USS Archerfish (SS-311 / AGSS-311) Collection

USS Archerfish (SS-311 / AGSS-311) Collection

Commissioned on 04 September, 1943, USS Archerfish (SS-311) conducted seven war patrols during World War II. She is probably best known for sinking the Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano during her fifth war patrol. Shinano was originally designed and laid down as a Yamato-class battleship. However, during construction, she was converted to an aircraft carrier. At approximately 72,000 tons, she was by far the largest aircraft carrier built at the time.Archerfish sank her on her maiden voyage, a mere 10 days after she had been commissioned. Archerfish received the Presidential Unit Citation for sinkingShinano.

Like Razorback, Archerfish was selected to be present at Tokyo Bay when the surrender was signed aboard the battleship USS Missouri. However, after the war, Archerfish was decommissioned and placed in the reserve fleet.

Archerfish was recommissioned in 1952, but was again decommissioned in 1955.

In 1957, Archerfish was recommissioned a third time, serving with the Navy Hydrographic Office. She also starred in the movie Operation Petticoat. In 1960, she was redesignated as an “auxillary submarine” and given the designation AGSS-311. She operated in support of a variety of oceanographic missions and research assignements until 1968, when she was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register.

USS Archerfish was sunk as a target by a torpedo from USS Snook (SSN-592) on 19 October, 1968.

More information about USS Archerfish can be found at the USS ArcherfishWebsite.

The Archerfish collection includes:

WWII Patrol Reports

  • 1st War Patrol – 23 December, 1943 – 15 February, 1944 (Transcribed Copy)
  • 2nd War Patrol – 16 March, 1944 – 27 April, 1944 (Transcribed Copy)
  • 3rd War Patrol – 09 June, 1944 – 09 July, 1944 (Transcribed Copy)
  • 4th War Patrol – 07 August, 1944 – 29 September, 1944 (Transcribed Copy)
  • 5th War Patrol – 30 October, 1944 – 15 December, 1944 (Transcribed Copy)
  • 6th War Patrol – 10 January, 1945 – 03 March, 1945 (Transcribed Copy)
  • 7th War Patrol – 10 July, 1945 – 12 September, 1945 (Transcribed Copy)

Deck Logs

  • Deck Log excerpts and crew lists 1943 – 1946
  • Deck Log Copy – 04 September, 1943 – 31 December, 1943
  • Deck Log Copy – 01 January, 1944 – 31 December, 1944
  • Deck Log Copy – 01 January, 1945 – 31 December, 1945
  • Deck Log Copy – 04 September, 1946 – 12 June, 1946
  • Deck Log excerpts and crew lists 1952 – 1955
  • Deck Log Copy – 07 March, 1952 – 30 September, 1953
  • Deck Log Copy – 01 January 1954 – 21 October, 1955
  • Deck Log excerpts and crew lists 1957 – 1968
  • Deck Log Copy – 01 August, 1957 – 30 December, 1957
  • Deck Log Copy – 01 January 1958 – 31 December, 1958
  • Deck Log Copy – 01 January, 1959 – 25 April, 1960
  • Deck Log Copy – 01 July, 1963 – 30 June, 1964
  • Deck Log Copy – 01 July, 1964 – 31 December, 1964
  • Deck Log excerpts and postion reports – 1960 – 1968
  • Deck Log Copy – 01 January, 1965 – 31 December, 1965
  • Deck Log Copy – 01 January, 1966 – 31 December, 1966
  • Deck Log Copy – 01 January, 1967 – 31 December, 1967
  • Deck Log Copy – 01 January, 1968 – 01 May, 1968

Other Documentation

  • Copies of Photographs, newspaper clippings and other documents – 1943 – 1955
  • “Welcome Aboard” Booklet (copy) – 1945
  • Article – Archer-Fish Stalks the Biggest Enemy” – Published in Blue Book Magazine – January, 1948
  • Original Night Orders – May 1960 – April 1962
  • Booklet – Visit of USS Archerfish to Curacao, Netherlands Antilles – January 26-30, 1961
  • Special Services Information Bulletin – NAVSTA Subic Bay – May, 1961
  • List of Captain’s Masts – May, 1960 – July, 1967

Personal Items

  • Box of photographs, correspondance, and documents from Captain Joseph F. Enright, Commanding Officer, USS Archerfish – 1944 – 1946
  • Box of photographs, correspondance, and documents from Jack W. Lyman, Commanding Officer USS Archerfish – October, 1960 – November, 1963
  • Qualification Book – QM3(SS) David W. Skou – 09 February, 1968

Photographs

  • 22 September, 1962 – 08 November, 1963
  • 09 November, 1963 – 13 February, 1964
  • 14 February, 1964 – 18 August, 1964
  • 19 August, 1964 – 05 November, 1964
  • 06 November, 1964 – 31 January, 1965
  • 01 February, 1965 – 26 January, 1966
  • 27 January, 1966 – 21 September, 1966
  • 22 September, 1966 – 14 May, 1967
  • 15 May, 1967 – 28 December, 1967
  • 29 December, 1967 – 17 October, 1968

Sailing Lists

  • List of Officers – September 1943 – June, 1946
  • List of Officers – January, 1954 – September, 1955
  • List of Officers – May, 1960 – May, 1968
  • List of Enlisted Personnel – May, 1960 – May, 1968
  • List of Embarked Civilians – May, 1960 – May 1968

Technical Reports

  • Report – Submarine Oceanographic Digital Data System – June 1961
  • Report – Laboratory Experiments with the Sound Meter – November 1961
  • Report – Oceanographic Summary – Operation Sea Scan – June 1962

Reunion Photographs

  • 1995 – 13-15 October – New Orleans, LA