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
Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Tiru (SS-416)

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Sierra - November
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 17 April 1944, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 16 September 1947; Completed as a Guppy type submarine; Commissioned USS Tiru (SS-416), 1 September 1948; FRAM conversion to a Guppy III submarine, 4 May 1959 to 31 December 1959, at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Honolulu, HI.; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1975; Final Disposition, sunk as a target 19 July 1979. Sunk at 36deg 53' N x 71deg. 15.3' W By MK 48 ADCAP from Silversides (SSN-679) East of Cape Hatteras, NC.
Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves (of blessed memory)

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, one 5"/25 deck gun, one single 40mm gun mount, one single 20mm gun mount, two .50 cal. machine guns; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Propulsion, diesel-electric reduction gear, four Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines, 5,400hp, Fuel Capacity, 116,000 gal., four Elliot Motor Co. electric main motors 2,740hp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.
Click On Image
For Full Size		Size Image Description Source
Tiru 210k The honorary welders as shown during the keel laying ceremonies for the Tiru (SS-416) on 17 April 1944. USN photo # 2378-44, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru & Wahoo 2.04k This photo & the next 12 appear as a PDF showing the Tiru (SS-416) & Wahoo (SS-516) on the building ways at Mare Island. The text appears here without the photos.
Several hull sections for the Wahoo are seen on the right. 		USN photo # 4164-44, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Wahoo & Tiru 325k Stern view of the Wahoo (SS-516) is on the building ways to the right and the hull of the Tiru (SS-416) is on the left at Mare Island on 4 July 1944. USN photo # 4161-44, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru & Wahoo 280k Bow view of the Tiru (SS-416) on the building ways at Mare Island on 4 July 1944. Several hull sections for the Wahoo (SS-516) are seen on the left. USN photo # 4166-44, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Wahoo 335k Stern view of Wahoo (SS-516) of the building ways at Mare Island on 2 January 1945. Tiru (SS-416) is on the ways to the left. USN photo # 147-45, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Wahoo, Tiru & 517 326k Bow view of Wahoo (SS-516) of the building ways at Mare Island on 2 January 1945. Tiru (SS-416) is on the ways to the right. The unnamed canceled Tench class submarine (SS-517) lies on the ways to the left. She was canceled on 29 July 1944, along with 74 other Tench class boats on that date. USN photo # 148-45, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Mare Island Causeway 461k 6 December 1945 photo appeared in the 14 December 45 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 (USN, retired) , USNR.
Wahoo, Tiru 505k Bow view of Wahoo (SS-516) under construction at Mare Island on 3 January 1946. Tiru (SS-416) is under construction to the right. The yard containing the unnamed canceled Tench class submarine (SS-517) lies on the ways to the left and appears to have been cleaned up following her cancellation on 29 July 1944. USN photo # 20-46, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Wahoo, Tiru 594k Stern view of Wahoo (SS-516) under construction at Mare Island on 3 January 1946. Tiru (SS-416) is under construction to the left. USN photo # 21-46, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 308k Bow view of the Tiru (SS-416) under construction at Mare Island on 3 January 1946. Submarines in the background are decommissioned or will soon be: from front to rear are Bashaw (SS-241), Pampanito (SS-383), Mingo (SS-261), Gurnard (SS-254), Macabi (SS-375), Tunny (SS-282), Guavina (SS-362) and Sand Lance (SS-381). USN photo # 18-46, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 352k Stern views of the Wahoo (SS-516) & Tiru (SS-416) under construction at Mare Island on 3 January 1946. Tiru is under construction to the left. USN photo # 19-46, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Who Am I?289kInactivated submarines at Mare Island on 9 February 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.
Tiru 189k Stern view of Tiru (SS-416) on the building ways at Mare Island on 3 January 1947. Note that the hull of Wahoo (SS-516) that was to the right of Tiru has been scrapped by this date. USN photo # 25-47, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 186k Bow view of Tiru (SS-416) on the building ways at Mare Island on 27 June 1947. USN photo # 1235-47, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 222k Stern view of Tiru (SS-416) on the building ways at Mare Island on 27 June 1947. USN photo # 1236-47, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 168k Bow view of Tiru (SS-416) on the building ways at Mare Island on 28 July 1947. USN photo # 1442-47, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 31k Cover of the 1947 Navy Day Souvenir Program & Guide showing the Tiru (SS-416) on the building ways shortly before she was launched at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 16 September 1947. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 100k Tiru (SS-416) was named for a member of the lizarship family, Voracious and carnivorous, this fish is found in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic - especially in the Bermuda area and Caribbean. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 100k Front cover of the Launching Schedule of the Tiru (SS-416), 16 September 1947. The boat's sponsor was Mrs. John P. Cromwell, whose husband Captain John P. Cromwell, was lost with Sculpin (SS-191) on 19 November 1943 and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at that time.
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commander of a Submarine Coordinated Attack Group with Flag in the Sculpin, during the Ninth War Patrol of that vessel in enemy-controlled waters off Truk Island, 19 November 1943.
Undertaking this patrol prior to the launching of our first large-scale offensive in the Pacific, Captain Cromwell, alone of the entire Task Group, possessed secret intelligence information of our submarine strategy and tactics, scheduled Fleet movements and specific attack plans. Constantly vigilant and precise in carrying out his secret orders, he moved his underseas flotilla inexorably forward despite savage opposition and established a line of submarines to southeastward of the main Japanese stronghold at Truk.
Cool and undaunted as the submarine, rocked and battered by Japanese depth-charges, sustained terrific battle damage and sank to an excessive depth, he authorized the Sculpin to surface and engage the enemy in a gun-fight, thereby providing an opportunity for the crew to abandon ship. Determined to sacrifice himself rather than risk capture and subsequent danger of revealing plans under Japanese torture or use of drugs, he stoically remained aboard the mortally wounded vessel as she plunged to her death. Preserving the security of his mission at the cost of his own life, he had served his country as he had served the Navy, with deep integrity and an uncompromising devotion to duty. His great moral courage in the face of certain death adds new luster to the traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country." 		USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Drawing by Lt. Cmdr. Fred Freemen, courtesy of Theodore Roscoe, from his book "U.S. Submarine Operations of WW II", published by USNI.
K-2 593k Mrs. John P. Cromwell prior to her christening of the Tiru (SS-416) at Mare Island on 16 September 1947. Mrs Cromwell is the widow of late Capt. John P. Cromwell who went down with the Sculpin (SS-191) in 1944 off Truk rather than risk revealing "Ultra". USN photo # 1709-47 TH courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
7Tiru 156k Launching Schedule of the Tiru (SS-416), second and last pages, 16 September 1947. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 112k Mrs. W. J. Holmes (Matron of Honor) left and Mrs. J. P. Cromwell (Sponsor) are ready to launch Tiru (SS-416) at Mare Island on 16 September 1947. USN photo # 1708-47, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 176k Bow of the Tiru (SS-416) on her launch date at Mare Island on 16 September 1947. USN photo # 1969-47, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 185k Tiru (SS-416) is ready for launching at Mare Island on 16 September 1947. USN photo # 1712-47, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 222k Stern view prior to launching of the Tiru (SS-416) on 16 September 1947. USN photo # 1726-47 courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Tiru 128k Mrs. J. P. Cromwell (Sponsor) christens the Tiru (SS-416) at Mare Island on 16 September 1947. From left to right: Mrs. W. J. Holmes (Matron of Honor), Capt. W. R. Dowd (Shipyard Commandant) and Mrs. J. P. Cromwell. USN photo # 1723-47, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 228k The christening of the Tiru (SS-416) at Mare Island on 16 September 1947. USN photo # 1923-47, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 969k Bow view of the Tiru (SS-416) going down the ways at Mare Island on 16 September 1947. Photo i.d. courtesy of John Hummel & David Johnston.
USN photo # 1935-47 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
K-2 1.10k Tiru (SS-416) at the end of ways. USN photo # 3010-2-49 TH courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 219k Tiru (SS-416) is seen leaving dry dock #3 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 11 August 1948. She was being outfitted at the yard after her delayed launching. USN photo # 1352-8-48, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 202k Broadside view of Tiru (SS-416) being moved to her outfitting berth after being undocked from dry dock #3 at Mare Island on 12 August 1948. USN photo # 1351-8-48, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 133k The crew of the soon to be commissioned Tiru (SS-416) is seen on the steps of the base theater at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 18 August 1948. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 174k Commissioning ceremonies aboard Tiru (SS-416) at Mare Island on 1 September 1948. USN photo # 1576-9-48, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 61k CDR. Charles Nelson Grant Hendrix was the Commanding Officer of the Tiru (SS-416) from 1 September 1948 to 15 August 1950. Photo from the USS Buck (DD-761) cruise book courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
Tiru 268k Tiru (SS-416) during final departure ceremonies at Mare Island on 10 February 1949. USN photo # 3009-2-49, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 157k Broadside view of Tiru (SS-416) off Mare Island upon her final departure from the yard on 10 February 1949.
Note that her sail bulges out at its top. The radio direction finding loop, which was used mainly to receive VLF radio messages while submerged, was soon replaced by a smaller streamlined loop. The sonar dome forward housed one transducer of a WFA single ping searchlight(the other projected from below the hull); the passive trainable JT abaft it retracted into the deck. 		USN photo # 3017-2-49, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.Text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Since 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman & James L. Christley, Naval Institute Press.
Tiru 267k Aerial view of Tiru (SS-416) on 8 November 1949. USN photo # 4892-11-49, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 110k Tiru (SS-416) with a step sail. Photo i.d. courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 597k The Tiru (SS-416) & Besugo (SS-321) in living color, 1954-54 at Pearl Harbor. Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Tiru 322k Port side view of the Tiru (SS-416) cutting through Pacific waters in GUPPY IIB configuration, circa mid 1950's. Photo courtesy of Henry Trujillo, submitted by Robert B. Cushman of Cushman Engineering Co.,ETR3 SS (Retired).
K-2 1.90k It appears Mare Island did some of the design work for Pearl Harbor's FRAM of the Tiru (SS-416), 27 April 1959. These 15 photos cover the conning tower, sonar room and radio room arrangement mockup. USN photos courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 464k Tiru (SS-416) at Pearl Harbor circa 1959. USN photo # 1677-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Tiru 152k Tiru (SS-416), as a Guppy III submarine, circa post 1959. Courtesy of George M. Arnold.
Tiru 264k Tiru (SS-416) at Vancouver BC dock on 11 May 1963.Walter E. Frost Photographer
Source: City of Vancouver Archives, Photo No. AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-8587 via Mike Green.
Tiru 1.1k Tiru (SS-416) aground on the Frederick reef off Queensland, 6 November 1966. Photo from Flickr.com via Stephen Gower.
Sealab1.07kSealab and Tiru (SS-416) at Ballast Pointe.USN photo courtesy of subasepearl.com.
Tiru 24k Commemorative postal cover of the Tiru (SS-416), with the boat's patch, 1974.Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Clamagore28kClamagore (SS-343) against pier, Tiru (SS-416), Blenny (SS-324) & Albacore (AGSS-569), circa early 80's at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.Courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired). Photo I.d. submitted by Ron Reeves (of blessed memory)
Silversides151kThe Silversides (SSN-679) and ex-Tiru (SS-416) lie alongside each other circa July 1979. The Tiru was being prepared as a remote-controlled target for the Silversides. Volunteers from the Silversides (SS-236) preservation group also removed spare parts from the Tiru. USN photo courtesy of Fred Tannenbaum collection.
Tiru 345k A model Tiru (SS-416) Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Tiru 204k A collage of photos depicting the Tiru (SS-416) about to be hit, striking and then sinking after being used as a weapons test for the Mark 48 torpedo as a target off Norfolk, VA., 19 July 1979.
Stephen Alexander who was aboard Silversides (SSN-679) wrote the following about the Tiru's last dive when they fired the standard Mk 48 torpedo at Tiru after a Type IIB periscope approach in 1979.
The CO was the approach officer as you might imagine. I’ll never forget that day. We could hear her breaking up over the WQC underwater telephone and in SONAR as she went down in about 2500 fathoms. It was, to say the least, an eery and sobering experience! May she rest in peace and I thank the Lord that it was a SINKEX, and nobody was aboard except a radio-controlled "Iron Mike!"
Your website said that Tiru was sunk with a Mark 48 ADCAP, but for the record, that’s not the case. It was a randomly selected, "off-the-shelf" so to speak, standard Mk 48 as required by the SINKEX opord. I don’t remember the mod if it was higher than zero, but it definitely wasn’t an ADCAP. In fact the ADCAP wasn't deployed to the fleet until after I left active duty in 1984.
BTW, the shoot was actually delayed by about 4 hours because as we were making our first approach, we spotted a merchant just coming over the horizon. The SRV Ortolan then tried to contact the merchant, but to no avail. We had already gotten a firing solution on him via SONAR long before we had a visual, and his projected track went right through the firing range, a 25-mile radius circle in the middle of the ocean. The merchant had wandered into it despite weeks of notices to mariners warning to stay out of that area for several days before and after the SINEX was scheduled. Maybe she was a spy, we wondered. Anyway Tiru had been towed to the range by the Ortolan, as I recall, ironically, and she didn’t have much fuel aboard. All but one engine had been unshipped. Ortolan's helo controlled Tiru by radio for her run across the firing range. We had only loaded enough fuel for her last run because we didn’t want an unnecessary oil spill in the ocean. So after the merchant finally steamed away, we had to turn Tiru around and send her back through harm's way one more time. This time it was for good. 		Text contributed by Steve Alexander, LT, USNR, Ret.
Photo courtesy of Michael Staehle.
View the Tiru (SS-416)
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
Guppy Submarines
USSTIRU.COM
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Submarine Index
Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster
This page is created by Gary Priolo, and maintained by Michael Mohl
All Pages © 1996 - 2024 NavSource History All rights reserved.