- USS Spinax (SS-489)
USS "Spinax" (SS-489), a "Tench"-class submarine, was the only ship of the
United States Navy named after thespinax , one of the spinyshark s (dogfish sharks) scientifically known as "Squalidal". Her keel was laid down on14 May 1945 by thePortsmouth Navy Yard . She was launched on25 November 1945 sponsored by Mrs. Tom C. Clark, and commissioned on20 September 1946 with Commander A. R. Faust in command."Spinax" moved to
New London, Connecticut , on15 November and was assigned to Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet. On15 December 1946 , she sailed for theCaribbean Sea to begin her shakedown cruise which lasted until28 January 1947 . She returned to New London and participated in local operations until November when a fleet exercise took her north of theArctic Circle nearLabrador . In January 1948, designated aradar picket submarine , herhull classification symbol was changed from SS to SSR. After conducting operations in the Caribbean during the first part of the year, she returned to her home yard,Portsmouth Naval Shipyard , in May for an overhaul which lasted until the end of October. In addition to the installation of much radar and communication equipment, the work included the removal of her aft torpedo tubes, demilitarization of two forward tubes, installation of a snorkel system, and conversion of the after room into a combat information center. When she emerged from the yard, "Spinax" possessed the capabilities of aradar picket destroyer ."Spinax" deployed to the
Mediterranean Sea from3 January to3 March 1949 , as the first postwar submarine unit of the Sixth Fleet. Upon her return to New London, she was assigned to Submarine Squadron (SubRon) 6 based atNorfolk, Virginia —the first time sinceWorld War I that submarines had been scheduled to operate from that base. She conducted operations along the east coast until again being deployed to the Sixth Fleet from6 January to23 May 1950 . She returned to Norfolk until12 June when she was transferred to the West Coast.The submarine arrived at
San Diego, California , on29 June and proceeded up the coast to theSan Francisco Naval Shipyard for an overhaul. She made a cruise toPearl Harbor from17 August to16 October 1951 and returned to San Diego. She became a unit of Submarine Division 53 on1 January 1952 and resumed her routine duties. "Spinax" was overhauled atMare Island from April through early August and returned to San Diego on7 August 1952 ."Spinax" operated out of that port until
1 November 1954 when she sailed for an extended tour in the Far East. The submarine operated with the Seventh Fleet and then visited thePhilippines ,Hong Kong , Formosa, andJapan before returning to San Diego on7 May 1955 . Overhaul at Mare Island from June through October 1956 was followed by refresher training in the San Diego area. She was deployed to the western Pacific from4 January to1 July 1957 and again from3 July to16 December 1958 .Emphasis in antisubmarine warfare resulted in "Spinax"’s being converted to a
Fleet Snorkel submarine. This was accomplished at Mare Island from13 April to11 September 1959 . All radar except search and fire control were removed, the communication facility was reduced to that of a regular submarine; and the combat information center was converted into living quarters. The ship received improvedsonar and fire control equipment, and modifications were made to her hull. On15 August , she resumed thehull classification symbol SS-489. When the conversion was completed, the submarine conducted refresher training and local operations until early 1960."Spinax" departed San Diego on
3 May 1960 for a tour in the western Pacific with the Seventh Fleet which lasted until3 November when she returned to her home port. Thereafter, except for four deployments in the Far East, her west coast operations were interrupted only by yard overhauls. "Spinax" was deployed from27 June to17 December 1962 ; from18 August 1965 to15 March 1966 ; from6 January to25 June 1967 ; and from February to13 August 1969 when she last returned to Mare Island.In September 1969, "Spinax" was declared unfit for further service. She was decommissioned and struck from the
Naval Vessel Register on11 October 1969 . Her hulk was sold to Zidell Explorations, Incorporated, on13 June 1972 and scrapped.References
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