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USS Sirago (SS-485)
Encyclopedia
USS Sirago (SS-485), a Tench-class submarine
, was the only ship of the United States Navy
to be named for sirago, a small fresh water tropical fish. Her keel was laid down on 4 January 1945 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine
. She was launched
on 13 May 1945 sponsored by Mrs. L. Mendel Rivers
, and commissioned
on 13 August 1945 with Commander F. J. Harlfinger, II, in command.
Commissioned at the end of World War II
, Sirago conducted her shakedown cruise off the East Coast and in the Caribbean Sea
during the fall of 1945. After shakedown, she joined Submarine Squadron (SubRon) 8 at New London, Connecticut
, and, in January 1946, she proceeded to Provincetown, Massachusetts
, where she participated in the destruction of two German submarines. On returning to New London, Sirago commenced duties which included training services for the Submarine School and for the fleet's destroyer
force; experimental exercises to evaluate new techniques and equipment; type training; and fleet exercises which took her from Davis Strait
into the Caribbean. In December 1948, she entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
for a Greater Underwater Propulsive Power Program (GUPPY) conversion; and, on 25 July 1949, she left the yard for Norfolk, Virginia
, where, as a modernized high speed attack submarine, she joined SubRon 6.
Attached to SubRon 6 for the next twenty-two years, Sirago’s primary mission was antisubmarine warfare. Secondary missions included antishipping warfare, intelligence gathering, and the provision of services for research and development studies. Those duties, during the 1950s, continued to see her operating primarily in the western Atlantic as she participated in exercises with others of her ASW group; in fleet exercises; in joint Canadian-United States exercises, and in NATO exercises, which took her into the eastern Atlantic Ocean
and North Sea
areas. During the 1950s, she also deployed to the Mediterranean Sea
where she operated as a unit of the Sixth Fleet from September to November 1951 and from September to December 1954.
In October 1962, Sirago entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard
for another extensive overhaul which included the installation of a fiberglass superstructure and sail and, in the spring of 1963, she resumed operations with her ASW group, Task Group "ALFA." That fall, she deployed to the Middle East
for CENTO
exercise "MIDLINK VI"; but, during the remainder of the 1960s and into the 1970s, her operations were similar to those of the 1950s.
On 1 July 1971, with Commander Clyde H. Shaffer Jr. in command, Sirago was reassigned to SubRon 12 at Key West, Florida
; but, less than four months later, on 15 October, she was ordered back to Norfolk where she rejoined SubRon 6. She remained in that squadron until decommissioned on 1 June 1972. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register
on the same day, she was turned over to the Naval Ships Systems Command and sold for scrapping to the Jacobson Metal Company of Chesapeake, Virginia
, on 2 May 1973.
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 sirago, a small fresh water tropical fish. Her keel was laid down on 4 January 1945 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine
Kittery, Maine
Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,543 at the 2000 census. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals...
. 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 13 May 1945 sponsored by Mrs. L. Mendel Rivers
L. Mendel Rivers
Lucius Mendel Rivers was a Democratic U.S. Representative from South Carolina, representing the Charleston based 1st congressional district for nearly thirty years...
, 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 13 August 1945 with Commander F. J. Harlfinger, II, in command.
Commissioned at the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Sirago conducted her shakedown cruise off the East Coast and 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....
during the fall of 1945. After shakedown, she joined Submarine Squadron (SubRon) 8 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....
, and, in January 1946, she proceeded to Provincetown, Massachusetts
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Provincetown is a New England town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,431 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2007 population of 3,174...
, where she participated in the destruction of two German submarines. On returning to New London, Sirago commenced duties which included training services for the Submarine School and for the fleet's destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
force; experimental exercises to evaluate new techniques and equipment; type training; and fleet exercises which took her from Davis Strait
Davis Strait
Davis Strait is a northern arm of the Labrador Sea. It lies between mid-western Greenland and Nunavut, Canada's Baffin Island. The strait was named for the English explorer John Davis , who explored the area while seeking a Northwest Passage....
into the Caribbean. In December 1948, she entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
The Philadelphia Naval Business Center, formerly known as the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and Philadelphia Navy Yard, was the first naval shipyard of the United States. The U.S. Navy reduced its activities there in the 1990s, and ended most of them on September 30, 1995...
for a Greater Underwater Propulsive Power Program (GUPPY) conversion; and, on 25 July 1949, she left the yard for Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, where, as a modernized high speed attack submarine, she joined SubRon 6.
Attached to SubRon 6 for the next twenty-two years, Sirago’s primary mission was antisubmarine warfare. Secondary missions included antishipping warfare, intelligence gathering, and the provision of services for research and development studies. Those duties, during the 1950s, continued to see her operating primarily in the western Atlantic as she participated in exercises with others of her ASW group; in fleet exercises; in joint Canadian-United States exercises, and in NATO exercises, which took her into the eastern 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...
and North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
areas. During the 1950s, she also deployed to the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
where she operated as a unit of the Sixth Fleet from September to November 1951 and from September to December 1954.
In October 1962, Sirago entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY, is a U.S. Navy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, for building, remodeling, and repairing the Navy's ships. It's the oldest and largest industrial facility that belongs to the U.S. Navy as well as the most...
for another extensive overhaul which included the installation of a fiberglass superstructure and sail and, in the spring of 1963, she resumed operations with her ASW group, Task Group "ALFA." That fall, she deployed to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
for CENTO
Cento
Cento is a city and comune in the province of Ferrara, part of the region Emilia-Romagna . In Italian "cento" means 100.-History:The name Cento is a reference to the centuriation of the Po Valley...
exercise "MIDLINK VI"; but, during the remainder of the 1960s and into the 1970s, her operations were similar to those of the 1950s.
On 1 July 1971, with Commander Clyde H. Shaffer Jr. in command, Sirago was reassigned to SubRon 12 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...
; but, less than four months later, on 15 October, she was ordered back to Norfolk where she rejoined SubRon 6. She remained in that squadron until decommissioned on 1 June 1972. 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 the same day, she was turned over to the Naval Ships Systems Command and sold for scrapping to the Jacobson Metal Company of Chesapeake, Virginia
Chesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
, on 2 May 1973.