USS Segundo (SS 398)

"Submarine Honor Guard"

USS Segundo (SS 398)

Officers and crew aboard USS Segundo (SS 398) salute the colors as the submarine slides down the
 launching ramp, February 5, 1944.  United States Navy photograph.

October 14, 1943, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard laid the keel for USS Segundo (SS 398).  The submarine was commissioned into the United States Navy on May 9, 1944.

Segundo joined the Pacific Fleet on July 25, 1944.  The next year, the submarine served five war patrols in the Philippines, Marshall Islands, Luzon Strait, South China Sea, East China Sea, and Korean coast.  The fifth war patrol began on August 10, 1945 in the Sea of Okhotsk.  After “Cease Fire” was announced on August 15, Segundo was ordered to proceed to Tokyo Bay on August 24. 

World War II battle flag of USS Segundo  (SS 398).

While en route, she encountered the Japanese I-400 class submarine I-401 on August 29.  In 1945, I-401 was the largest submarine in the world.  Segundo ordered I-401 to standstill, after communication between the submarines, the Japanese accepted Segundo crew members aboard and operating I-401 to Tokyo Bay.  On August 31, 1945, at 05:00, the United States flag was raised aboard the Japanese submarine I-401. Segundo and I-401 were both present in Tokyo Bay during the formal surrender on September 2, 1945.

Blimp overhead deck of USS Segundo (SS 398), circa 1947.  Photograph courtesy of John Hummel.

After World War II, Segundo operated out of San Diego with cruises to Australia and China in 1946 and 1948.  On June 25, 1950, the submarine was in the Far East with the outbreak of the Korean War.  Segundo served as support for the United Nations Forces during the war from July to September of 1950.  In 1951, the San Francisco Naval Shipyard converted Segundo to a Fleet Snorkel Submarine.  The next year, the submarine returned to the Korean War until February 16, 1953.

USS Segundo's (SS 398) after battery and laundry room, circa 1960s.  Photograph courtesy of John Hummel.

Segundo served from 1953 to 1969 out of San Diego patrolling along the west coast of the United States and in the Pacific.  In July of 1970, the submarine was found unfit for further Naval service.  Segundo was decommissioned on August 1, 1970.  Seven days later the submarine was sunk as a target by the submarine USS Salmon (SSR 573).

The colors lowered for the final time aboard USS Segundo (SS 398).  United States Navy photograph.

USS Segundo (SS 398) after being struck by a torpedo on August 8, 1970.  United States Navy photograph.

The United States Navy used the submarine for twenty six years, two months, and twenty three days continuously.  During that time Segundo earned four battle stars during World War II and one battle star during the Korean War.

Author: Allison Hiblong

USS Sea Cat (SS 399)

"Submarine Honor Guard"

USS Sea Cat (SS 399)

Postal Cover for USS Sea Cat's (SS 399) launching, February 21, 1944.

USS Sea Cat (SS 399) was built in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.  This Balao-class submarine was commissioned into the United States navy on May 16, 1944.

USS Sea Cat (SS 399) World War II battle flag.  

On October 28, 1944, Sea Cat began her World War II service in the Pacific Fleet.  She spent three patrols in the South China, East China, and Yellow Seas.  August 1945, the submarine began her fourth war patrol off the Kuril Islands, but upon arrival the crew learned that the war had ended.  Sea Cat was ordered to proceed to the Japanese home islands to participate in the formal surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay.

Subron 5 family photograph in Guam 1945.  From left to right: USS Segundo (SS 398), USS Sea Cat (SS 399), USS Blenny
(SS 324), USS Blower (SS 325), USS Blueback (SS 326), and USS Charr (SS 328). Photograph courtesy of John Hummel.

After the war, Sea Cat served in Guam and San Diego before being overhauled in Mare Island in April of 1946.  The submarine’s overhaul was completed in 3 months.  She then began her first simulated war patrol out of San Diego in August of 1946.  During this patrol Sea Cat visited Hawaii, Canton Islands, Samoa Island, and Shanghai.

After the simulated war patrol in the Pacific Fleet, Sea Cat was transferred to the Atlantic Fleet out of Balboa, Panama, from 1947 to spring of 1949.  The submarine’s home port was changed to Key West in June of 1949.  Later that year, Sea Cat was overhauled and redesignated as an auxiliary submarine (AGSS 399) with experimental changes made to the boat’s design.  The modifications and repairs were made by the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for four months.  She operated out of Key West from 1950 through 1951.

USS Sea Cat (SS 399) circa 1952.  United State Navy photograph.

January of 1952, Sea Cat arrived in Philadelphia again for another overhaul.  This time she was converted to a Fleet Snorkel Submarine and redesignated back to SS 399.  June 26, 1952, the submarine departed Philadelphia and returned to Key West.  The next sixteen years, Sea Cat served out of Key West.  Her patrols were spent in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and once in the Mediterranean in 1966.

"Loading Fish" watercolor by Salvatore Indiviglia, 1960.  Subject was USS Sea Cat (SS 399) and her crew.
United States National Historic Center.

Sea Cat was decommissioned from the United States Navy on December 2, 1968.  She was sold for scrap on May 18, 1973.

USS Sea Cat (SS 399) at Guantanomo Bay in 1968.  Photograph courtesy of John Hummel.

Sea Cat served the United States Navy continuously for twenty-four years, seven months, and seventeen days.  During World War II service she earned three battle stars.

Author: Allison Hiblong