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A New Class of Boats

In 1939, the USS Squalus (SS-192) was the 11th of the new Sargo class of submarines, which were named for fighting fish. This new breed of underwater boat was 310 feet long and 27 feet wide, larger than previous classes. It had improved surface and underwater speed and extended range, which enabled the sub to keep up with fleet surface ships.

The Squalus surface speed was 16 knots. It had seven watertight compartments, plus a conning tower and amenities such as flush toilets, air conditioning and cold food storage.

USS Squalus shooting to the surface (USNA Archives).

View from Falcon of Navy Tugs towing USS Squalus (Milne Special Collections and Archives Department, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH).

USS Squalus (SS-192) Rescue Operations, May 1939

USS Wandank (AT-26), at left, and USS Falcon (ASR-2) moored over the sunken Squalus, during rescue operations, circa 24 May 1939.

The McCann Rescue Chamber, which brought 33 of the submarine's crewmen to safety, is visible on Falcon's after deck.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

McCann Rescue Chamber in the water alongside USS Falcon (ASR-2) during the rescue of 33 men still alive and trapped in the sunken submarine Squalus, off the New Hampshire coast, circa 24-25 May 1939.

The submarine sank when the main induction valve in the engine room stuck in the open position, flooding her after compartments when she submerged.

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