The Crevalle was a Balao Class Submarine of the United States Navy Displacement: 1,825 tons surfaced, 2,414 tons submerged Length: 311'9" Beam: 27'3" Draft: 15'3" Powered by Four 16 cylinder General Motors Main Diesel engines and Four Main Electric Generators Four General Electric Main Motors One 12 Cylinder Auxiliary Diesel Engine (Dinky) Maximum Power 5,400hp Surfaced and 2,740hp Submerged Maximum Speed: 20.25 Knots Surfaced, 8.75 Knots Submerged Armament: 1 4" 102mm Deck Gun and Two 12.7mm Machine Guns 21" Torpedo Tubes, Six Forward and Four Aft Carrying Capacity of 24 Torpedoes and 40 Mines Complement: 60-80 Men

ETC (SS) Retired, John "Bud" Cunnally 703-393-9808 e-mail Webmaster

Crevalle Underway 1962

A NEW BOOK ABOUT THE BOAT IN WWII.

This book is in addition to Captain William Ruhe's magnificent account of the exploits of the USS Crevalle (War in the Boats-My experiences in Word War II).

The saga of a fighting submarine with its heroic crew continues, in the Philippines. The title of the book is "The Rescue" and it’s about how The Crevalle rescued dozens of Philippine citizens and several escaped Batan Death March POW's from certain death by the Japanese Army. This daring rescue took place on the Island of Negros, under the very noses of our WW II adversary. Unbeknown to the crew they had also picked up a leather pouch that contained Admiral Koga Miniechi's secret plans for a decisive naval battle, which the enemy had worked on for years. This is a well researched book that will hold you spellbound from cover to cover. This splendidly written account was authored by five-time Emmy Award-winning television photojournalist Steven Trent Smith.

As some of you may know, I was the last Bow plainsman on her final dive in 1962. It's with a sense of utmost pride that I have been privileged to meet many of the hero's in this story.

Built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

The submarine CREVALLE is the namesake of the "Bulldog of the Sea" the crevalle or jack (CARAEX HIPPOS). The narrow bony appendage ahead of the tail gave rise to the nickname "hardtail". Therefore the crew of the CREVALLE was known as the "Horrible Hardtails". The yellow mackerel, a sport and food fish, is found on both coasts of tropical America, and in the Atlantic as far north as Cape Cod, Massachusetts. This voracious fish is known for its stubborn tactics possessing all the qualities of the most tenacious bulldog. CREVALLE and her Crew have a history that in all respects justifies its name.

The keel was laid down in the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine (PNS) on 14 November 1942. CREVALLE was the 56th submarine launched at PNS on 22 February 1943; the official sponsor was Mrs. Una Gielow Fisher, wife of Rear Admiral Charles W. Fisher, USN.

Schematic of a World War Two Fleet Boat

Commissioned 24 June 1943

On 24 June 1943, CREVALLE was commissioned in the United States Navy with a thoroughly war experienced Lieutenant Commander Henry G. Munson serving as her first commanding officer. Captain Munson had recently returned from the War in the Pacific after making six war patrols on board the USS S-38. CREVALLE'S initial training and shakedown was accomplished in the Portsmouth, NH and New London, CT areas. The boat (submarines are called boats because of the respect for the earlier submarines and the fact that officially the Navy at that time called anything smaller than a destroyer a boat) was then readied for her task ahead at The United States Submarine Base, Groton CT

COMMISSIONING CREW OF THE USS CREVALLE (SS291) JUNE 24. 1943

OFFICERS

LTCDR HENRY G. MUNSON, USN COMMANDING OFFICER

LTCDR FRANCIS D. WALKER JR. USN EXECUTIVE OFFICER

LIEUT LUCIEN B. MC DONALD USN ENGINEERING OFFICER

LIEUT WILLIAM J. RUHE, USN GUNNERY OFFICER

LIEUT (JG) GEORGE F. MORIN, USNR COMMUNICATION OFFICER

LIEUT (JG) THOMAS W.E. BOWLER USNR COMMISSARY OFFICER

ENSIGN JERRY GROMER. USN ASST GUNNERY OFFCER

CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS

CHIEF OF THE BOAT (COB) WINFREY E. BRIDGES, CTM (PA) USN

BLANK, HERBERT CMoMM (AA) F-4-C, USNR

CHEVALIER., JOHN F. CGM (AA) USN

STAUDT, WILLIAM M. CMM (PA) USN

THIES, JOE R. CEM (AA) USN

ENLISTED

BARNES, Frank MoMM1c, USN

BIEHL, Henry T. RT2c, V-6 USNR

BIRCK, Charles F. SM1c USN

BUNN, Clifford R. MoMM2c, V-6 USNR

CHASE, Volney O. S2c, USN

COURTRIGHT, Charles L. S2c, USN

DAHLIN, Clair L. S2c, V-6 USNR

DAVIS, , Oran I. S2c, USN

DEMPSTER, Albert J. Y1c, USN

DOYLE, George C. MoMM1c, USN

DRAGA, Walter (n) S2c, USN

DUCHARME, Armand N. EM2c, USN

ELLIOTT, Walter J. FC3c (M), USN

ENRIGHT, George F. S2c, USN

FREEMAN, Edgar A. S2c, V-6, USNR

FRITCHEN, William L. S2c, V-6 USNR

GIERNEART, Edward H. F3c, USN

HELBICK, Joseph. J. MoMM1c, USN

HOWARD, James H. TM1c, USN

HOWIE, Robert C. F3c, USN

JANDL, Halbert M. QM3c, USN

JENNISON, David W. Jr. MoMM2c, V-6, USNR

JESTER, Halbert M. TM2c, USN

JOHNSON, Ronald G. F2c, USN

KEANE, Edward F. S2c, USN

KEMP, Erwin MoMM1c, USN

KESCKER, Donald D. S2c, V-6 USNR

LENATZ, John J.S2c, USN

LLANO, Lewis C. F2c, USN

LOOS, Fred PhM1c, USN

MARKUS, Elmer B. TM2c, USN

MC LEES, Gerald C. EM1c, USN

NELSON, Lester W. MoMM2c V-6 USNR

MINKLEY, Ernest L, TM3c, V-6 USNR

MULLEN, Joseph G. RM2c, USN

MURRAY, Lester L. EM2c, USN

NIECZYK, Joseph N. TM32c, V-6 USN

PACE, Vincent M. TM2c, V-6 USNR

PENNYMAN, Timothy M. StM2c, USN

PITTS, Louis F. RM2c, USN

RENNEKE, Wyman J. EM2c, USN

RICKSECKER, Guy “M” MoMM1c, USN

ROSSET, Waldo D. EM2c, USN

SHAW. Garland, R. EM1c, USN

SHERLOCK, Earnest P. Flc, V-6 USNR

SMITH, Richard W. S2c, V-6, USNR

SNELLINGS, Earl M. QM2c, USN

STAFFORD, Lester R. F3c, V-6, USNR

STAGG, Gilbert (n) SC3c, V-6 USNR

STRAIT, Warren A. F3c, USN

TACKETT, William “NV’ Flc, USN

TEDOLDI, Charles E. EM3c, USN

TOMLIN, George L. EM3c V-6, USNR

TRUMAN, Horace L. MM2c, USN

WALL, Lucius P. TM2c, USN

WESTMORELAND, James E. SClc, USN

WILSON, John “D” St3c, USN

WHEELER, Frank D EM3c USN

WIESNIEWSKI, Francis W. F3c, USN

WILLIAMS, George F. EM1c, USN

WISE, Terry E. F3c, USN

WOLKIN, Arthur S2c, USN

WRIGHT, John M. TM1c, USN

YACK, Charles H. F3c, V-6, USNR

YEAGER, Robert L. F2c, V-6 USNR

Note: V-6 was a designation that was used during World War II indicating that those with V-6 would only serve for the duration and would be discharged as soon as the war was over.

PA after a Chiefs name meant that they held a permanent Chiefs Rank. AA meant that they were awaiting PA status.

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