I have not been able to find any photos of her in her WWII outfitting. Next time I'm ove doing research at the New London Sub Musem, I'll check for WWII ear photos. The sole web photo of her prior to her SSK conversion is at the bottom of:
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From the 1952 photo, it looks as if she is in late war Gato shape, so the Nautilus Late war Gato conversion would do. It also looks as if she has a
5"/25 mounted abaft the conning tower. Looking at the records I have on hand, Croaker (SS246) was started well after Dace (247), Dorado (248) and Flasher (249). As with these other three boats, she was built at the Electric Boat "Victory Yard", a wartime building facility about a mile south of the main EB plant. She was also the first sub built on Victory Yard Building Way #1, which looks as if it was completed late relative to the other 9 ways. As a consequence, Croaker was not finished until December of 43. Undoubtedly, she resembled Flasher and the other sisters "as built" (Nautilus Mid War Gato kit), but would have been cut down similar to Flasher later in the war. Very few subs were completed at the 10 building ways of the Victory Yard (26 total). The property was sold to Pfizer, Inc after the war. My lab now sits very close to where Croaker was built. The slanted concrete surface that the building ways were on is still there....
With the Lionfish kit, I would recommend replacing all of the cleats, capstans and anchor with HR white metal parts, in addition to the Nautilus conversion kits. Drill out ONLY the half-moon (lower) limber holes, as that is the EB pattern. The slot like limber holes were used in the yards that used the US government plans (Portsmouth, Mare Island, & Cramp). Anchor should be on the starboard side. See my build of Blenny for more at:
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Have fun!
Tom Dougherty ( snipped-for-privacy@aol.com)