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1946-1969 |
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Click below for archive photos of Spinax
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Ship's
History SS489 was authorized
on June 17, 1943, as a Fleet Type Submarine. Its
construction commenced at the Portsmouth Naval shipyard 14
May 1945, and its launching took place after the war on 25
November 1945. Mrs. Tom C. Clark, wife of the then Associate
Justice of the United States Supreme Court, sponsored the
SS489, christening her the "USS Spinax". Commander A.R.
Faust, USN, her first commanding officer, accepted the
submarine for the Navy during commissioning ceremonies 20
Sept. 1946. The citizens of Lynn,
Massachusetts had made Spinax possible by their purchase of
war bonds. Appropriately, the first official visit was to
Lynn on Navy Day 1946. A shakedown cruise from mid November
until the end of January 1947 included call at Washington,
Havana, New Orleans and St. Thomas. Assigned to New London
as a it of the U.S. Submarine force, Atlantic Fleet, she
participated in local operations until November 1947, when a
fleet exercise took her to an area north of the Arctic
Circle off the coast of Labrador. Another fleet exercise in
February 1948 took her to the Caribbean and permitted a
brief stop ar San Juan. The Okinawa Campaign
of World War II dramatically pointed out the need for a
radar picket vessel which could avoid conventional and
suicide aircraft attacks. A submarine with radar picket
capabilities seemed to be the answer, and thus during the
May to November 1947 yard period Spinax was accordingly
converted, becoming the first radar picket submarine . She
was designated SSR 489. This conversion gave Spinax the
radar and communications capabilities of a picket destroyer.
Incidental to the addition of many electronic equipment's
was the removal of the after torpedo tubes, demilitarization
of two forward tubes, installation of a snorkel system and
the fitting out of the after room as a combat information
center. She deployed to the
Mediterranean as the first post-war submarine unit of the
sixth fleet during the period of January to March 1949. This
was the first submarine organization to operate out of the
Naval Base since World War I. Operations included training
cruises to Halifax, New York City, Baltimore, Charleston and
Bermuda. A second deployment from 6 January 1950 to 23 May
1950, as a unit of the Sixth Fleet, allowed sight seeing in
Messina, Gibraltar, Athens, Naples, and
Toulon. Spinax deployed
Norfolk and Squadron SIX for San Diego 12 June 1950. After
transmitting the Panama Canal she arrived in San Diego 29
June 1950, and as a unit of Squadron THREE proceeded to the
San Francisco Naval Shipyard for overhaul which commenced 3
July 1950. Upon her return in December, she participated in
local operations as the first pacific SSR. An organizational
change reassigned her on 1 July 1951 to Division FIFTY-ONE
which coincidentally was then commanded by her first
commanding officer. The remainder of 1951 was taken up with
a two month Hawaiian training cruise and local
operations. Another organizational
change reassigned her to Division FIFTY-THREE on 1 January
1952. After more training and local operations she entered
Mare Island Naval Shipyard for overhaul during the period 3
April to 5 August 1952. The remainder of 1952 and 1953 were
taken up with local operations, a fleet exercise in January
1953 and a restricted availability at Mare Island for a
regular overhaul from February to July 1954. Following refresher
training she deployed in November 1954 to the Western
Pacific for her first tour in the Far East. Operations with
units of the Seventh Fleet as a radar picket and special
operations took up approximately four months. Visits were
made to Subic Bay, Manila, Keelung, Hong Kong, Yokosuka and
Chi Chi Jima. An interesting sidelight was the furnishing of
services to the Chinese Nationalist Navy and a visit to
Kaotsiung. Spinax returned to San Diego 7 May 1955 and
participated in two air defense exercises and a Regulus
Missile Submarine Exercise. A regular overhaul at
San Francisco Naval Shipyard from June through October 1956
was followed by by refresher training in the San Diego area.
After a holiday period, Spinax again deployed to the Western
Pacific on 4 January 1957. While deployed she took part in
"Beacon Hill", the largest amphibious operation since WW II,
and "Astra", a SEATO excersize in the Gulf of Siam. Ports of
call on this tour included Singapore and Hong Kong. After
her return to San Diego on 1 July 1957, Spinax participated
in local operations. A third deployment to
the Western Pacific started on 3 July 1958. Enroute Spinax
visited Pearl Harbor, Pago Pago and Suva, Fiji. Services
were provided to units of the Seventh Fleet and visits were
made to Yokosuka, Kobe, Buckner Bay and Hong Kong. She
returned to San Diego December 16, 1956. After a holiday
leave period, local operations were resumed. Participation
in "Operation Skynet" highlighted this
period. Emphasis in
Anti-Submarine Warfare readiness resulted in the Spinax
being converted to perform the tasks of Fleet Snorkel
Submarine. This conversion was accomplished during the
period from April 13 to September 11 1959 at Mare Island
Naval Shipyard. All radars except the surface search and
fire control radar were removed. The communication facility
was reduced to that of an ordinary submarine. The combat
information center was removed and the space was changed
into a living compartment. Installation of improved soanr
and fire control equipment, partial streamlining of the
conning tower fairwater and remilitarization of the two
forward tubes completed the conversion. ON July 1 1959
Spinax shifted from Submarine Division Fifty-Three to
Submarine Division Fifty-Two. Refresher training was
followed by local operations until April
1960. A two week
availability at Mare Island in April was assigned for the
purpose of completing the active Sonar installation. Spinax
departed San Diego May 3, 1960 for another tour of duty with
the Seventh fleet. While deployed Spinax operated with units
of the Japanese Maritime Defense Fleet, Republic of Korea
Navy, British Fleet and Chinese Nationalist Navy. Ports
visited included Kobe, Sasebo, Beppu in Japan as well as
Hong Kong and Chinhae Korea. Spinax returned to San Diego on
November 3, 1960 and following an interim docking at the
Naval Repair Facility, San Diego resumed local
operations As the result of a
reorganization of Submarine Flotilla One, Spinax was
designated to shift from Submarine Squadron Five and
Submarine Division Fifty-Two to Submarine Squadron Three and
Submarine Division Thirty-One on January 1, 1961. Local
operations in the San Diego are included participation in a
Fleet exercise called "Operation Sea Shell" during the first
two weeks of October. On December 7 Spinax departed for a
normal shipyard overhaul ar San Francisco Naval Shipyard.
Upon completion of the
regular overhaul on May 18, 1962, Spinax returned to San
Diego for type training and a two-week upkeep prior to
departure on June 27 for the Western Pacific. Lieutenant
Commander Frank P. Schlosser, USN relieved Commander William
H. Robinson, Jr., USN as Commanding Officer on June 26,
1962. During the deployment, Spinax provided services for
various units of the Seventh Fleet as well as Japanese
Maritime Self Defense Forces and participated in "Operation
Lone Eagle", a large scale amphibious exercise, Ports of
visit during the deployment included Hakadate and Yokosuka
Japan, Naha, Okinawa and Hong Kong. Spinax then returned to
San Diego on December 17, to resume local operations after
the holiday leave period. On January 1, 1963
Spinax shifted from Submarine Squadron Three and Submarine
Division Thirty-One to Submarine Squadron Five and Submarine
Division Fifty-One. Following the holiday leave and upkeep
period Spinax resumed local operations in the San Diego
area. In July, 1963 Spinax deployed for a two and one-half
month cruise along the U.S. Pacific Coast. Spinax provide
services for various aircraft squadrons and ASW groups, and
participated in a major First Fleet ASW exercise. Ports
included Monterey, and San Francisco, California. Port
Angeles, Everett, and Seattle Washing, Juneau and Ketchikan
Alaska, and Esquimalt, Canada. Spinax returned to San Diego
on September 21, 1963 and resumed local operations until the
holiday leave and upkeep period. On January 1, 1964,
Spinax shifted from Submarine Squadron Five and Submarine
Division Fifty-One to Submarine Squadron Three and Submarine
Division Thirty-One. Following the holiday leave and upkeep
period, Spinax resumed local operations in the San Diego
area. Lieutenant Commander Jay K. Davis, USN relieved
Commander Schlosser, USN as Commanding Officer on May 16,
1964. In August 1964, Spinax had the honor of being the host
shop for the Submarine Veterans of World War Two Convention
held in San Francisco. On November 19, 1964 Spinax entered
San Francisco Naval Shipyard at San Francisco for regular
shipyard overhaul. Upon completion of the
overhaul on April 16, 1965, Spinax departed San Francisco
Naval Shipyard for a one month cruise along the northwest
coast of the United States. Spinax provided services for
various aircraft squadrons and had the pleasure of holding
open house at Vashon Island, Washington, the Commanding
Officer's home town. Other ports included Port Angeles and
Seattle, Washington. Spinax returned to San
Diego on May 17, and resumed local operations. On July 1.
1965, Spinax shifted back from Submarine Squadron Three and
Submarine Division Thirty-One to Submarine Squadron Five and
Submarine Division Fifty-One. On August 18, Spinax departed
San Diego for a tour in the Western Pacific. While operating
with various units of the Seventh Fleet. Spinax visited the
ports of Yokosuka, Subic Bay, Hong Kong and Naha Okinawa in
addition to conducting operations in the Viet Nam Combat
Zone. Spinax returned to San
Diego on March 15, 1966 and participated in local
operations. Lietenant Commander John O'Connell, USN relieved
Commander Jay K. Davis, USN as Commanding Officer on March
26, 1966 On July 18, 1966
Spinax was adjudged the outstanding Submarine in Submarine
Division Fifty-One for the fiscal year 1966 and was awarded
the "E" for overall excellence. Spinax departed August
15, 1966 for a two month training cruise returning on
October 9, 1966. On November 14, 1966
Spinax entered San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard for interim
docking. After 3 weeks of extensive work by the shipyard and
ships company Spinax departed for home arriving in San Diego
on December 9, 1966 Six days after the
start of the new year Spinax was again heading westward as
she departed San Diego enroute to the Western Pacific and
duty under COMSEVENTHFLT. This six month deployment was
highlighted by participation in joint filled operations,
"SIYASAY", "TIGER BAG". "DOLPHIN I" Between operations
Spinax visited the ports of Singapore, Manila, Hong Kong,
Yokosuka, Keelung Taiwan, San Fernando, and Subic
Bay. On June 25, 1967
Spinax returned to San Diego and resumed local
operations. On July 1, 1967 Spinax
received the Submarine Division Fifty-One "E" for overall
excellence for the second consecutive year. On Sept. 1,
Spinax entered San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard for her
regular overhaul. On November 4. 1967 while Spinax was in
dry dock, LCDR Elton E. Hankins, USN relieved CDR. John F.
O'Connell, USN as Commanding Officer. Completing her regular
overhaul on Feb 29, 1968, Spinax proceeded to Pugent Sound,
Washington for three weeks of Weapons System Accuracy Trials
and Acoustic Tests. She returned to San Diego the end of
March and conducted local operations for the remainder on
the fiscal year. On July 1, 1968 Spinax
was awarded her third consecutive Submarine Division
Fifty-One Battle Efficiency "E", along with the Fire Control
Award for Excellence. In early August, Spinax was deployed
for a two month special operation. Upon her return to San
Diego in October, she participated in local operations
including COMPTUEX 25-68 and PACFLT STRIKEX 4-68
(BEEFTRUST). On December 10, 1968
Spinax commenced her last scheduled upkeep and holiday
period prior to WESTPAC deployment.
Ports-of- Call WESTPAC 1969:
1. Pussan, Korea
2. Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan (I sent you a Pix from
there-Sasebo-entire
crew)(black and white)
3. Kaoshung, Twain
4. Subic Bay and Manila, Pi
5. Bancock and Sattheib, Thailand (Liberty at Pataya
Beach)
6. Hawaii (Filiming of Tora, Tora, Tora) Start of attack,
Sailor raising
American flag at stern of SPINAX as Jap plane shoots and
they dive into
water.
During West-Pac 69 Spinax participated in various operations
at Yankee
Station off the coast of Vietnam as well as SEATO exercises.
Returned to San Diego 8/16/69.
Cdr. Eugene L. Pollman relieved Cdr. Elton E. Hankins as CO
on
8/22/69. Local Ops in the San Diego area including a weekend
at Catalina
Island. Finally a trip to San Francisco and finally up the
river to Mare
Island for Decommissioning. Decomm 10/11/69 (or 11/10/69)
sold 6/13/72
to National Metal and Steel Corp, Terminal Island , Ca for
$107,910.00 who subsequently scrapped the lovley lady
!
