--Originally posted 9/26/12--

In addition to definite sightings on S-28, -37 & -41, now we see The Trunk clearly on yet another boat:

Annotated (sometime during) "1935", and "Olongapo, Philippines", S-39 is found with a trunk at exactly the "right" time - and deployment - consistent with our other sightings, so far.

And it revises the plausibility that S-38, earlier rejected (based on a questionably annotated pic) may indeed have been a Trunk-bearer after all - particularly since both her closest-sisters - S-37 and (now) -39 - were packing trunks while stationed right alongside her, in the Philippines. (Though I still think the pic in question was taken in 1938, not '28.)

So we now have definitely four - very likely five - boats with The Trunk, fully (at least) 75% of them stationed together in the Philippines, at the outbreak of the war. This is very much per Donny's hypothesis - with the notable exception that the Far East commando/resupply functions must have been anticipated significantly before the outbreak of (open) hostilities.

In any case, if anybody out there knows of any other pic(s) showing The Trunk - especially on any additional boats - do let me know!


Cheers,

-Matty