Father Goose

Perhaps you're thinking of the movie Operation Pettycoat.  If so, the submarine was the USS Balao,  SS 285.  A shipmate of mine stationed at Key West Naval Station after the filming said that when the light was right you could still see a slight shade of pink showing through her normal coat of hull-black paint.

Go here for more: http://www.atule.com/operation_pettycoat.htm

I noticed that the "Japanese Gunboat" was a vosper class, but never took note of what submarine picked them up.

 There is a USS SailFISH(USS Squalus), but I didn't see a "sailfin" listed...

http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/04idx.htm

Old McDonald wrote:

These are all Gato class variants, right?

No, the Squalus/Sailfish was a Sargo-class.  Several classes prior to the Gato-class

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq99-1.htm

The Squalus was renamed the Sailfish after her salvage and reconstruction

Squalus' as-built fairwater is quite different from the as-built Gato's fairwater

Even the re-built wartime fairwater is different from the same period Gato's cutdown/covered wagon appearance

There is a USS SailFISH(USS Squalus), but I didn't see a "sailfin" listed...

 USS Sailfin, was the "character" in the film, it was "uncredited", the "actor's" name was not in the credits.

sumpter250 wrote:

There is a USS SailFISH(USS Squalus), but I didn't see a "sailfin" listed...  USS Sailfin, was the "character" in the film, it was "uncredited", the "actor's" name was not in the credits.

  Aaaahhh, Now I get it,...

Let me hunt some screen shots then.

 While we are waiting, enjoy a build up of the Vrolijkheid/Catherine by Pat Tritle.

The plans are available from  Rc Boatmodeler 

ikar01 wrote:

You're right, I did get my movies mixed up.  Age I guess.  It was Operation Petticoat.  Sorry for the mix up.

 Ahhh, well,...

 The Sailfin in Father Goose is no more than a set.

The only images shown of it, are interior, a stock periscope image....

 ...And the top of the sail with the two officers on the bridge.

Operation Petticoat

IMDB wrote:

USS Balao SS285 was painted pink and was used for exterior shots in and around Key West. USS Archerfish SS311 wore the standard colors of gray and black, and was used for interior and exterior shots in and around Key West. USS Queenfish SS393 was used in opening and closing scenes, and was used for the "at sea" shots filmed in and around San Diego.