BARRACUDA SS 163

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Barracuda Class Submarine Keel Laid 20 October 1921 - Launched 17 July 1924 USS V-1 SF-4 Commissioned 1 October 1924 USS BARRACUDA SF-4 Renamed 9 March 1931 USS BARRACUDA SS-163 Redesignated (SS) 1 July 1931 - Decommissioned 14 May 1937 Recommissioned 5 September 1940 - Decommissioned 3 March 1945 Struck from Naval Register (Date unknown) Sold 16 November 1945 for scrap

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.

1. USS V-1 Covers Page 1     (1929-1931)
2. USS Barracuda SS-163 Covers Page 1     (1931-1936)
3. USS Barracuda SS-163 Covers Page 2     (1937-1941)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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1st Commissioning 1 October 1924 to 14 May 1937

USS V-ONE - 1 October 1924 to 9 March 1931

 

Locy Type 3 (A) "SAN DIEGO / CALIF"

1929-04-15

Note:

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USS BARRACUDA SF-4 - 9 March 1931 to 1 July 1931

 

Locy Type 3 (A) "BALBOA / CANAL ZONE"

1931-03-09

Although the name changed to "BARRACUDA SF-4" today, the sub continued to use her "V-ONE" postmark. From the George Marcincin collection.

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USS BARRACUDA SS-163 - 1 July 1931 - Decommissioned 14 May 1937
 

Locy Type 3 (AC-TBB) "ST. JOHN'S / ANTIQUA"

1936-12-25

Hydrographic Survey Cruise, cachet attributed to Marshall R. Hall, ANCS #10

 

Locy Type 5hks "SAN DIEGO / CALIFORNIA"

1931-11-18

Add-on cachet by - Bruce D. Liddell

 

Locy Type LDC 3 (AC-TBB) "LAST DAY IN / COMMISSION"

1937-05-17

Last Day In Commission, cachet by Meyer Tuchinsky, sponsored by Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS

 

Locy Type LDC 5hks "LAST DAY IN / COMMISSION"

1937-05-17

Last Day In Commission, cachet by Meyer Tuchinsky, sponsored by Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS

 

Locy Type LDC 5hks "LAST DAY / POST OFFICE"

1937-05-17

Last Day In Commission, cachet by Dr. S. E. Hutnick

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2nd Commissioning 5 September 1940 to 3 March 1945

 

Locy Type FDPS 3 (A-BBT) "FIRST DAY / MAIL SERVICE"

1940-09-23

First Day of Postal Service, cachet by George V. Sadworth, sponsored by Argonauts Crew No. 24, ANCS

 

Locy Type 3 (A-BBT) "DEEP DIVE / 220 FT."

1941-03-29

Deep Dive, cachet by Richard Buchwald, sponsored by Argonauts Crew No. 24, ANCS

 

Locy Type 3z (BBT)

1942-08-06

Censored, sailors mail

 

Other Information

USS BARRACUDA earned the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal during her Naval career.

NAMESAKE - A voracious, pike like fish.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. Cornelia Wolcott Snyder, wife of Captain Snyder.

Five ships of the US Navy have borne the name BARRACUDA - USS Barracuda, USS Barracuda SP-23, USS Barracuda SP-845, USS Barracuda SS-163 and USS Barracuda SST-3.

One cutter of the US Coast Guard bears the name BARRACUDA - USCGC Barracuda WPB-87301.

 

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If you have images or information to add to this page, then either contact the Curator or edit this page yourself and add it. See Editing Ship Pages for detailed information on editing this page.

 

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