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USS Conger (SS-477)
Encyclopedia
USS Conger (SS/AGSS-477), a Tench-class submarine
, was the only ship of the United States Navy
to be named for the conger
, an eel found in warm seas at moderate depths, common to both coasts of the Atlantic Ocean
.
Her keel was laid down on 11 July 1944 by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
. She was launched
on 17 October 1944 sponsored by Mrs. W. C. Ploeser, and commissioned
on 14 February 1945 with Lieutenant Commander H. D. Sipple in command.
Conger tested new submarine equipment at New London, Connecticut
, until she cleared 21 July 1945 for Pacific service. At sea between Balboa, Panama
, and Pearl Harbor
upon the end of hostilities, she was ordered back to the Panama Canal Zone
, and on 4 September arrived at Key West, Florida
, to provide services to the Fleet Sonar School until 6 December. She sailed then for New London
and Tompkinsville, New York, where she lay until sailing 10 January 1946 for her assigned home port at Cristobal, Canal Zone.
Conger operated in the Caribbean Sea
, calling at Memphis, Tennessee
, and Vicksburg, Mississippi
, in May 1947, until 23 August, when she sailed for a complete circuit of the South America
n continent on special hydrographic work, passing through the Straits of Magellan. She returned to the Canal Zone 5 October to resume her Caribbean operations, and from 11 January 1948 made her base at Key West, Florida
. On 3 June 1949 her home port became Norfolk, Virginia
, and she operated along the East Coast and in the Caribbean assisting in the training of surface ships, taking part in fleet exercises, and perfecting her own readiness for action. She was again transferred in 1952, arriving at New London, Connecticut
, her new home port, 12 December. From that time through 1960, she continued her East Coast operations, and frequently put to sea with student submariners on board.
Conger was reclassified an auxiliary submarine and given the hull classification symbol
AGSS-477 in 1962. She was decommissioned on 29 July 1963, struck from the Naval Vessel Register
on 1 August 1963, and sold for scrapping in May 1964.
Tench class submarine
Tench-class submarines were a type of submarine built for the United States Navy between 1944 and 1951. They were an evolutionary improvement over the Gato and Balao classes, only about 35 to 40 tons larger, but more strongly built and with a slightly improved internal layout...
, was the only ship of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
to be named for the conger
Conger
Conger is a genus of marine congrid eels. It includes some of the largest types of eels, ranging up to 3 m in length, in the case of the European conger...
, an eel found in warm seas at moderate depths, common to both coasts of the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
Her keel was laid down on 11 July 1944 by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard , often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is used for remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships...
. She was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 17 October 1944 sponsored by Mrs. W. C. Ploeser, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 14 February 1945 with Lieutenant Commander H. D. Sipple in command.
Conger tested new submarine equipment at New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, until she cleared 21 July 1945 for Pacific service. At sea between Balboa, Panama
Balboa, Panama
Balboa is a district of Panama City, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.- History :The town of Balboa, founded by the United States during the construction of the Panama Canal, was named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the Spanish conquistador credited with discovering the Pacific Ocean...
, and Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
upon the end of hostilities, she was ordered back to the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, and on 4 September arrived at Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
, to provide services to the Fleet Sonar School until 6 December. She sailed then for New London
Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London is the United States Navy's primary submarine base, the "Home of the Submarine Force", and "the Submarine Capital of the World".-History:...
and Tompkinsville, New York, where she lay until sailing 10 January 1946 for her assigned home port at Cristobal, Canal Zone.
Conger operated in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
, calling at Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, and Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
, in May 1947, until 23 August, when she sailed for a complete circuit of the South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n continent on special hydrographic work, passing through the Straits of Magellan. She returned to the Canal Zone 5 October to resume her Caribbean operations, and from 11 January 1948 made her base at Key West, Florida
Naval Air Station Key West
Naval Air Station Key West , is a naval air station and military airport located on Boca Chica Key, four miles east of the central business district of Key West, Florida, United States....
. On 3 June 1949 her home port became Norfolk, Virginia
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
, and she operated along the East Coast and in the Caribbean assisting in the training of surface ships, taking part in fleet exercises, and perfecting her own readiness for action. She was again transferred in 1952, arriving at New London, Connecticut
Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London is the United States Navy's primary submarine base, the "Home of the Submarine Force", and "the Submarine Capital of the World".-History:...
, her new home port, 12 December. From that time through 1960, she continued her East Coast operations, and frequently put to sea with student submariners on board.
- [1961-1963]
Conger was reclassified an auxiliary submarine and given the hull classification symbol
Hull classification symbol
The United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration use hull classification symbols to identify their ship types and each individual ship within each type...
AGSS-477 in 1962. She was decommissioned on 29 July 1963, struck from the Naval Vessel Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on 1 August 1963, and sold for scrapping in May 1964.