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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)

Sargo (SS-188)

Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Kilo - Sierra
Sargo Class Submarine: Laid down, 12 May 1937, at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 6 June 1938; Commissioned, USS Sargo (SS-188), 7 February 1939; Decommissioned, 22 June 1946, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Struck from the Naval Register, 19 July 1946; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 19 May 1947, to Learner Co., of California. Sargo was awarded eight battle stars for her service in World War II and received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,450 t., Submerged: 2,350 t.; Length 310' ; Beam 27' 1"; Draft 13' 8"; Speed, Surfaced 20 kts, Submerged 7.75 kts; Max Operating Depth, 250'; 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, 90,000 gals. four General Electric Co. electric motors, 2,740 hp, Battery Cells 252, twin propellers.
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For Full Size		Size Image Description Source
Sargo 16k Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the Sargo's (SS-188) keel laying, 12 May 1937, at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Sargo
0818888		864k Sargo (SS-188) was sponsored by Mrs. Chester W. Nimitz. She appears here in the following photo:
File No. 45472 May 9, 1944 Admiral Nimitz awarded second distinguished service medal — For the second time in this war, Admiral Ernest J. King, USN, Commander-in-Chief of the U. S. fleet, presented the Distinguished Service Medal to Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN, Commander-in-Chief of the U. S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Area. Looking on as Admiral King (left) shakes hands with Admiral Nimitz following the presentation on May 7, 1944, at San Francisco, are (left to right) Mrs. Chester W. Nimitz, Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr. USN, Commander South Pacific Force and South Pacific Areas, and Mary Nimitz, the Admiral’s 13-year-old daughter. The citation accompanying the award reads in part: ‘For exceptionally meritorious service to the Government of the United States…as Commander-in-Chief of the U. S. Pacific Fleet since December 31, 1941…despite the losses at Pearl Harbor and tragic shortage of vessels, planes and supplies. (Admiral Nimitz) organized his forces and carried on defensive warfare which halted the Japanese advance. As rapidly as ships, personnel and material became available, he shifted from defensive to offensive warfare and…as a result of his sound judgment and masterful conduct of naval warfare in the Pacific, our forces have assumed a position of dominance in this vital area.” In July, 1942, the Distinguished Service Medal was awarded to Admiral Nimitz in recognition of the victories in the Coral Sea and at Midway.” 9 May 1944		Photo courtesy of greatestgeneration.tumblr.com
Sargo 69k Sargo (SS-188) underway at 18.8 knots while running trials off Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1 November 1938. USNHC photo # NH 19-N-19793 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Sargo 98k Sargo (SS-188) off Provincetown, Massachusetts, during her trials, 1 November 1938. USNHC photo # NH 19-N-19830 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Sargo 96k Sargo (SS-188) off Provincetown, Massachusetts, during her trials, 1 November 1938. USNHC photo # NH 19-N-19831 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Sargo 133k Sargo (SS-188) probably photographed shortly after commissioning, circa 1939. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
Sargo 51k Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the shakedown cruise of the Sargo (SS-188), 6 April 1939. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Saury NR UNDERSEA VISITOR
The United States submarine Sargo (SS-188), is shown today docked at the Navy Yard, where she arrived yesterday. Her commanding officers are (inset) Lt. Comdr. E. E. Yeomans of Indiana (left), and Lt. R. W. Johnson of New York. 		Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo & text by Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 28 September 1939, Image 25, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Navy Day 21k Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the submarines
Sargo (SS-188),
Saury (SS-189),
Spearfish (SS-190),
Sculpin (SS-191),
Squalus (SS-192) &
Swordfish (SS-193) honoring Navy Day, 27 October 1939. 		Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
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.
Sargo 281k "This series of photos shows Sargo (SS-188) after operational use of an experimental plastic-based anti-fouling paint. A modified version of this paint, tinted black for better camouflage in the clear Pacific waters had been approved the month previously and she was likely repainted with it during this drydocking."
Condition of ship bottom paints.....General view forward, starboard side, on 11 July 1941. 		USN photo # 1674-41 now in the 'Formerly Secret CNO files 1940-47' camouflage folders held at NARA II, College Park.
Photo courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
Sargo 360k "This series of photos shows Sargo (SS-188) after operational use of an experimental plastic-based anti-fouling paint. A modified version of this paint, tinted black for better camouflage in the clear Pacific waters had been approved the month previously and she was likely repainted with it during this drydocking."
Condition of ship bottom paints.....General view aft, port side, on 11 July 1941. 		USN photo # 1675-41 now in the 'Formerly Secret CNO files 1940-47' camouflage folders held at NARA II, College Park.
Photo courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
Sargo 51k Bow on view of the Sargo (SS-188), underway off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 21 April 1943. Official USN photo # NH 102756 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Sargo 168k Broadside view of Sargo (SS-188) off Mare Island Navy Yard on 21 April 1943. Official Mare Island photo # 2943-43, from the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
Sargo 51k Sargo (SS-188) seen from astern while underway off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 21 April 1943. Official USN photo # NH 102757 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Sargo 92k Sargo (SS-188) at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 28 April 1943. Covered lighter YF-387 is alongside. White outlines mark recent alterations to Sargo. Note barrage balloons in the distance. Official USN photo # NH 102758 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Sargo 121k Stern view of the Sargo (SS-188) at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 28 April 1943. Covered lighter YF-387 and a diving tender are alongside. White outlines mark recent alterations to Sargo. Official USN photo # NH 102759 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Skate 132k The National Ensign raised aboard the Skate (SS-305) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 15 April 1943. The Seahorse (SS-304) is the submarine to the left and Sargo (SS-188) is the submarine between the barges forward of Skate. USN photo 2651-4-43,courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Sargo
0818818		142k 17 February 1944:
150 miles NE of Palau. At about 2200, LtCdr Philip W. Garnett's (USNA ’33) Sargo (SS-188) intercepts convoy # 7125. Garnett fires eight torpedoes at Japanese Fleet oiler Sata and gets one hit, but it disables the oiler. At 2206, Sargo fires two torpedoes that hit Ammunition Ship Nichiro Maru. She explodes and sinks immediately at 08-50N,135-40E. 50 crewmen including her Captain Shimizu are KIA.		Photo courtesy of combinedfleet.com
Sargo 74k Sargo (SS-188) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 24 August 1944. Note lookouts in the upper superstructure. Official USN photo # NH 102761 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Sargo 82k Sargo (SS-188) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 24 August 1944. Official USN photo # NH 102760 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Sargo 72k Sargo (SS-188) seen from astern while off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 24 August 1944. Official USN photo # NH 102762 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Sargo 136k Plan view of the Sargo (SS-188) amidships, looking aft, while she was at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 24 August 1944. Barge YC-312 is alongside, and YC-293 and YF-509 are in the right distance. White outlines mark recent alterations to Sargo. Official USN photo # NH 102763 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
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).
Sargo
0818819		697k Sargo (SS-188) was commanded by LCDR Robert Daniel Quinn from 22.07.1945 01.04.1946. Text info via Wolfgang Hechler.
Photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Mare Island Causeway 461k 6 December 1945 photo appeared in the 14 December 1945 issue of the Mare Island newspaper lists the following subs present at the dockyard:
Unknown, Dragonet (SS-293), Guavina (SS-362), Sunfish (SS-281), Sargo (SS-188), Spearfish (SS-190), Saury (SS-189).
First two ships in second row appear to be: Bashaw (SS-241) and Mingo (SS-261).
The Tiru (SS-416) is on the building ways on the left above the subs and surrounding by staging and cranes.
It is interesting to note that the boats have started the mothballing process, as evidenced by the preservative cocoons around the deck guns. 		USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Partial text courtesy of David Johnston, USNR.
Mare Island Reserve Fleet 900k Inactivated submarines at Mare Island on 3 January 1946.
Front row left to right: Sand Lance (SS-381), next two could be Sealion (SS-315) and Seahorse (SS-304), Searaven (SS-196), Pampanito (SS-383), Gurnard (SS-254), Mingo (SS-261), Guitarro (SS-363), Bashaw (SS-241).
Back row left to right: Unknown, Tunny (SS-282), next three could be Sargo (SS-188), Spearfish (SS-190), and Saury (SS-189), Macabi (SS-375), Sunfish (SS-281), Guavina (SS-362), Lionfish (SS-298),Piranha (SS-389).
The Scabbardfish (SS-397) is docked in ARD-11 on the other side of the causeway.

The mixture of boats from the Salmon/Sargo, Gato, and Balao classes illustrate the clear differences in the conning tower fairwaters and the periscope shears that can be used to identify boats. The high bridges with the uncovered support frames (the "covered wagon" look) of the Gatos and Salmon/Sargo's contrast with the low and sleek look of the Balao's. The fatter, more robust periscope shears of theBalao's are markedly different from the thinner shears with more supporting structure of the Gatos and Salmon/Sargo's.
The differences in the pattern of the superstructure limber holes can also be used for identification purposes. The single row of large semi-circular holes indentify Electric Boat or Manitowoc boats. A dual row of smaller rectangular holes mark the government built boats. Also note that the EB/Manitowoc boats have the deck mounted, T-shaped JP sonar head on the starboard side of the forward deck, while the government boats have it on the port side.
EB/Manitowoc boats had the anchor on the starboard side, the government boats on the port side. A close look will show that some of the boats have had the anchor removed and the hawsepipe plated over as part of the mothball process.
Most of the boats have the late war radar outfit of the SJ surface search (small dish) and SV air search (large dish). The Balao's and some of the Gatos have the SS dish mounted on a separate large mast aft of the periscopes. The older Salmon/Sargo's and Gatos have a much smaller mast. Searaven appears to have had her radars already removed.
Searaven is actually sporting a late war SJ surface search antennae mounted to starboard of the periscopes. This is a rare installation. Most often it was mounted forward (early war) or aft (late war) of the 'scopes shears. Her air search set is a late war SD antennae mounted on a stub mast directly aft of the 'scopes. Searaven never received the much more capable SV air search set. Having been assigned to training duties after November, 1944 it was probably felt that the SV set was not necessary.
One strange thing: almost all of the boats appear to have the outer doors of the forward torpedo tubes open. Even though the boats have an interlock system that prevents the breech and outer doors from being opened at the same time, this is an unusual thing to do and a potential source of catastrophic flooding.		 USN photo # 17-46, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Text courtesy of David Johnston, USNR.
Who Am I?289kInactivated submarines at Mare Island in early 1946.
Front row left to right: Sand Lance (SS-381), next two could be Sealion (SS-315) and Seahorse (SS-304), Searaven (SS-196), Pampanito (SS-383), Gurnard (SS-254), Mingo (SS-261), Guitarro (SS-363), Bashaw (SS-241).
Back row left to right: Unknown, Tunny (SS-282), next three could be Sargo (SS-188), Spearfish (SS-190), and Saury (SS-189), Macabi (SS-375), Sunfish (SS-281), Guavina (SS-362), Lionfish (SS-298),Piranha (SS-389).
The Scabbardfish (SS-397) is docked in ARD-11 on the other side of the causeway.
Tiru (SS-416) is on the ways in upper left hand side of photo. Two ferry boats (to the right of Tiru's ways) are YHB-2 / [ex-Post of Stockton] and YHB-21 / [ex-Tamalpais].		Photo i.d. courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Sargo182kAllen Bullock, a former crew member of Sargo (SS-188) views the Sargo (SSN-583) on the building ways at Mare Island on 8 October 1957.USN photo # NY9 36929-10-57, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
View the Sargo (SS-188)
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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