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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
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Skipjack (SS-184)

Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Romeo - Bravo
Salmon Class Submarine: Laid down, 22 July 1936, at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 23 October 1937; Commissioned, USS Skipjack (SS-184), 30 June 1938; Decommissioned, 28 August 1946; Struck from the Naval Register, 13 September 1948; Final Disposition, sunk as a target, 11 August 1948, off the coast of California. Skipjack earned seven 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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Skipjack 20k Commemorative postal cover marking the keel laying of Skipjack (SS-184), 22 July 1936, at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Skipjack 19k Commemorative postal cover marking the keel laying of Skipjack (SS-184), 22 July 1936, at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Skipjack 32k Commemorative postal cover marking the Skipjack's (SS-184) launching, 23 October 1937. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Skipjack 82k Bow view of the Skipjack (SS-184) off Provincetown, Massachusetts, during trials, 14 May 1938. Photograph # 19-N-19055, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Skipjack 60k Broadside view of the Skipjack (SS-184) off Provincetown, Massachusetts, during trials, 14 May 1938. Photograph # 19-N-19053, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Skipjack 52k Stern view of the Skipjack (SS-184) off Provincetown, Massachusetts, during trials, 14 May 1938. Photograph # 19-N-19031, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Skipjack 67k Skipjack (SS-184) submerging off Provincetown, Massachusetts, during trials, 14 May 1938. Photograph # 19-N-19026, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Skipjack 69k Skipjack (SS-184) running submerged at periscope depth, off Provincetown, Massachusetts, during trials, 14 May 1938. Photograph # 19-N-19051, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Skipjack 68k Stern view of the Skipjack (SS-184), off Provincetown, Massachusetts, during trials, 14 May 1938. Photograph # 19-N-19054, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Skipjack 138k Skipjack's (SS-184) data plaque, photographed circa June 1938. Official USN photo # 19-N-18862, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Skipjack 17k Commemorative postal cover marking the commissioning of Skipjack (SS-184), 30 June 1938. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Seal 60k Commemorative postal cover 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.
Skipjack 92k Skipjack (SS-184) running up the Thames River after departing the Electric Boat Company shipyard at Groton, Connecticut, to go to the Naval Submarine Base for commissioning ceremonies, 30 June 1938. The city of New London is in the background. Photographed by the Electric Boat Company. Photograph # 19-N-19833, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
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).
Skipjack 1.01k This is the harbor mouth at Havana, Cuba with the Morro Castle on the right. Note the submarine coming in with two escorts. That's the Skipjack (SS-184) on its first assignment, in the Caribbean in 1938 or 39, before the war started. It has just finished its shakedown cruises. Photograph courtesy of Don Cochrane.
The photo is from the collection of Douglas O. Cochrane - known as "DOC". He was the radioman from the beginning to approx 1943.
Skipjack 56k The Skipjack (SS-184) was assigned to Submarine Squadron (SubRon) 6 and departed for fleet maneuvers in the Caribbean and South Atlantic. Photo might be from the period following her return to New London on 10 April 1939. USN photo courtesy of USNI.
Text courtesy of DANFS.
Plunger1.54kUS Sub Base, New London, CT., 10 May 1939: Identifiable submarines are Salmon (SS-182) & Seal (SS-183). This corresponds to DANFS as both boats were known to have been in Groton on the date of the picture. For the rest of the boats I can not get the picture clear enough for positive ID’s, but they all look like EB design R and S-class boats. Great picture! It illustrates how primitive the base was at this time. It expanded rapidly as the war approached.Photo i.d. courtesy of Ric Hedman & David Johnston.
Record Group 18: Records of the Army Air Forces, ca. 1902 - 1964
Series: "Airscapes" of American and Foreign Areas, 1917 - 1964
File Unit:Connecticut - New London
Local Identifier: 18-AA-30-55
National Archives Identifier: 23936527
Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
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.
Skipjack 350k "This series of photos shows Skipjack (SS-184) 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 of Bow, port side, 11 July 1941. 		USN photo # 1551-41 now in the 'Formerly Secret CNO files 1940-47' camouflage folders held at NARA II, College Park.
Photo courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
Skipjack 371k "This series of photos shows Skipjack (SS-184) 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 of Bow, starboard side, 11 July 1941. 		USN photo # 1552-41 now in the 'Formerly Secret CNO files 1940-47' camouflage folders held at NARA II, College Park.
Photo courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
Skipjack 289k "This series of photos shows Skipjack (SS-184) 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, 11 July 1941. 		USN photo # 1557-41, now in the 'Formerly Secret CNO files 1940-47' camouflage folders held at NARA II, College Park.
Photo courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
Skipjack 337k "This series of photos shows Skipjack (SS-184) 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.....Detailed view Aft, starboard side, 11 July 1941. 		USN photo # 1559-41, now in the 'Formerly Secret CNO files 1940-47' camouflage folders held at NARA II, College Park.
Photo courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
Skipjack 709k "This series of photos shows Skipjack (SS-184) 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.....Detailed view Aft, starboard side, 11 July 1941. 		USN photo # 1558-41, now in the 'Formerly Secret CNO files 1940-47' camouflage folders held at NARA II, College Park.
Photo courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
Skipjack 66k LCDR. Charles Lawrence Freeman was the commanding officer of the Skipjack (SS-184) from 29 July 1941 to 28 March 1942. Photo courtesy of the James Melville Gilliss Library, courtesy of of Bill Gonyo.
Skipjack 176k On 14 April 1942, Skipjack (SS-184) got underway for her third war patrol, conducted in the Celebes, Sulu, and South China seas. On 6 May, contact was made with a Japanese cargo ship, and the submarine moved in for the kill. Finding herself almost dead ahead, Skipjack fired a "down the throat" spread of three torpedoes that sank the Kanan Maru. Text courtesy of DANFS.
Photo courtesy of Tommy Trampp.
Skipjack 59k The Japanese Freighter S.S. Shunko Maru is sinking in the central Pacific, after she was torpedoed by Skipjack (SS-184) on 14 October 1942. Photographed through Skipjack's periscope. Shunko Maru's back appears to be broken, and her hull bears traces of pattern camouflage paint. Official USN photo # 80-G-33292, now in the collections of the National Archives.
Skipjack 71k Skipjack (SS-184) underway off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 22 March 1943. Official USN photo # NH 99193 from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Skipjack 55k Skipjack (SS-184) underway off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 22 March 1943. Official USN photo # 19-N-42441, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Skipjack 83k Skipjack (SS-184) seen from ahead, while underway off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 22 March 1943. Official USN photo # NH 99195 from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Skipjack 92k Skipjack (SS-184) seen from astern, while underway off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 22 March 1943. Official USN photo # NH 99194 from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Skipjack 82k Plan view of the Skipjack (SS-184), foreward, taken off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 22 March 1943. White outlines mark recent alterations. Note the unmarked LST and barrage balloons in the background. Official USN photo # NH 99197 from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Skipjack 183k Amidships looking forward plan view of Skipjack (SS-184) in Mare Island channel on 19 July 1944. She was in overhaul at the yard from 25 April to 26 July 1944. USN photo # 4709-44, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Skipjack 189k Amidships looking aft plan view of Skipjack (SS-184) in Mare Island channel on 19 July 1944. White outlines mark recent alterations, among them a 4"/50 deck gun, which replaced her previous 3"/50 gun. She was in overhaul at the yard from 25 April to 26 July 1944. USN photo # 4708-44, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Skipjack 53k Skipjack (SS-184), off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 19 July 1944. Official USN photo # NH 99198 from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Skipjack 68k Port side view of the Skipjack (SS-184), underway off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 19 July 1944. Official USN photo # NH 99199, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Skipjack 88k Skipjack (SS-184), photographed from ahead, while underway off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 19 July 1944. Official USN photo # NH 99200, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Skipjack 90k Skipjack (SS-184), photographed from astern, while underway off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 19 July 1944. In the left center background are six tank landing craft, with LCT-1079, LCT-1078 and LCT-1320 (listed from left to right) moored side by side in the nearest group. Official USN photo # NH 99201, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Skipjack 100k Insignia designed for Skipjack (SS-184), during World War II. Photograph # NH 65256-KN, courtesy of the U.S. Naval Historical Center.
Skipjack 153k The raising of the Skipjack (SS-184) after the atomic blast sunk it during Shot B of Operation Crossroads at Bikini.
The raising of the boat may have been prepared ahead, on the assumption that the the Bomb would sink it. That may explain all the cables on the deck. 		Photograph courtesy of flickr.com via Don Cochrane.
Chivo 98k Chivo (SS-341) moored in Pearl Harbor with her decks awash. Skipjack (SS-184) & Parche (SS-384) moored off to the side, 1945. USN photo courtesy of Medzius & usschivo.org via Bill Gonyo.
Skipjack 38k Skipjack (SS-184), at South Boston Navy Yard, circa 15 November 1945 to 4 February 1946. Photo by Vincent Grobbel, BM1, USCG, USS Davenport (PF-69), courtesy of Mike Grobbel.
Operation Crossroads 186k The array of target ships in Bikini lagoon for the Baker shot of Operation Crossroads. Half of the target ships were outside the area of this map. The ten red X's mark the ten ships that sank. The table (left) contains the key to ship numbers. The black circle, with a radius of 1,000 yards (914 m) from the point of detonation, outlines the area of serious ship damage. The blue circle, 330 yards (302 m) radius, marks the rim of the shallow underwater crater created by the blast, as well as the outer circumference of the hollow water column which enveloped Arkansas (BB-33). The submarines were submerged: Pilotfish (SS-386), ship #8, to a keel depth of 56 feet (17 m), Apogon (SS-308), ship #2, to a keel depth of 100 feet (30 m), and Skipjack (SS-184), ship #41, to 150 feet (46 m). National Park Service photo, Jerry Livingston and Larry Nordby - Delgado, James P., et al., The Archeology of the Atomic Bomb, National Park Service, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1991, Baker map on p 17,., via wikipedia.org.
Operation Crossroads 382k Navy workman wearing protective hood & suit, sandblasting radioactive paint off side of submarine that was contaminated by deadly radio active spray showered on it while in nearby waters of Baker atomic bomb test on Bikini atoll. Photo by Fritz Goro/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images, courtesy of gettyimages.com.
Skate & Skipjack 74k The Skipjack (SS-184) (inboard) and Skate (SS-305) are seen at the Pacific Reserve Fleet Mare Island in October 1947. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Skipjack 86k ex Skipjack (SS-184), sinking off southern California, after being used as a target, 11 August 1948. Note her propellers, stern planes, rudder, and badly damaged after superstructure. Photograph # NH 99203, courtesy of the U.S. Naval Historical Center, courtesy of Commander Donald B. Ingerslew, USN, via his daughter, Mary Jacobs.
View the Skipjack (SS-184)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
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