U.S.S. Seacat (S.S. 399) Disney Insignia (1944)

Q: My dad served on the U.S.S. Seacat (S.S. 399) during WWll. I was wondering if out of the 1200 insignias or patch art from Disney, did they create one for this submarine?

Gary, Pleasant Hill, California

A [Dave Smith]: Yes, Disney designed an insignia for the U.S.S. Sea Cat in April 1944 at the request of the submarine's commander, R. R. McGregor. It featured a caricature of an angry-looking catfish.

[Marcio Disney]

 

 Rare pic of the Disney-designed insignia

USS Sea Cat (SS/AGSS-399), a Balao-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for a shortened form of sea catfish, a marine fish found off the southeastern coast of the United States.

 WW II battleflag

The USS Sea Cat had a long and distinguish career in the service to her country. Her contributions are immeasurable. She help win the war in the Pacific with three battle stars. The Sea Cat can be proud of her immense contributions in helping win the undeclared cold war with the Soviet Union.  From her North Atlantic operations and Mediterranean deployments to her role in the Cuban Missile Crisis and providing services to train her surface and air counterparts in anti-submarine warfare, she conducted herself with skill, knowledge, proficiency and always with a "Can Do" spirit.

 [Pic 01] ubron 5 family photo fall/winter (1945)in Guam, from left to right, Segundo (SS-398), Sea Cat (SS-399), Blenny (SS-324), Blower (SS-325), Blueback (SS-326) & Charr (SS-328).

 [Pic 02] Amidhsips looking forward plan view of Sea Cat (SS-399) at Mare Island on 23 July 46. She was in overhaul at the yard from 15 April to 27 July 1946.

 [Pic 03] Sea Cat (SS-399), running on the surface, circa mid 1950's, place unknown.

[Pic 04] Sea Cat (SS-399) circa 1955. She operated out of Key West from June 1952. She operated from that base for the remainder of her career, spending most of her time in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and in waters off the southern coast of the United States. 

Click Here to visit the USS Sea Cat Association

Click Here to see the chronological history of the Sea Cat movements during her service to her country or the detailed account of her history authored by CDR Robert L. Sminkey.

Click Here to read the USS Sea Cat History

Clic Here to see more USS Sea Cat pictures 

United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.: The First 40 Years [Page 157]: http://tinyurl.com/2f6wtkd

Photo Credits:
[Pic 01] - Photo by Lt. Herb Hanson, Photo courtesy of John Hummel. 

[Pic 02] - US Navy Photo # 2626-46, courtesy of Darryl Baker.

[Pic 03] - US Navy photo, courtesy of George M. Arnold

[Pic 04] - Text courtesy of DANFS. USN photo from Jane's Fighting Ships, 1956-57 submitted by Robert Hurst.

View the Sea Cat (SS-399)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.

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Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

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Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Guppy Submarines
Victory at Sea: Full Fathom Five 2 of 3