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Photo # NH 103047:  USS Springer off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 December 1944

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

USS Springer (SS-414), 1944-1961

USS Springer, a 1525-ton Balao class submarine built at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, was commissioned in mid-October 1944. She went to Hawaii in January 1945, moving on to Guam in February to begin combat service against Japanese shipping. The new submarine's first war patrol, which began soon afterwards, resulted in the sinking of one enemy transport. On her second patrol, in April and May 1945, Springer was part of a three-submarine wolfpack operating in the East China Sea. She endured a depth-charging, but sank three Japanese escort vessels in return. In June and July she made a third war patrol, during which she rescued crew members from two U.S. bombers that had crashed at sea.

In mid-August 1945, with the war nearly at an end, Springer was sent back to the West Coast, where she remained until formally decommissioned in January 1947. Following thirteen years in "mothballs" at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, in April 1960 she was taken to San Francisco to be prepared for transfer abroad. Recommissioned in September 1960, Springer was used for training her new Chilean Navy crew until January 1961, when her U.S. flag was hauled down and replaced with that of her new country. Renamed Thompson, she served under loan from the U.S. until 1972 and was then sold to Chile. The submarine was stricken from Chile's Navy list in December 1981 and subsequently scrapped.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Springer (SS-414).


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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

Photo #: NH 103047

USS Springer
(SS-414)

Underway off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 December 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 47KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103048

USS Springer
(SS-414)

Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 December 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 54KB; 740 x 635 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103049

USS Springer
(SS-414)

Seen from astern, while off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 2 December 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 630 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 86597

USS Springer
(SS-414)

In drydock at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California, in May 1960, while undergoing overhaul prior to her transfer to Chile. She served as the Chilean Navy submarine Thompson during 1961-1972.

Courtesy of Commander John L. Springer, USNR (Retired), 1978.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 165KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold several other views of USS Springer (SS-414). The following list features some of these images:

The images listed below are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".



  • Photo #: 80-G-448215
    Launching of USS Springer (SS-414) at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 3 August 1944. Her Sponsor, Mrs. M.S. Tisdale, is standing in the foreground, watching the submarine slide down the launching ways.
    View is taken from ahead of Springer and slightly to port..

  • Photo #: USN 1041901
    USS Springer (SS-414) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 December 1944.
    Port broadside surface view.


    The following photographs show Springer after she had been refitted for transfer to Chile, but while she was still in U.S. Navy custody. She is still essentially in her "as built" configuration, with a 5"/25 deck gun mounted aft of her fairwater. There are, however, no anti-aircraft machine guns visible on the platforms at either end of the fairwater:

  • Photo #:USN 1051027
    USS Springer (SS-414) on 20 December 1960, probably in San Francisco Bay, California.
    Surface view from directly ahead.

  • Photo #:USN 1051028
    As USN 1051027, but port bow surface view.

  • Photo #:USN 1051029
    As USN 1051027, but port quarter surface view.

  • Photo #:USN 1051030
    As USN 1051027, but port broadside surface view.

  • Photo #:USN 1051031
    As USN 1051027, but taken from almost directly astern.

  • Photo #:USN 1051032
    As USN 1051027, but starboard bow surface view.

  • Photo #:USN 1051033
    As USN 1051027, but starboard quarter surface view.

  • Photo #:USN 1051034
    As USN 1051027, but starboard broadside surface view.


    Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 20 November 2005