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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Archerfish (SS-311, later AGSS-311), 1943-1968

USS Archerfish, a 1525-ton Balao class submarine built at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, New Hampshire, was commissioned in September 1943. She served in the Pacific throughout World War II. On 29 November 1944, Archerfish torpedoed and sank the Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano, the largest warship ever lost in combat. In addition to regular war patrol activities, she also performed aircrew rescue duties and was present in Tokyo Bay at the time of Japan's formal surrender on 2 September 1945.

Out of commission between June 1946 and March 1952, Archerfish operated in the Atlantic during 1952-55 and decommissioned for a second time in October 1955. Recommissioned in August 1957, her subsequent employment was mainly as a scientific research submarine. She was redesignated AGSS-311 in 1960 and participated in Operation "Sea Scan", a global oceanographic undertaking that ran into the mid-1960s. Archerfish continued her research support service in the Pacific until removed from active service in May 1968. She was sunk as a target the following October.

This page features all our views related to USS Archerfish.

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: 80-G-326328

USS Archerfish (SS-311)


Underway on 30 May 1945, probably in the San Francisco Bay area.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 113KB; 740 x 590 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: 80-G-326329

USS Archerfish (SS-311)


Underway on 30 May 1945, probably in the San Francisco Bay area.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: NH 96816

USS Archerfish (SS-311)


Off Hunter's Point Naval Drydocks, San Francisco, California, 5 June 1945.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Image Quality Note: This photograph has been somewhat retouched to emphasize the deck line, forward, and some features of the conning tower superstructure.

Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 90519

USS Proteus (AS-19)


With submarines of Submarine Squadron 20 alongside in Tokyo Bay, on VJ-Day, 2 September 1945.
Names of the submarines present, their commanding officers and the commanding officers of SubRon20 and USS Proteus are printed at the bottom of the image.

Courtesy of Captain Joseph F. Enright, USN(Retired), 1979.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 575 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 96815

USS Archerfish (AGSS-311)


Operating off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, 12 March 1961. She was then participating in Operation "Sea Scan", a scientific undertaking to investigate oceanographic and weather conditions.
Photographed by PH2 C.L. Roberson.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 90516

USS Archerfish (SS-311)


Ship's crew ashore for Christmas Day rest and recreation at Camp Dealey, Guam, 25 December 1944.
Officers, seated at front, are (left to right):
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Joseph J. Bosza;
Boatswain Daniel W. Ellzey;
Ensign Justin C. Dygert;
Commander Joseph F. Enright, Commanding Officer;
Lieutenant Davis E. Bunting;
Lieutenant Romolo Cousins;
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) John K. Andrews and
Ensign Gordon E. Crosby, Jr.

Courtesy of Captain Joseph F. Enright, USN(Retired), 1979.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 129KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 90520

Commander Joseph F. Enright, USN


Commanding Officer of USS Archerfish (SS-311), photographed at Pearl Harbor on 5 March 1945, just after being presented with the Navy Cross.

Courtesy of Captain Joseph F. Enright, USN(Retired), 1979.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 56KB; 575 x 765 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 90517

USS Archerfish (SS-311)


Ship's crew pose on board, while she was alongside USS Proteus (AS-19) in Tokyo Bay, 1 September 1945.
Men in the front row are holding Archerfish's battleflag, which features her insignia in its center. The insignia is also painted on the large circular plaque held up below the superstructure railing in the background.

Courtesy of Captain Joseph F. Enright, USN(Retired), 1979.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 570 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 90518

U.S. Submarine Base, Yokosuka, Japan


Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, Commander, Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet (seated, center) poses with some of his officers at the newly extablished Yokosuka Submarine Base, 2 September 1945, while celebrating Japan's formal surrender earlier that day.

Many of those present, as identified by Captain J.F. Enright, are listed on NH 90518 (complete caption)

Courtesy of Captain Joseph F. Enright, USN(Retired), 1979.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 550 pixels

 

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28 February 1999