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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Mike Keating

Amberjack (SS-522)

Radio Call Sign: November - Yankee - Juliet - Tango
Tench Class Submarine: Laid down, 8 February 1944, at Boston Navy Yard, Boston, MA.; Launched, 15 December 1944; Commissioned USS Amberjack (SS-522), 4 March 1946; Underwent "Guppy" Modernization in 1947-48; Decommissioned, simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 17 October 1973, at US Naval Submarine Base, Key West FL.; Transferred (sold) under the Security Assistance Program to Brazil, renamed Ceara (S-14); Final Disposition, fate unknown.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,570 t., Submerged: 2,414 t.; Length 311' 8"; Beam 27' 4"; Draft 15' 3"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10kts; Submerged Endurance, 48 hours at 2kts; Operating Depth, 400 ft; Complement 7 Officers, 69 Enlisted; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 5"/25 deck gun, two single 20mm guns; two /30 cal. machine guns; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Propulsion, diesel-electric reduction gear with four main generator motors, Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines, HP 5,400. Fuel Capacity, 113,510 gal., Elliot electric motors, HP 2,740, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.
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Amberjack & Grampus 214k Sections of the pressure hulls of Amberjack (SS-522) and Grampus (SS-523) under construction in the Structural Shop of the Boston Navy Yard ca. 1944. Note: The original print is a Navy copy print which did not include the bottom line of the caption. USN photo from the National Park Service, Boston National Historical Park, cat. no. BOSTS-10259 courtesy of Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard.
Amberjack 120k Amberjack (SS-522) on 16 February 1946, a few weeks before her commissioning. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 118k Amberjack (SS-522) in "stream" in Boston Harbor on 3 April 1946. Boston Naval Shipyard photo # 1349-46, from the National Park Service, Boston National Historical Park, cat. no. BOSTS-10258, courtesy of Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard.
Amberjack 141k Front and back pages of the Christening & Commissioning program for the Amberjack (SS-522) at Boston Mass, 4 March 1946. Photo courtesy of Dr. Everett (Bud) Burchell (Plankowner) USN (Retired).
Amberjack 189k Second & third pages of the Christening & Commissioning program for the Amberjack (SS-522) at Boston Mass, 4 March 1946. Photo courtesy of Dr. Everett (Bud) Burchell (Plankowner) USN (Retired).
Amberjack 189k Jim Carroll's Amberjack (SS-522) Plankowner's certificate, 4 March 1946. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 91k Port side view of the Amberjack (SS-522) in original configuration, circa 1946. Photo courtesy of Dr. Everett (Bud) Burchell (Plankowner) USN (Retired).
Amberjack & Threadfin 152k Dockside view at New London, CT., shows the Amberjack (SS-522) possibly being supplied with stocks for her shakedown cruise & Threadfin (SS-410), which served as a training platform for the officers and men learning the ropes at the Submarine School. Spring / early Summer 1946. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
Amberjack 110k The opening of the curtain during Amberjack's (SS-522) shakedown cruise is appropriately symbolized by the opening of the bridge on the Thames River as the boat leaves New London, CT., and heads out to sea, Spring / early Summer 1946. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 156k Airing out on the conning tower with a seat occupied on one of the 40mm guns aboard the Amberjack (SS-522) during her shakedown cruise, Spring / early Summer 1946. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 165k Group photo with the Amberjack's (SS-522) bell in the background during her shakedown cruise, Spring / early Summer 1946. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Balboa Sub Base 125k Aboard Amberjack (SS-522) at the Balboa Sub Base at Cristobal, Canal Zone. One of the boats in the background is the Argonaut (SS-475), seen here during her shakedown cruise, Spring / early Summer 1946. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 118k Slight change of weather from the Arctic which would await the boat in a few months time. One of the crewmember poses alongside one of the 40mm guns aboard the Amberjack (SS-522) in the Panama Canal Zone during her shakedown cruise, Spring / early Summer 1946. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 105k Partial view of the 5"/25 deck gun aboard the Amberjack (SS-522) in the Panama Canal Zone during her shakedown cruise, early Summer 1946. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 121k Amberjack (SS-522) moored at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, during her shakedown cruise, Spring 1946. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 213k Newspaper clipping showing the Amberjack (SS-522) coming up for an emergency surface from a depth of 150 feet at a 48 degree angle during her trials off Key West, Florida. Partial caption reads: "The normal surfacing angle is 5 degrees". Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 76k George Herald (with signal flags) & Wilson, during Amberjack's (SS-522) Arctic Cruise in November 1946. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 208k Looking forward from the Amberjack's (SS-522) conning tower during her November 1946 Arctic cruise. She is about to take a wave over the bow running the length of the boat. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 187k Looking forward from the Amberjack's (SS-522) conning tower (before modernization). An ice berg is seen in the distance (circled), November 1946. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 197k Looking forward from the Amberjack's (SS-522) conning tower during her November 1946 Arctic cruise. She is taking a wave over the bow running the length of the boat. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
Amberjack 173k Looking aft from the Amberjack's (SS-522) conning tower during her November 1946 Arctic cruise. She is coming out of the wave. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
Amberjack 79k Amberjack (SS-522) and possibly the Requin (SS-481) are seen here during her November 1946 Arctic cruise Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 50k Jim Carroll warming up to the cold during Amberjack's (SS-522) Arctic Cruise in November 1946. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 61k A bearded Jim Carroll in the Amberjack's (SS-522) maneuvering room, circa 1947. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 63k Amberjack (SS-522) along side an unknown boat at the start of the Guppy modernization. The other boat looks like she's getting close to being finished. The time period for the photos on this page starts from February or March 1947 to November or December 1947. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 48k The underside of Amberjack (SS-522), from the floor of the dry dock, looking aft. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 75k The Amberjack's (SS-522) Guppy(Gun Deck). It appears to be part of the conning tower deck, after it was removed. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 73k This shows the forward escape trunk of the Amberjack (SS-522) with the superstructure removed. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 63k Rear view of the old conning tower and shears, after removal. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 100k Port aft quarter of Amberjack (SS-522), from top of dry dock. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 95k Looking forward, over the after engine room hatch. The exhaust piping has been removed and part of the after engine room air induction piping. The new clam shell superstructure, just aft of the sail is already in place. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 70k Looking forward with the superstructure aft of the bow buoyancy tank removed. The upper end of the forward escape trunk is visible at the bottom of the picture. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 70k Looking aft along the port side as the dry dock was being pumped down. The box like structure, on deck, was the protective housing for working on the new sail. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 67k Looking forward from the aft deck. Some of the port side superstructure has already been removed. The only parts remaining are the areas over the mufflers. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 67k A bow on view. The bow modification (Bow Buoyancy Tank) appears finished and the sail's protective housing is still in place. It also looks like number 2 torpedo tube outer door is open. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 63k From bottom of dry dock looking forward. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 58k The old bow buoyancy tank has been remove and the sail's protective cover has been put in place. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 61k Still in dry dock. The new superstructure and sail are in place. Scaffolding around the sail is for finishing the final work on it. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 68k The new superstructure and sail are in place and, it looks like the hull painting is done. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 67k Bow on view of the Amberjack (SS-522) on blocks after modernization, before the sonar dome was installed. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 130k Amberjack (SS-522) from top of dry dock. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 137k Amberjack (SS-522) seen from an upper story window of a building near the dry dock. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 130k Amberjack (SS-522) from top of dry dock. Boat is nearing end of guppy work, but the screws still have to be mounted. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 121k Amberjack (SS-522) from top of dry dock. Guppy conversion is nearing completion but the scaffolding is still in place around the sail. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
GUPPY 222k Broadside view of a cutout of a GUPPY design. Photo courtesy of ussgrampus.com.
GUPPY 182k Overhead view of a cutout of a GUPPY design. Photo courtesy of ussgrampus.com.
Amberjack 101k Early (original) photo of the Amberjack (SS-522) with a Portsmouth step sail, starboard view, circa 1947-48. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 146k The Amberjack (SS-522) with a Portsmouth step sail, circa 1947-48, portside view. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 74k Amberjack (SS-522), after initial Guppy modification. The first Guppy sail was a stepped, Portsmouth style sail, with flared top for the radar, circa 1948. USN photo courtesy of Mike Keating.
Amberjack 99k Bow on view to a docked Amberjack (SS-522) in New York Harbor behind a Haven Class Hospital Ship, the Consolation (AH-15), circa 1948. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Photo i.d. courtesy of David Montgomery.
Amberjack & Trumpetfish 201k Amberjack (SS-522) on the left and Trumpetfish (SS-425), tied up to the pier at Pensacola, Florida., circa 1948. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack & Trumpetfish 127k Amberjack (SS-522) inboard of Trumpetfish (SS-425), tied up to the pier at Pensacola, Florida., circa 1948. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 108k Three boats tied upto the pier in Bermuda; the Amberjack (SS-522) is the only identifiable one, circa 1948. Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 76k Three-photo sequence of Amberjack (SS-522) surfacing near Midway (CVB-41), late 1940s-early 1950s. Photo courtesy of Ric Hedman, TN(SS) via Fabio Pena.
Photo i.d. courtesy of Mike Keating & Edwin Page.
Key West 545k Amberjack (SS-522), Sennet (SS-408) & Manta (SS-299) moored to port side of Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16) at Naval Station Key West, Florida, January 1950. Photo # 80-G-428967 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Amberjack 1.70k 4 photo PDF taken by J. Baylor Roberts while on-board Amberjack (SS-522) during maneuvers off Key West, sometime in 1950. Photos courtesy of J. Baylor Roberts of the National Geographic Society & submitted by Jim Geldert, USNI.
Amberjack 53k Amberjack (SS-522) en route to Key West, FL after a daily exercise. Circa 1951/1952. I am visible on the starboard side of the bridge and wearing a white hat - I was the starboard lookout on maneuvering watch. Photo courtesy of Robert E. Straub, RM2SS, Guavina SS-362 (August 1944 to August 1946).
SS 522
0852275		 NR Change of Command Ceremonies Aboard Amberjack (SS-522)
COMMANDER PHILIP A. BESHANY (left) being relieved by LCDR. Robert Carroll right at change of command ceremonies on Amberjack.		 Image and text provided by University of Florida.
Photo & text by The Key West Citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 31 August 1951, Image 7, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Amberjack 549k Amberjack (SS-522) after initial Guppy modification and showing upper rudder. She has a Portsmouth style sail, circa 1952. USN photo # 441292 courtesy of Mike Keating & Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
SS 522
0852214		 NR The Admiral Gets Into The Swing Image and text provided by University of Florida.
Photo & text by The Key West Citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 28 March 1952, Image 8, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Fremantle 428k Subs at Key West, FL., post late March 1952.
From left to right: Clamagore (SS-343), Amberjack (SS-522), Cero (SS-225), unknown, Cobia (SS-245). The rest are too unclear to i.d. 		Photo courtesy of Albert Krause, Jr, SO2(SS)
SS 522
0852213		 NR USS AMBERJACK (SS-522)
a painting by Van Noble, Key West artist, of the submarine formerly commanded by the Presidential Naval Aide, Cdr. Edward L. Beach, now hangs in his office in the White House.		 Image and text provided by University of Florida.
Photo & text by The Key West Citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 07 January 1954, Image 3, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
SS 522
0852254d		 NR FIRST THANKSGIVING
For the Submarine Squadron's Officers' Wives coffee this week, at Fort Taylor Officers Club, the first Thanksgiving scene was made for the affair by Dorris Cushman, wife of Lt. C. H. Cushman of the submarine Amberjack (SS-522). It took Mrs. Cushman three weeks to make the costumes for the dolls and have the scene ready for the showing. The Cushmans reside at 25 Maine Road. About 150 submarine officers wives enjoyed the Thanksgiving atmosphere. 		Image and text provided by University of Florida.
Photo & text by The Key West Citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 05 November 1954, Image 3, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Amberjack 485k Amberjack (SS-522) circa late 1950's. Photo courtesy of Larry Hawkins.
522 275k Amberjack (SS-522) entering Havana, 1950's. Photo courtesy of Tommy Trampp.
Amberjack 318k Amberjack (SS-522) surfacing after overhaul at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, circa January - May 1961. Photo courtesy of Jack R. Bertram EM1 (SS), USN.
Amberjack 430k Port side view of the Amberjack (SS-522) underway after overhaul at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, circa January - May 1961. Photo courtesy of Jack R. Bertram EM1 (SS), USN.
Amberjack 144k This overhead view of the Amberjack (SS-522) underway on two engines and showing a piece of plywood on the forward deck was taken in early 1963 sea trial after overhaul in Charleston, South Carolina. The photo was taken from the Cooper River bridge as the boat was exiting the harbor. Text courtesy of Bill Roup, USN (Retired)
Photo courtesy of George M. Arnold.
Amberjack 18k Commemorative postal cover marking the 21st anniversary of the Amberjack's (SS-522) keel laying, 18 February 1965. Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Amberjack 78k Portside picture from Amberjack's Welcome Aboard journal. Photo was taken off Gitmo in May of 1966. Photo courtesy of Mike Keating. Photo i.d. courtesy of John C. McGuckin, MM 2 SS, Lt. USNR ret.
Odax 37k Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16) with Amberjack (SS-522) and Odax (SS-484) along side, December 1966, Charleston, SC. The photo was taken from the cruiser destroyer pier looking north. Photo courtesy of Richard Leonhardt.
Amberjack 334k Amberjack (SS-522) & Thornback (SS-418) side by side at St. Thomas during Springboard ops in January / February of 1967. Longwire antenna on Thornback attached to after torpedo loading hatch (lower end). Photo courtesy of Fred Schuster TM2 (SS).
Amberjack 45k John McGuckin operating the air manifold aboard Amberjack in late 1966, early 1967. Photo courtesy of John McGuckin and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 551k 3 page PDF of Amberjack's crew listing for the Thanksgiving day menu, 1967. Photo courtesy of John McGuckin and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 339k This is a view of the conning tower of the Amberjack during a training exercise to evaluate a periscope camera. Photo courtesy of W.P. Jones.
Amberjack 53k This series of pictures (2) were taken by my wife in 1973 while Amberjack (SS-522) dove alongside the pier in Key West in preparation to ride out an expected hurricane. LCDR Stuart Merriken was commanding at the time. He was Amberjack's last C.O., prior to her transfer to the Brazilian navy. Amberjack starting to dive. Photo courtesy of Mike Keating.
Amberjack 57k Just the sail of the Amberjack (SS-522) is visible. Photo courtesy of Mike Keating.
Amberjack 345k Amberjack (SS-522) in the floating dry dock at the Naval Station Key West. Photo from the Ida Woodward Baron Collection in the Florida Keys Public Library via flickr.com courtesy of Steven Gower.
Amberjack 70k Cut out of the Amberjack (SS-522) in her final configuration. Photo courtesy of Mike Keating.
Ceara (S-14)
Amberjack 1.89k 14 photo PDF of the decommissioning cerenony of Amberjack (SS-522) and transfer to the Brazilian navy as the Ceara (S-14). Photos courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating.
Amberjack 377k Newspaper clipping of Amberjack's (SS-522) transfer to the Brazilian Navy, 18 October 1973 from the Key West Citizen. Courtesy of Mike Keating.
Amberjack 89k Petty Officer Cassidy (left) and Petty Officer Doggett (US crew) folding Amberjack's (SS-522) colors for the last time. Photo from the Key West Citizen courtesy of Mike Keating.
Amberjack 34k Petty Officers Doggett and Cassidy lowering Amberjack's (SS-522) colors, ending her service in the United States Navy. Photo from the Key West Citizen courtesy of Mike Keating.
Amberjack 59k Some of Amberjack's (SS-522) crew and Officers mustered for the last time, (as her crew) preparing to leave the boat. I believe that's Petty Officer Wilson, carrying Amberjack's name board. Photo from the Key West Citizen courtesy of Mike Keating.
Amberjack 275k Key West Citizen newspaper article and photo of the Amberjack (SS-522) and detailing the closing of the base there. Photo from the Key West Citizen courtesy of Mike Keating.
Amberjack 95k This picture was originally published in the Key West Citizen on 29 March 1973 Key West Citizen newspaper article and photo of the Amberjack (SS-522) on her return from her last deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. Photo from the Key West Citizen courtesy of Mike Keating.
Amberjack 252k LCDR Stuart Merriken leaves a rear hatch on the submarine Amberjack (SS-522) at the Key West Naval Base. The sub is to be turned over to the Brazilian Navy. The Amberjack was the last active naval vessel at the Key West base and one of a handful of diesel submarines left in the navy. Photo courtesy of Mike Keating.
Amberjack 93k Petty Officer St.Clair was the last man to retire from Amberjack (SS-522), prior to her transfer to the Brazilian Navy. Photo from the Key West Citizen courtesy of Mike Keating.
Amberjack 218k Amberjack's (SS-522) flag is folded for the last time. The sailor in the picture is a Petty Officer second class, his name is Doggett. The article also contains additional history of the Key West base. It was published in the Miami Herald on 18 October 1973. Photo from the Miami Herald, courtesy of Mike Keating.
Amberjack 656k History of the Amberjack (SS-522). The article also contains additional history of the Key West base. It was published in the Miami Herald on 18 October 1973. Photo from the Miami Herald, courtesy of Mike Keating.
Amberjack 110k This picture was originally published in the Outpost (Base Paper) on 23 May 1973. The caption explains that she's flying the Dolphin Pennant, which indicates that all crew members of the Amberjack (SS-522) have qualified in Submarines. Photo courtesy of Mike Keating.
Amberjack 61k Bow on view of the ex-Amberjack (SS-522), now the Brazilian Ceara (S-14), circa 1970's. Brazilian Navy photo by SRPM, via Jose' Henrique Mendes, courtesy of naviosdeguerrabrasileiros.hpg.ig.com.br.
Amberjack 125k Lots of sails are out to greet the ex-Amberjack (SS-522), now the Brazilian Ceara (S-14), entering Fortaleza, capital city of the state of her namesake, Ceara', circa 1970's. Brazilian Navy photo by MB, courtesy of naviosdeguerrabrasileiros.hpg.ig.com.br.
Amberjack 63k Sail of the ex-Amberjack (SS-522), now the Brazilian Ceara (S-14) on permanent display and aptly surrounded by water, in Fortaleza, capital city of the state of her namesake, Ceara'. Brazilian Navy photo by Rute^nio Sampaio, courtesy of naviosdeguerrabrasileiros.hpg.ig.com.br.
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