USS CROAKER (submarine) - Buffalo, NY
Posted by: 
Rayman
N 42° 52.691 W 078° 52.901
17T E 673004 N 4749464
The USS Croaker submarine is one of three decommissioned ships at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park in downtown Buffalo.
Waymark Code: WM4TRV
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 09/29/2008
Views: 23
From a brochure at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park:
The Croaker's keel was laid on April 1, 1943 by Electric Boat, and launched on December 19, 1943 in Groton, Connecticut as SS-246. She commissioned into the United States Navy on April 21, 1944.
USS Croaker made six WWII war patrols in the Pacific, claiming 11 Japanese vessels sunk, including a Japanese light cruiser, the Nagara. She was awarded three battle stars for her service.
The submarine was decommissioned on June 15, 1946 and then recommissioned December 11, 1953 as SSK-246 under the Hunter/Killer conversion program. This involved the installation of long range bow sonar, a new sail with a snorkel mast, machinery noise reduction, and the removal of all deck guns. Routine cruises were made to the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean until Croaker was placed out of service in 1968.
Utilized as a Naval Reserve trainer from 1968 to 1971, the boat was stricken December 20, 1971 from the Navy register. On June 27, 1976, the Croaker was transferred to the Submarine Memorial Association in Groton, CT.
Croaker continues to serve as a memorial submarine with her arrival in Buffalo on November 22, 1988. To make the submarine safer and more aesthetically pleasing, the Naval and Military Staff replaced her entire deck and support systems in 1989.
Displacement: 2,070 tons (surfaced)
Length: 306'-6"
Width: 27'-2"
Complement: 74 enlisted/7 officers
The USS Croaker is located in the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. It can be viewed easily from the shore but an admission is required to go on a self-tour of the submarine.
Street address:
1 Naval Park Cove
Buffalo, NY United States
14202
County / Borough / Parish: Erie
Year listed: 2008
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event
Periods of significance: 1925-1949
Historic function: Defense, Transportation: Naval Facility, Water-Related
Current function: Recreation And Culture : Museum
Privately owned?: yes
Season start / Season finish: From: 04/01/2008 To: 11/30/2008
Hours of operation: From: 10:00 AM To: 5:00 PM
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.