NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch courtesy of
Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)
Shark (SS-174)
Shark Class Submarine: Laid down, 24 October 1933, at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.; Launched, 21 May 1935; Commissioned USS Shark (SS-174), 25 January 1936; Lost to enemy action, approximately 11 February 1942, presumed to have been hit by enemy naval gun fire in the vicinity of the Celebes Islands. Post-war Japanese records showed numerous attacks on unidentified submarines in Shark's area at plausible times. At 01:37 on 11 February, the Japanese destroyer Yamakaze opened fire with her five-inch guns and sank a surfaced submarine. Voices were heard in the water, but no attempt was made to rescue possible survivors. Shark (SS-174) received one battle star for World War II service. Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,316 t., Submerged: 1,968 t.; Length 298' 1" ; Beam 25' 1"; Draft 13' 10"; Speed, Surfaced 19.5 kts, Submerged 8.25 kts; Complement 5 Officers 45 Enlisted; Armament, six 21" torpedo tubes, (including two deck firing tubes), 16 torpedoes, one 3"/50 deck gun, two .50 cal machine guns, two .30 cal machine guns; Propulsion, diesel-electric, Winton diesel engines, HP 4300, fuel capacity 86,675 gal., Elliot Motor Co. electric motors, HP 2085, battery cells, 240. twin screws.
| Click On Image For Full Size | Size | Image Description | Source | |
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1.40k | One of Shark's (SS-174) diesel's being installed. | USN photo courtesy of "Diesel, His Engine Changed the World" by Charles Marrow Wilson & submitted by Ernest Scott. | |
 0817438 |
NR | STOP THE PRESS!!!She'll Christen First PWA 'Sub'First U. S. war vessel to be completed from a $238,000,000 PWA fund, the submarine Shark (SS-174), will be christened by Miss Eleanor Roosevelt, above, daughter of Henry L. Roosevelt, first assistant secretary of the navy. Christening ceremonies are slated for March. The ship will be completed in August. In reality, she christened the next sub, Tarpon. | Image and text provided by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library, Chapel Hill, NC. Photo from The Times-News. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 10 January 1935, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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 | 354k | Shark (SS-174) was sponsored by Miss Ruth Ellen Lonergan, 12-year-old daughter of United States Senator Augustine Lonergan of Connecticut. | Text courtesy of DANFS. Electric Boat Company photo, courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON Groton, CT. |
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 0817439 |
NR | FOUR DAUGHTERS OF SENATE Proud Parent of Talented Lonergan Sisters, Connecticut Family, Divides Interest Between Affairs in Upper House and Home Interests of Children. The four daughters of Senator Augustine Lonergan, senior Senator from Connecticut. From left to right these charming young ladies are Ann Yates, Ruth Ellen, Lucy Waters and Mary Lee. |
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 23 October 1937, Image 13, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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 | 282k | Shark (SS-174) the day before launching, at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT., 20 May 1935. Note the P3 on her bow. | USN photo # N-16690 courtesy of SN Alan A. Palmer, in memory of his uncle TM3 John M. Worsham, who lost his life in Shark approximately 11 February 1942. | |
 | 28k | Commemorative postal cover marking Shark's (SS-174) launching, 21 May 1935 at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. | Courtesy of of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory). | |
 | 27k | Broadsheet announcement of Shark's (SS-174) launch, 21 May 1935 at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. | USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org. | |
 | 256k | Shark (SS-174) about to slide down the launching ways, 21 May 1935 at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. | Photo courtesy of history.navy.mil. | |
 | 89k | Shark (SS-174) immediately after launching by the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut, 21 May 1935. | USNHC photograph # NH 42075. | |
 | 64k | Shark (SS-174) immediately after launching by the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut, 21 May 1935. | USN photo. | |
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774k | The launching of the Shark (SS-174) from the South Yard of Electric Boat Company. Five page PDF file showing the history of USN vessels named Shark. | USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
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98k | Cast iron model of the Triton (SS-201) and Shark (SS-174) class submarines. | Photo courtesy of John Shane, whose grandfather, Lieutenant Commander Louis Shane, Jr. was lost at sea while commanding the Shark (SS-174), approximately 11 February 1942. | |
 | 355k | Interior photo of the Shark's (SS-174) crew quarters 3 July 1935. The view is looking forward. | US Navy / Electric Boat Company photo, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
 0817435 |
263k | The crew of the Shark (SS-174) keeps a tradition of having a crew party at Polly's Inn. Polly's Inn burned down (total loss) during the night of 5 March, 1947. See the attached newspaper article (Front page, bottom right under FLASHES!). |
Polly's Inn insert courtesy of Joshua Blodgett. Photo courtesy of submarinememorial.org |
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 | 301k | Shark's (SS-174) galley, 5 October 1935. | US Navy / Electric Boat Company photo, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
 | 388k | Shark's (SS-174) engineering spaces, 7 October 1935. | US Navy / Electric Boat Company photo, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
 | 290k | Shark's (SS-174) conning tower under construction, 19 October 1935. | US Navy / Electric Boat Company photo, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
 | 396k | Shark's (SS-174) maneuvering room looking forward, 19 October 1935. | US Navy / Electric Boat Company photo, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
 | 274k | Shark's (SS-174) control room to after port corner, 18 January 1936. | US Navy / Electric Boat Company photo, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
 | NR | New Submarines at Navy Yard The Porpoise (SS-172) and Shark (SS-174), new United States submarines, photographed Just after they arrived at the Washington Navy Yard. | Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo & text by Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 03 March 1936, Image 12, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 | 18k | Commemorative postal cover marking Shark's (SS-174) shakedown cruise, 29 March 1936. | Courtesy of of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory). | |
 | 111k | A grainy Shark (SS-174) moves across the waters, possibly before her shakedown cruise, 29 March 1936. | Photo courtesy of Dorothy Deina Porter. | |
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119k | Holland (AS-3) with seven submarines alongside, circa 1936-1939.
These "boats" are, from left to right: Nautilus (SS-168); Narwhal (SS-167); Shark (SS-174), marked "P3"; Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1"; Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1"; Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4". |
NH # 3036, courtesy of U.S. Naval Historical Center. | |
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82k | Holland (AS-3) with seven submarines alongside, circa 1936-1939. These "boats" are, from left to right: Nautilus (SS-168); Narwhal (SS-167); Shark (SS-174), marked "P3"; Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1"; Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1"; Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4". |
NH # 3037, courtesy of U.S. Naval Historical Center. | |
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90k | Holland (AS-3) with seven submarines alongside, circa 1936-1939. These "boats" are, from left to right: Nautilus (SS-168); Narwhal (SS-167); Shark (SS-174), marked "P3"; Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1"; Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1"; Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4". |
NH # 3038, courtesy of U.S. Naval Historical Center. | |
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96k | Holland (AS-3) with seven submarines alongside, circa 1936-1939. These "boats" are, from left to right: Nautilus (SS-168); Narwhal (SS-167); Shark (SS-174), marked "P3"; Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1"; Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1"; Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4". |
NH # 3039, courtesy of U.S. Naval Historical Center. | |
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17k | Commemorative postal cover marking Fleet Maneuvers of the following subs off Midway, 5 April 1937: Argonaut (SS-166), Nautilus (SS-168), Dolphin (SS-169), Porpoise (SS-172), Pike (SS-173), & Shark (SS-174). |
Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory). | |
 | 273k | Shark marked as "P3", in this case it means 3 photos Portside bow view of the Shark (SS-174) broaching. | USN photo # 80-G-456140 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
 | 252k | A great black Shark (SS-174) with white broaching water. | USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
 0817434 |
1.32k | Recruiting poster: The Fighting Shark Poster showing Shark (SS-174) surfacing in the Pacific, circa 1937. | USN photo NH-76804 courtesy of history.navy.mil | |
 | 65k | Official model of the Shark (SS-174), photographed circa 1938 by her builder, the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut. | Photograph # 19-N-16680, from the Bureau of Ships Collection of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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129k | Handwritten on the back reads: "This is the series of "P" Boats built in '38-'39; Pike (SS-173), Porpoise (SS-172), Permit (SS-178), Shark (SS-174) ,& Tarpon (SS-175). Picture was taken in San Diego - The Pike & Porpoise are the only ones afloat today." From left to right: Shark, Permit, Perch, Porpoise, Tarpon & Pike. "This Picture has been Officially released by the Navy Department." |
USN photo courtesy of m.flickr.com via Bill Gonyo. | |
 0817433 |
NR | U. S. Sub Comes Up Under Air Carrier The Shark (SS-174), one of the navy’s newest submarines, came to the surface 'underneath the aircraft carrier Yorktown (CV-5), damaging its periscopes and radio mast, and flooding two compartments, it was reported reliably today. The Shark was said to be undergoing repairs in the Pearl Harbor navy yard. There were no injuries to members of the crew, it was understood. Naval authorities refused comment. Note: There is no mention of this in DANFS in either the Shark or the Yorktown pages. | Image and text provided by University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA. Photo from Imperial Valley Press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 12 September 1940, Image 5, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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 | 64k | The future commander of the Shark (SS-174), Louis Shane, Jr. He is pictured here in what would be a double celebration with his future wife Marjorie; his graduation from Annapolis & their wedding day, 1926. She never remarried after his loss. "For 20 years after the loss of the Shark she continued to express the hope that he was on a deserted island somewhere in the Pacific waiting for rescue." | Photo & text courtesy of his grandson, John Shane, whose grandfather, Lieutenant Commander Louis Shane, Jr. was lost at sea while commanding the Shark (SS-174), approximately 11 February 1942. | |
 | 85k | The future commander of the Shark (SS-174), Louis Shane, Jr. & wife Marjorie. | Photo courtesy of his grandson, John Shane. | |
 0817437 |
NR | Fear U. S. Sub With 65 Men Lost in Far East The Unitcd States submarine Shark (SS-174) (above) has been overdue for more than a month and "must be presumed lost" according to a Navy Department announcement. The 1,315 ton submersible, launched in 1935, carried a crew of 65 officers nnd men under the command of Lt. Com Louis Shane Jr. of Tacoma, Washington. |
Image and text provided by Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library. Photo from The Ypsilanti Daily Press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 25 March 1942, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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 | 10k | Louis Shane, Jr., Lieutenant Commander (Commanding Officer) of the Shark (SS-174) at the time of her loss. | Photo courtesy of oneternalpatrol.com. | |
 | 50k | Color drawing of the Shiratsuyu class destroyer Yamakaze. According to Submarines Lost Through Enemy Action sank the Shark (SS-174) on 11 February 1942. | Photo courtesy of combinedfleet.com. | |
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170k | The destroyer Yamakaze starts her slide to the bottom of the Pacific with help from the Nautilus (SS-168) on 25 June 1942. As the ship starts her plunge, the Rising Sun emblem which was visible on her fore turret to passing airplanes is seen in the periscope crosshairs. There were no survivors. | USN photo courtesy of Rick Connole, son of Commander David R. Connole, K.I.A. while commanding the Trigger (SS-237), 28 March 1945. | |
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132k | Close up of the above picture showing the sinking of the destroyer Yamakaze by the Nautilus (SS-168) on 25 June 1942. | USN photo courtesy of Rick Connole, son of Commander David R. Connole, K.I.A. while commanding the Trigger (SS-237), 28 March 1945. | |
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363k | Nautilus's (SS-168) sinking of the Yamakaze in color | USN photo courtesy of Tommy Trampp. | |
 0817436 |
NR | On Waterfront Mrs. Loraine Heath, checker, and Mrs. Thelma Blanchard (right), dock worker, handled supplies on a Navy pier in San Francisco. Mrs. Blanchard’s husband was lost with the Shark (SS-174), a submarine. They said they found pushing a hand truck around as easy as pushing a baby carriage. |
Image and text provided by Alaska State Library Historical Collections. Photo from The Daily Alaska Empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 07 January 1943, Image 6, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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 0817442 |
NR | Last Message to Mother BATTLE-NOTE TO MOM: This is the note a soldier found in a bottle in San Francisco Bay and forwarded to Mrs. H. F. Glass in Battle Creek, foster-mother of Seaman Lawrence Glass, member of the crew of the submarine Shark (SS-174) reported lost by the Navy in March, 1942. Mrs. Glass says the handwriting is that of her son and that he probably flung the bottle and note into the sea shortly before the ship was lost. |
Image and text provided by Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library. Photo from The Daily Monitor Leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 10 June 1943, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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 | 41k | Google Earth satellite photo of the general area in which Shark (SS-174) is assumed to have been lost. | View courtesy of Google Earth. | |
 | 78k | Memorial marker for the Shark's (SS-174) crew in Oklahoma. | Photo courtesy of csp.navy.mil. | |
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117k | Joyce DaSilva, the wife of Jesse DaSilva of the Tang (SS-306), one of the nine survivors of the boat, tosses a flower into a reflecting pool to honor the memory of one of the 52 submarines lost during World War II at the National Submarine Memorial-West on board Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif. On this Veterans Day, the Submarine Veterans of World War II transferred ownership of the memorial to the U.S. Navy. The following text is from The Coming Fury by Bruce Catton., pg. 478. "Major Sullivan Ballou of Rhode Island was killed in the battle, and just before it he had wrote to his wife, Sarah, to tell her that he believed he was going to be killed and to express a tremulous faith that could see a gleam of light in the dark: "But O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and float unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you in the gladdest days and in the gloomiest nights, always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your chest it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple it shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait, for we shall meet again!" |
Text i.d. courtesy of Marlynn Starring. Photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck Senior, Vice Commander, Los Angeles-Pasadena Base, USSVI. USN photo # N-1159B-021 by Journalist 2nd Class Brian Brannon, courtesy of news.navy.mil. |
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 | 47k | Commemorative photo honoring the memory of the crew of the Shark (SS-174). In Memorium: In the Second Book of Shmuel (Samuel), 22nd chapter, 5th through the 20th verses, translated from the original in Hebrew and published by the Koren Publishers of Jerusalem, Israel, 1982, can perhaps aptly describe the fate of the crew and all other U.S. submariners who died defending their county: "When the waves of death compassed me / the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; / the bonds of She'ol encircled me; / the snares of death took me by surprise; / in my distress I called upon the Lord, / and cried to my G-D: / and he heard my voice out of his temple, / and my cry entered into his ears. / Then the earth shook and trembled; /the foundations of heaven moved / and shook because of his anger /...the heavy mass of waters, and thick clouds of the skies /... And the channels of the sea appeared, / the foundations of the world were laid bare, / at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast at the breath of his nostrils. / He sent from above, he took me; / he drew me out of many waters; / he delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me. / They surprised me in the day of my calamity: / but the Lord was my stay..." | Photo courtesy of Tom Kermen. Dante's Prayer courtesy of Loreena McKennitt via loreenamckennitt.com | |
View the Shark (SS-174)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources ands of Interest
On Eternal Patrol
USS Shark (SS-174) In Memoriam
ComSubForPac - Shark (SS 174) February 11, 1942 - 59 Men Lost
PigBoats.COM TM, A Historic Look at Submarines.
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