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USS Archerfish (SS-311)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Archerfish (SS-311). 

Archerfish (SS-311) was laid down on 22 January 1943 by the Portsmouth (N.H.) Navy Yard; launched on 28 May 1943; sponsored by Miss Malvina C. Thompson, secretary to Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt; and commissioned on 4 September 1943, Lt. Cmdr. G. W. Kehl in command.

The submarine held shakedown training through the first part of November off the New England coast, and headed via the Panama Canal for Hawaii. After receiving voyage repairs and undergoing training exercises, Archerfish (SS-311) got underway on 23 December for her first war patrol.

The submarine left Pearl Harbor on 2 January 1946, bound for San Francisco. From her arrival on 8 January until 13 March the ship's force was busy carrying out her preinactivation overhaul. On the latter day, she proceeded to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard where the final stages of inactivation were completed. Archerfish (SS-311) was decommissioned on 12 June 1946 and placed in the Pacific Reserve Group berthed in the Mare Island Naval Shipyard.

After completing her inactivation overhaul, the ship was towed to New London, Conn., and was decommissioned on 21 October 1955. The submarine was reactivated at New London in July 1957, placed back in commission on 1 August, and again joined Submarine Squadron 12 at Key West. 

For the remaining three and one-half years of her Navy career, Archerfish (SS-311) continued carrying out various research assignments throughout the eastern Pacific region. In early 1968, Archer-Fish was declared unfit for further naval service and was struck from the Navy list on 1 May 1968. She was sunk off San Diego as a torpedo target by Snook (SSN-592) on 19 October 1968.

For the complete history of Archerfish (SS-311) please see its DANFS page