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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive


Patch on left contributed by Harold F.(Carl) Carlson, on right by Mike Smolinski

Hoe (SS-258)

Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Zulu - Golf

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (7) - World War II Victory Medal

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 2 January 1942, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 17 September 1942; Commissioned USS Hoe (SS-258), 16 December 1942; On 23 February 1945, collided with Flounder SS-251 off Indochina, while steaming at a depth of 60 feet, with light damage; Decommissioned, 7 August 1946, at New London, CT.; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, New London; Placed in service in September 1956 as a Naval Reserve Training Vessel in the 3rd Naval District; Placed out of service, 15 April 1960; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 May 1960; Sold 8-23-60 to Lancet Inc., Boston, MA for $ 66,689.00. Removed 9-10-60. Hoe received 7 battle stars for World War II service.
Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves (of blessed memory) & Yves Hubert.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,424 t.; Length 311' 9"; Beam 27' 3"; Draft 15' 3"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Complement 6 Officers 54 Enlisted; Operating Depth, 300 ft; Submerged Endurance, 48 hrs at 2 kts; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10 kts; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 3"/50 deck gun, two .50 cal. machine guns, two .30 cal. machine guns; Propulsion, diesel electric reduction gear with four Hoover, Owens, Rentschler Co. main generator diesel engines, 5,400HP, Fuel Capacity, 97,140 gal., four Allis Chalmers Manufacturing Co. main motors, 2,740HP, two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin screws.
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Hoe17k Postal cover marking the keel laying of the Hoe (SS-258), 2 January 1942, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Hoe68k Postal cover marking the launching of the Hoe (SS-258) on 17 September 1942 at Electric Boat. courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Hoe22k Postal cover marking Hoe's (SS-258) first day in commission, 16 December 1942. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Hoe17k Postal cover marking Hoe's (SS-258) first day in commission, 16 December 1942. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Hoe79kHoe (SS-258) underway, 16 February 1943.USN photo from "U.S. Warships of World War Two". Courtesy of Mike Green.
Hoe460kMeet the XO and CO of the newly re-commissioned Fulton (AS-11). The photo was taken at Mare Island on 10 April 1951. To the right is XO CDR Thomas H. Kimmel and left is the CO Capt. Victor B. McCrea. Both had interesting WWII experience: Capt. McCrea earned the Navy Cross as CO of the Hoe (SS-258) from 1/26/44 to 3/5/44 during her third war patrol. CDR Kimmel earned the Bronze Star with "V" as XO of the Bergall (SS-320) from 9/8/44 to 11/8/44. He later commands Bergall from 9/17/45 to 3/20/48. Photo courtesy of Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Hoe227kBroadside view of Hoe (SS-258) off Mare Island on 20 June 1945. She was in overhaul at the yard from 14 April to 5 July 1945. USN photo # 4672-45, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Hoe368k Broadside view of Hoe (SS-258) departing Mare Island on 20 June 1945. USN photo # 4671-45, courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Hoe168k Stern view of Hoe (SS-258) departing Mare Island on 20 June 1945. USN photo # 4670-45, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Hoe105k At Mare Island on 20 June 1945, Hoe (SS-258) displays two typical main late-war submarine sonars. The JT line array (left) and a topside WCA in its spherical dome (right). At the end of the war, both were being replaced by the vertical cylindrical dome of the new WFA integrated sonar.USN Archives photo # 19-N85964. Photo and text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Through 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. Naval Institute Press.
Hoe120k The Hoe (SS-258) at Mare Island, on 20 June 1945 has just finished her overhaul and sports a new outfit. Her SD radar has been replaced with the new SV antenna and a new hydrophone has been installed.USN Archives photo # 19-N85964. Photo and text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, "Fleet Subs of WW II", by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
Hoe120kHoe (SS-258) loading torpedoes from sub tender. Courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Hoe/Plunger101kHoe (SS-258), and Plunger (SS-179) appear in this 1956 photo at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, facing out into the East River toward the Williamsburg Bridge which can be seen in the right of the photo. The structures on the left appear to be the ship building ways. Photo courtesy of Ric Hedman TN(SS). Text courtesy of Art Cappabianca.
Hoe120k

The aircraft carrier Enterprise (CV-6) at the Brooklyn Navy yard, 22 June 1958, shortly before they started scrapping her by first cutting off her tripod mast — she was sold for scrapping 10 days later, on 2 July.

The carrier on the opposite side of the pier is Independence (CVA-62) nearing completion. Ships visible in the left foreground include (from front): DeLong (DE-684), Coates (DE-685) and Hoe (SS-258). Ten other destroyers are also present, as is a "Liberty" type ship.

The F. & M. Schaefer brewery is visible in the center background — the longest and last operating brewery in New York City (when it was closed in 1976), and America's oldest lager beer brewing company.

Photo courtesy of Steve Whitby via Fabio Peña.
Fremantle 365k This plaque was unveiled 20 March 1995 by His Excellency Major General P.M. Jeffery OA MC, Governor of Western Australia to commemorate the sacrifices made by Allied submarines that operated out of Fremantle, Western Australia during WW II. Photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).

View the Hoe (SS-258)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
HISTORIC SUBMARINE DOCUMENTARY AND TRAINING FILMS
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