GROUPER AGSS 214

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Gato Class Submarine Keel Laid December 28 1940 - Launched October 27 1941 USS GROUPER SS-214 Commissioned February 12 1942 USS GROUPER SSK-214 Redesignated Hunter-Killer Submarine (SSK) January 2 1951 USS GROUPER AGSS-214 Reclassified Auxiliary Submarine (AGSS) May 17 1958 Decommissioned December 2 1968 Struck from Naval Register December 2 1968 Sold August 11 1970 for scrap

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.

1. Covers Page 1     (1940-63)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Date From to Date To	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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Post office established February 12 1942 - Disestablished February 2 1944

 

Locy Type FDC P Feb 12, 1942 "USS GROUPER / FIRST DAY" USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. G-31

1942-02-12

First Day In Commission. Add-on Cachet by Alton M. (Budd) Arrington

 

Locy Type FDC P Feb 12, 1942 "USS GROUPER / FIRST DAY" USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. G-31

1942-02-12

First Day In Commission. Photo Cachet by William F. Spader

 

Locy Type FDC P Feb 12, 1942 "USS GROUPER / FIRST DAY" USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. G-31

1942-02-12

First Day In Commission

 

Locy Type 3z (BBT)

1942

Manuscript ship's name and DC Bartley's R/S marking on back.

 

USPO Machine Postmark Portsmouth Naval Base Branch

1960-06-09

As AGSS-214

 

Other Information

USS GROUPER received ten battle stars for her World War II service.

Credited with sinking...
The 4070-ton Japanese Merchant Ship TONE MARU, September 21 1942 east of Shanghai
The 7053-ton Japanese Troop Transport LISBON MARU, October 1 1942 off Chushan Island, China
The 4003-ton Japanese Passenger-Cargo Ship BANDOENG MARU, December 17 1942 off Cape Henpan, Solomon Islands
The 2857-ton Japanese Transport Ship KUMANOSAN MARU, June 24 1944 south of Yokosuka, Japan
The 834-ton Japanese Tanker NANMEI MARU No. 6, June 24 1944 south of Yokosuka, Japan

NAMESAKE - Named for the grouper, a salt-water fish noted as a gamefish and for its food values.

 

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