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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Stingray (SS-186)

Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Romeo - Papa
Salmon Class Submarine: Laid down, 1 October 1936, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH; Launched, 6 October 1937; Commissioned, USS Stingray (SS-186), 15 March 1938; Decommissioned, 17 October 1945, at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA.; Struck from the Naval Register, 3 July 1946; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in 1947. Stingray earned twelve battle stars for World War II service.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,449 t., Submerged: 2,198 t.; Length 308' ; Beam 26' 1"; Draft 14' 2"; Speed, Surfaced 21 kts, Submerged 9 kts; Complement 5 Officers 50 Enlisted; Armament, eight 21" torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, one 3"/50 deck gun, two .50 caliber machine guns, two .30 caliber machine guns; Propulsion, diesel-electric, four Hoover, Owens, Rentschler Co. diesel engines, (replaced in 1943-1944 with four General Motors 278A diesel engines), 5,500 hp, Fuel Capacity, 96,025 gals. four Elliot Motor Co. electric motors, 3,300 hp, Battery Cells 252, twin propellers.
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Stingray21k Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of the Stingray's (SS-186) keel laying, 1 October 1936, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Stingray77kThe Stingray (SS-186) was sponsored by Mrs. Ridley McLean, widow of Rear Admiral McLean. Their marriage produced 2 adopted children, one of which, Beatrice McLean appears here on 6 February 1925: "Three Washington society buds in spectacle. The misses Beatrice McLean (left), debutante daughter of Capt. and Mrs. Ridley McLean; Helen Thompson; and Eugenie LeJeune, daughter of General and Mrs. John A. LeJeune; all members of the ‘Group of the Winds’ who will take part in the human ‘Game of Mah Jongg, The Great Dramatic Spectacle,’ to be presented for the first time in the Washington Auditorium under the auspices of the Belleau Wood Memorial Association." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. Photo courtesy of mahjonggandme.files.wordpress.com"
Stingray343kStingray (SS-186) has an afternoon date with the oceans on 6 October 1937. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Stingray14k Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of the launching of the Stingray (SS-186), 6 October 1937. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Stingray45k Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of Stingray's (SS-186) commissioning, 15 March 1938. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Stingray27k Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of Stingray's (SS-186) first day in commission, 15 March 1938. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Stingray21k Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of Mother's Day on the Stingray (SS-186), 8 May 1938. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Stingray173kStarboard side view of the Stingray (SS-186) during her shakedown trials off Portsmouth, N.H., 20 June 1938.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Stingray22k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the shakedown cruise of the Stingray (SS-186), September 1938. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Seal 60k Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of Navy Day 1938 honoring the six Salmon-class (SS-182-187) submarines:
Salmon (SS-182)
Seal (SS-183),
Skipjack (SS-184)
Snapper (SS-185)
Stingray (SS-186) &
Sturgeon (SS-187). 		USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Stingray 451k Stingray (SS-186) foreground in port, circa 1939-1940, with two oilers in the background. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Text courtesy of USNHC photograph # NH 94984.
186, 183,182 & 187110k Stingray (SS-186) foreground operating in formation with other submarines, during Battle Force exercises, circa 1939. The other three submarines are (from left to right): Seal (SS-183); Salmon (SS-182) and Sturgeon (SS-187). USNHC photograph # NH 77086, collection of Vice Admiral George C. Dyer, USN (Retired).
186, 183,182 & 187110k Stingray (SS-186) surfacing in formation with other submarines, during Battle Force exercises, circa 1939. Sturgeon (SS-187) is immediately beyond Stingray (SS-186), with the wakes further in the distance probably belonging to Seal (SS-183) and Salmon (SS-182). USNHC photograph # NH 77089, collection of Vice Admiral George C. Dyer, USN (Retired).
186, 183,182 & 187107k Stingray (SS-186) surfacing in formation with other submarines, during Battle Force exercises, circa 1939. The other three submarines are (from left to right): Seal (SS-183); Salmon (SS-182) and Sturgeon (SS-187). USNHC photograph # NH 98985, collection of Vice Admiral George C. Dyer, USN (Retired).
Stingray82k Stingray (SS-186) underway near land, circa 1939-1940. USNHC photograph # NH 77088, collection of Vice Admiral George C. Dyer, USN (Retired).
Fleet Problem XX 43k Commemorative postal cover marking Snapper (SS-185), Stingray (SS-186), Skipjack (SS-184), Plunger (SS-179), Cachalot (SS-170), Salmon (SS-182), Perch (SS-176) & Pollack (SS-180) participating in Fleet Problem XX, 28 January 1939. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Stingray94kOn 20 April 1939 the Stingray (SS-186) transited the Panama Canal and arrived at San Diego, Calif., on 11 May for a rigorous schedule of training and maneuvers as a unit of Submarine Squadron 6.
Following Fleet Problem XX, Yorktown (CV-5) returned briefly to Hampton Roads before sailing for the Pacific on 20 April. Transiting the Panama Canal a week later, Yorktown soon commenced a regular routine of operations with the Pacific Fleet.
Both ships are seen here some time immediately during that period. 		Text courtesy of DANFS.
USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Plunger104kPlunger (P6) (SS-179) backing clear of a nest of submarines, alongside their tender in San Diego harbor, California, in 1940. Other identifiable submarines present are: Salmon (SS-182); Seal (SS-183); and Stingray (SS-186). Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 68482, courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute. James C. Fahey Collection. U.S.
AS 3 59k Panoramic photograph of Holland (AS-3) moored at Buoy 19, San Diego, CA, 1940, with eleven submarines alongside. Submarines are (from left to right):
Salmon (SS-182);
Seal (SS-183);
Stingray (SS-186);
Perch (SS-176);
Pollack (SS-180);
Cachalot (SS-170);
Cuttlefish (SS-171);
Skipjack (SS-184);
Sturgeon (SS-187);
Snapper (SS-185)
and Sargo (SS-188).
SS-182 through SS-187 were members of Submarine Division 15, commanded by R.W. Christie. Richmond (CL-9), flagship of the Commander Submarine Force, Pacific, is in the right distance.
 USN photo # NH 68481, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center, courtesy of US Naval Institute, James C Fahey Collection.
Stingray114kFollowing repairs, Stingray (SS-186) got underway on her second war patrol on 30 December. While in Sama Bay on 10 January 1942, she torpedoed and sank her initial victim of the war, the transport Harbin Maru. Text courtesy of DANFS.
Photo courtesy of combinedfleet.com via Tommy Trampp
Stingray300kStingray (SS-186) port side view, off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 October 1942. Note barrage balloons in the distance. Text courtesy of photo # NH 19-N-36097 from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
USN photo # MI-6090-42 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Stingray77kStingray (SS-186), port side view, off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 October 1942. Photograph # NH 19-N-36095, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Stingray71kOff the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 October 1942. Note the two newly installed external torpedo tubes just below Stingray's (SS-186) foredeck, an effort to increase her forward firepower, and the antennas for SJ (lower antenna) and SD (atop the periscope) radars. Photograph # NH 19-N-36098, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Stingray866kAlthough Stingray (SS-186) fifth war patrol, in the vicinity of the Solomon Islands, and sixth war patrol, conducted in the Marshall Islands, were unproductive, during the seventh, the submarine torpedoed and sank the cargo ship Tamon Maru.
Stingray is passing the Chandeleur (AV-10) at Pearl Harbor, 28 March 1943, on her way to one of those unproductive patrols. 		Text courtesy of DANFS.
Photo # 80-G-265942 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Stingray501kStingray (SS-186) off San Francisco, California, on 26 January 1944, following an overhaul. Photograph # NH 19-N-63569 & MI-635-44 from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Stingray876kStingray (SS-186) off San Francisco, California, following overhaul, 26 January 1944. Note that the two external torpedo tubes fitted in 1942, just below deck level forward, have been removed. Text from photo # NH 98987, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center & # MI-636-55 from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Stingray45k Stingray (SS-186) stern view off San Francisco, California, following overhaul, 26 January 1944. Note heavy smoke made by her diesel engines. Official USN photo # NH 98988, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Stingray614kStingray (SS-186) stern view off San Francisco, California, following overhaul, 26 January 1944. USN photo # MI-633-44 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Stingray130kPlan view amidships, looking forward, taken at San Francisco, California, on 29 January 1944. Stingray (SS-186) loading simulated torpedos for the testing of the tubes after yard overhaul. Note that this submarine retains a 3"/50 deck gun, mounted forward of her conning tower. White outlines mark recent alterations. Text courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Official USN photo # NH 98989, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Stingray106kPlan view amidships, looking aft, taken at San Francisco, California, on 29 January 1944. Stingray (SS-186) loading simulated torpedos for the testing of the tubes after yard overhaul. Note that this submarine retains a 3"/50 deck gun, mounted forward of her conning tower. White outlines mark recent alterations. Official USN photo # NH 98990, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Text courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
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 Stingray (SS-186)
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
PigBoats.COM TM, a Historic Look at Submarines
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