Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
United States Navy — Submarine SS-239

USS Whale (SS-239)

Gato-class diesel-electric submarine

USS Whale (SS-239)
Unknown author — Unknown source — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons Plate — SS-239 USS Whale (SS-239); https://www.navsource.net/archives/08/08239.htm USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker and John Hummel. Navy Photo 2879-45. A bow view of Whale (SS-239) off Mare Island on 21 Apr 1945. She was under going repairs at Mare Island from 26 Jan and 26 Apr 1945.

Service

  1. United States Navy1 June 1942 — 1 June 19461,189 days of the war
Full service history About 4,447 words
Gato-class diesel-electric submarine Particulars
Name
USS Whale
Pennant / hull number
SS-239
Builder
Mare Island Naval Shipyard
Laid down
28 June 1941
Launched
14 March 1942
Commissioned
1 June 1942
Decommissioned
1 June 1946
Struck
1 March 1960
Fate
Sold for scrap, 14 October 1960 (1960)
Status
Scrapped

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
1,525 long tons (1,549 t)
Displacement, submerged
2,424 long tons (2,463 t)
Length
94.79 m (311 ft)
Beam
8.23 m (27 ft)
Draught
5.18 m (17 ft)
Speed
21 knots (38.9 km/h, 24.2 mph)
Range
11,000 nmi (20,372 km)
Complement
60
Main gun
76 mm (3 in)

An extremely large, aquatic mammal which is fish-like in form. True air-breathing, warm-blooded mammals, whales are nearing extinction due to man's pursuit for oil and whalebone.

The first Whale (SS-239) was laid down on 28 June 1941 by the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, Calif.; launched on 14 March 1942; sponsored by Mrs. A. D. Denny, wife of Capt. A. D. Denny, the commanding officer of the shipyard; and commissioned on 1 June 1942, Lt. Comdr. J. B. Azer in command.

Dock trials and initial shakedown training commenced on 30 July. The submarine, escorted by Kilty (DD-137), departed San Francisco on 4 August and arrived at San Diego two days later. Between 30 July and 9 September, she conducted type training in the San Diego and San Francisco areas.

Continue to the full service history About 4,447 words

From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Whale I (SS-239)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 4 × General Motors Model 16-248 V16 Diesel engines driving electric generators
  • 2 × 126-cell Sargo batteries
  • 4 × high-speed General Electric electric motors with reduction gears
  • two propellers
  • 5,400 shp (4.0 MW) surfaced
  • 2,740 shp (2.0 MW) submerged
Armament
  • 10 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • 6 forward, 4 aft
  • 24 torpedoes
  • 1 × 3-inch (76 mm) / 50 caliber deck gun
  • Bofors 40 mm and Oerlikon 20 mm cannon

Sister ships

51 more in the class

Sources

  • Facts harvested from USS Whale (SS-239) on Wikipedia. Figures only — no wording is taken from it.
  • Service history reproduced verbatim from Whale I (SS-239) , Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships — public domain, a work of the United States Government.
  • Photograph: Unknown author — Unknown source — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons