Wonderful Lot of WWII USS Swordfish (SS-193) Skippers Sub Insignia (2 Dolphins, 2 Combat B

ARTIFACT: This is a wonderful lot of World War II US Navy skipper's submarine insignia from Commander Chester Carl Smith of the USS Swordfish (SS-193). The lot includes a 1930s-World War II officer's dolphin marked Freidel, a gold on silver miniature dolphin by Amico, a sterling silver deep wave submarine combat badge by Vanguard and a sterling silver submarine combat badge by Amico. I have never seen a dolphin with the Freidel mark before, and it is possible that it was manufactured by N. S. Meyer (same design) during World War II for the smaller contractor P. J. Friedel of Philadelphia. Also included are a calling card of Vice Admiral Smith and a newspaper clipping of his death announcement. Smith took command of the Swordfish on July 22, 1939, and remained at his post until January 3, 1943, almost two years to the day before the Swordfish would be lost with no survivors. Notably, Smith was in Manila two days after the Pearl Harbor attacks when the United States officially entered World War II. On his first war patrol the Swordfish sank the very first enemy ship claimed by the US, the Nikkoku Mau, a Japanese supply ship, while soon after disabling another ship. A scant two days later, the Swordfish successfully torpedoed the Atsutasan Maru, another doomed Japanese ship. On his second war patrol, another Japanese victim was claimed Š the Myoken Maru. The Swordfish spent a relatively uneventful third war patrol after their supply mission to Corregidor was cancelled because the island fell to the enemy. Smiths' fourth war patrol in the South China Sea was the fatal undoing of two more Japanese shipthe Tatsufuku Maru and the Burma Maru. Smith earned several medals during his career, including the Legion of Merit, the Silver Star and two Navy Crosses.

VINTAGE: Circa 1930s-World War II.

SIZE: Items are of various sizes: large dolphin is approximately 13/16" in height and 2-3/4" in width and large combat badge is approximately 13/16" in height and 2-1/4" in width.

MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION: Sterling silver, gold-plated silver, paper, newspaper.

ATTACHMENT: All have horizontal pins with either come-under or drop-in locking swivel catches.

MARKINGS: STERLING FREIDEL with mark on large dolphin; AMICO 1/20 10K G ON S on mini-dolphin; VANGUARD NY STERLING on large combat badge; STERLING on other combat badge.

ITEM NOTES: This is from a United States Navy collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. MFEJX11 LAEGEX5/11 SAEGEX2/12

CONDITION: 8- (Excellent-): Items are in various conditions, with the dolphins in excellent condition and the badges showing a bit more wear and tarnish.