Pacific ships
USS Flasher (SS-249)

USN · SS

Flasher

Photos and infoCrew stories
Afloat

Gato-class submarine, SS-249, the first ship of the name. Electric Boat at Groton. Laid down 30 September 1942, launched 20 June 1943. The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships commissions her on 26 September 1943, Lieutenant Commander Reuben Thornton Whitaker in command. uboat.net and NavSource print 25 September. Whitaker had her until 31 October 1944. Lieutenant Commander George W. Grider had her for the fifth war patrol. In July 1944 she sank the cruiser Oi. She was not sunk. Decommissioned at New London on 16 March 1946, struck on 1 June 1959, and sold on 31 May 1963. Six battle stars, and a Presidential Unit Citation for the third, fourth, and fifth patrols.

ClassGato class
TypeSubmarine (SS)
HullSS-249
BuilderElectric Boat, Groton
Launched1943-06-20
Commissioned1943-09-26
FateAfloat. Survived the war. Decommissioned and placed in reserve at New London on 16 March 1946. Struck on 1 June 1959 and sold on 31 May 1963.
Armament (class)Fleet submarine. A deck gun forward of the conning tower.
Command
  • Whitaker, Reuben Thornton Captain from commissioning. The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships dates that day 26 September 1943. uboat.net and NavSource print 25 September; Relieved on 31 October 1944
  • Grider, George W. Captain from 31 October 1944; In command for the fifth war patrol, which sailed in November 1944

Laid down, displacement, length, beam, draft, speed, and complement are not stored for each hull, so this table leaves them out.

The armament line is the class drawing, not a measurement of this hull.

USS Flasher (SS-249) underway on 4 November 1943. Hull number 249 is on the side. U.S. Navy photograph. Public domain.

The pictures on this page are the originals.

Command

RWWhitaker, Reuben ThorntonCaptain from commissioning. The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships dates that day 26 September 1943. uboat.net and NavSource print 25 SeptemberRelieved on 31 October 1944GGGrider, George W.Captain from 31 October 1944In command for the fifth war patrol, which sailed in November 1944

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