Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster.
Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Contributed by Patrick Householder

Redfish (SS-395) (AGSS-395)

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Oscar - Alpha
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 9 September 1943, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.; Launched, 27 January 1944; Commissioned USS Redfish (SS-395), 12 April 1944; Designation changed to Auxiliary Submarine (AGSS-395), 1 July 1960; Decommissioned, 27 June 1968; Struck from the Naval Register, 30 June 1968; Final Disposition, sunk as a target, 6 February 1969, by Medegral (SS-480), off San Diego, CA. Redfish received two battle stars for World War II service.

As built to the specifications: Displacement, Surfaced 1,526 t., Submerged 2,391 t.; Length 311' 9"; Beam 27' 3"; Draft 15' 3"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10 kts; Submerged Endurance, 48 hours at 2 kts; Operating Depth, 400 ft; Complement 6 Officers 60 Enlisted; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, two 5"/25 deck guns, one single 40mm gun mount, one single 20mm gun mount, two .50 cal. machine guns; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Propulsion, diesel-electric reduction gear, Fairbanks Morse diesel engines, 5,400 HP, Fuel Capacity, 116,000 gal., four Elliot Motor Co. electric main motors with 2,740 shp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.
Click On Image
For Full Size		Size Image Description Source
Drydock493kEarly 1944 photo of the Redfish (SS-395), Ronquil (SS-396) & Razorback (SS-394) under construction and soon to be launched, with prefabricated sections and other building parts for the soon to be constructed Piper (SS-409) & Threadfin (SS-410) in the foreground.Photo courtesy of John D. Alden, author of The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy: A Design and Construction History.
Quintuplets123kCommemorative postal cover marking the quadruple launching of the Razorback (SS-394), Redfish (SS-395), Ronquil (SS-396) & Scabbardfish (SS-397) launching, 27 January 1944 at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Redfish 154k Preparing for the Christening ceremony aboard the Redfish (SS-395) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME., 27 January 1944. Two of the submarines behind the Redfish are either the Razorback (SS-394), Ronquil (SS-396) & Scabbardfish (SS-397). All 4 boats were launched that day. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Redfish 178k Miss Ruth Roper holds the bottle at the Christening ceremony aboard the Redfish (SS-395) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME., 27 January 1944. Two of the submarines behind the Redfish are either the Razorback (SS-394), Ronquil (SS-396) & Scabbardfish (SS-397). All 4 boats were launched that day. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Redfish
0839531		617kAmong the plank owners that appear in this commissioning party of the Redfish (SS-395) crew is William Stone. He is on the very top right row, third in from the right. Photo courtesy of his grandson, Fonte Stone.
Redfish 16k Commemorative postal cover marking the Redfish's (SS-395) first day in commission, 12 April 1944. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Redfish 692k Mizuho Maru was a Japanese Passenger ship of 8,182 tons built in 1912 by Russell & Co., Port Glasgow, Yard No 633 as the Infanta Isabel. She was powered by two steam quandruple engines, twin screw. Engines by Rowans, Glasgow. Transferred along with rest of fleet to Cia Transoceanica de Navegaceon, Barcelona in 1925 but sold on to Osaka Chosen Kaisha in 1926 and became Midzuho Maru later Mizuho Maru.
She is pictured here as the Midzuho Maru, Kobe-Darien Liner, Osaka Shosen Kaisha Ship Line ~ c. 1930's Post Card
During the China~Japan war she was used as a troopship and in WW2 was classified as a Hospital Ship. Whether or not she was used in this role, it did not spare her from Redfish (SS-395) who torpedoed and sank her on 21st September 1944.
Redfish arrived at Pearl Harbor 27 June 1944. Departing 23 July, she sank the 5,953-ton Japanese cargo ship Batopaha Maru 25 August, the 7,311-ton tanker Ogura Maru No. 2 on 16 September, and the 8,506-ton transport Mizuho Maru 21 September, all off Formosa, before arriving at Midway. 		Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
Photo courtesy of Tommy Trampp.
Redfish 692k The fleet aircraft carrier HIJMS Unryu on 16 July 1944, shortly before her commissioning.
Unryu seen here sinking after being torpedoed by the submarine Redfish (SS-395) on 19 December 1944 200 nm SE of Shanghai (29 degrees 59' N, 124 degrees 03' E). 		Imperial Japanese Navy official photo. Photo from "Navies of the Second World War: Japanese Aircraft Carriers and Destroyers" Macdonald & Co. (publishing): London. Insert photo USN Photo, both courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Redfish
0839533		1.81kComdr. Louis D. McGregor was the 1st CO of the Redfish (SS-395). He was awarded the Navy Cross for the boat's 1st patrol. Photo courtesy of findagrave.com
Redfish 790k Two views of the Redfish (SS-395) pictured by the blimp ZP-24 off the coast of Florida on 17 February while underway to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for repairs on 17 February 1945; she returned to Pearl Harbor 23 July, and remained there until the end of the war. Text i.d. courtesy of DANFS.
USN photo # 80-G-304562 & 80-G-304564 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Redfish 1.02k Five page PDF history of the Redfish (SS-395).Photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Redfish 228k Cut out of the Redfish (SS-395). Photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Redfish 52k WW II battle flag of the Redfish (SS-395). USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Redfish 1.90k Redfish (SS-395) starboard side view underway with a pair of deck guns, circa post war. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Redfish 687k Grey interior areas of the Redfish (SS-395). USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Redfish 33k Some of the crew of the Redfish (SS-395) in 1952 above the Arctic Circle. Photo courtesy of Robert Crow (USN retired).
Redfish 35k Redfish (SS-395) in 1952 above the Arctic Circle dodging blocks of ice. Photo courtesy of Robert Crow (USN retired).
Redfish 27k Desolate scenery awaited the Redfish (SS-395) in 1952 above the Arctic Circle. Photo courtesy of Robert Crow (USN retired).
Redfish 32k Redfish (SS-395) in 1952 above the Arctic Circle. The icebreaker is Burton Island (AG-88). USN photo courtesy of the US Navy Arctic Submarine Laboratory. Text courtesy of Robert Crow (USN retired).
Redfish 17k Redfish (SS-395) in 1952 above the Arctic Circle. The icebreaker is Burton Island (AG-88). Photo courtesy of Robert Crow (USN retired).
Redfish 31k Redfish (SS-395) in 1953 in the Arctic ice pack. USN photo courtesy of the US Navy Arctic Submarine Laboratory.
Redfish 448k Redfish (SS-395) starboard side view underway, after her deck guns had been removed, circa 1950's. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Redfish 67k Redfish (SS-395) starboard side view underway, after her deck guns had been removed, circa 1950's. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Pacific collection 620k Redfish (SS-395) underway at sea, 9 May 1955. Note, photograph is curved. Photo 80-G-664931 courtesy of National Museum of the U.S. Navy via flickr.com.
Redfish 818k Port side views of the Redfish (SS-395) underway, after her deck guns had been removed, circa 1950's. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Redfish 1.00k In the spring of 1954, Redfish (SS-395) participated in the Walt Disney production of Jules Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," and, in September 1957, in the motion picture "Run Silent, Run Deep." She appears in this view in between films on 23 July 1956. Text courtesy of DANFS.
USN photo # USN 1003237 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Redfish 73k Run Silent, Run Deep is a war film released in 1958 based on the 1955 novel by then-Commander Edward L. Beach, Jr.. It was directed by Robert Wise and starred Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster; and featured the film debut of Don Rickles. World War II United States Navy submarine Commander P.J. Richardson, (Clark Gable) has an obsession with the Japanese destroyer that sank his previous boat and three others. He convinces the navy board to give him a new sub command with the provision that his exec be someone who has just returned from active sea patrol. He is single-mindedly training the crew of his new boat, the Nerka, to return to the Bungo Straits and sink the destroyer, captained by the crafty ex-submariner, now destroyer captain, nicknamed Bungo Pete. The Executive Officer, Lieutenant Jim Bledsoe, is played by Burt Lancaster. The Redfish (SS-395) was used for many of the exterior shots during the production of the movie. Photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
Redfish
0839532		NRStricken Diver Saved by Sub's Escape Hatch
The enterprising skipper of the submarine Redfish (SS-395) was credited today with saving a Marine demolition skindiver from on agonizing death from the bends..... 		Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 22 September 1960, Image 60, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Redfish 138k The Redfish (AGSS-395) arrives at Mare Island for overhaul on 21 June 1961. She was in overhaul at the yard until 27 October 1961. USN photo # 001-6-61, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Redfish 65k The wardroom aboard Redfish (AGSS-395) after modification at Mare Island as seen on 30 October 1961. USN photo # 53076-10-61, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Redfish 75k The wardroom aboard Redfish (AGSS-395) after modification at Mare Island as seen on 30 October 1961. USN photo # 53077-10-61, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Redfish 86k The washroom aboard Redfish (AGSS-395) after modification at Mare Island as seen on 30 October 1961. USN photo # 53078A-10-61, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Redfish 74k The washroom aboard Redfish (AGSS-395) after modification at Mare Island as seen on 30 October 1961. USN photo # 53078B-10-61, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Pacific collection 214k A Pacific collection: From inboard to outboard: Sea Devil (SS-400), Redfish (SS-395), Baya (AGSS-318), Capitaine (SS-336) & Volador (SS-490).
This picture was taken sometime after January, 1964. At that time the Baya had emerged from a conversion that gave her the configuration that is shown here. This also correlates to the Guppy III in the background, the Volador. She was converted to this configuration in 1963. The rest of the boats have what is called the "Queenfish Mod", a minimal attempt at streamlining by removing all the deck guns and topside ammo lockers and cutting away small portions of the fairwater. 		Text courtesy of David Johnston. (USNR).
Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Redfish 32k Spinax (SS-489), Redfish (SS-395), and Volador (SS-490) nested alongside the Nereus (AS-17), at San Diego, circa 1964-66. Photo by Patrick Householder.
Ballast Point 81k Ballast Point Nest 1967: Volador (SS-490), Redfish (SS-395), Salmon (SS-573) & Rock (SS-274). Photo by J.D. Decrevel EM2(SS).
Salmon 383k Photo taken 5 July 1967 At Yokosuka…boats are inboard to outboard: Catfish (SS-339), Bashaw (SS-241), Redfish (SS-395), Diodon (SS-349), Salmon (SS-573) and Bream (SS-243). Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
View the Redfish (SS-395)
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
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Submarine Index
Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

This page is created by Gary Priolo, and maintained by Michael Mohl
All Pages © 1996 - 2024 NavSource History All rights reserved.