Ssn 509

[Johnny L.A.]

I just watched Ice Station Zebra. What is the actual name of the submarine, SSN 509? (Or was the '509' painted on the sail just for the film?)

[Johnny L.A.]

The title should be SSN 509. Apparently the board changed it.

[Boyo Jim]

Tigerfish

[tomndebb]

From the IMDb

The submarine used in this movie was the USS Ronquil (SS-396). Her hull number was repainted to 509. The first nuclear powered United States Submarine was the USS Nautilus (SSN-571).

This (admittedly incomplete) list of U. S. submarines shows a gap in the numerical series surrounding "509" (which may have influenced the choice of the number since no "real" sub was identified in the movie).

[tomndebb]

SS 369 Ronquil

In mid-1966, RONQUIL rejoined the 7th Fleet, returning to San Diego in February 1967 for further work off the coast of California. This was interrupted in August, when RONQUIL provided services during the filming of the motion picture Ice Station Zebra."

USS Ronquil Web Page A WWII sub, the sail was modernized in the 1950s, allowing its use as the purported nuclear SS 509.

[Johnny L.A.]

Originally Posted by tomndebb

SS 369 Ronquil

USS Ronquil Web Page A WWII sub, the sail was modernized in the 1950s, allowing its use as the purported nuclear SS 509.

Thanx, tomndebb. I had no luck searching for SS 509 or SSN 509, so I had an idea it was a fake number for the film; but I thought it was more likely that it was an actual number. Since few people would notice the number, I think few filmmakers would bother changing it.