A History of the Submarines Built at the
Mare Island Naval Shipyard

Exhibit by Steve Shay
Frame 1, Page 12

USS Whale SS-239
Gato class
Launched March 14, 1942

Upper: Launch cover, design by Martin Aden, shipyard machine postmark. Lower: First Day of Postal Service cover, USS Whale Type 3z(BTT) cancel, cachet design by C. De Montigny.

Cover 654: Whale SS 239, March 14, 1942

Cover 655: Whale SS 239, June 1, 1942

Made eleven war patrols in the Pacific during World War II. First American submarine to plant mines in Japan's home waters. Sank 9 ships, total 57,716 tons. Inactivated New London, Connecticut 1945. Decommissioned 1947, reactivated 1956 and recommissioned January 1957. Final decommissioning September 1957. Sold for scrap.

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Last Updated: March 24, 2002
Copyright 2002 Steve Shay (used with permission)