moments Motion Pictures began filming in March 2009. U.S. submarines – which made up only 2 percent of the U.S. fleet during the war – were responsible for 65 percent of all Japanese ships sunk. Drum sank 15 enemy ships. | USN photo # N-2555N-313 by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alec J. Noe, courtesy of navy.mil. | |
 | 179k | This photo of the Drum (SS-228) shows the advanced state of rust which has opened up on the starboard bow side of the boat, 28 January 2004. Note: Due to the TLC of Tom Bowser and Lesley Waters, along with other volunteer workers, the boat is becoming ship shape again, as is evidenced by photos like this & it has been restored beautifully. For more info, see drum228 restoration | Courtesy of Jim Richardson. Insert photo via David Upton. | |
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