USS Odax (SS-484)

USS "Odax" (SS-484), a "Tench"-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for odax, a brilliantly colored, red and green fish belonging to the family "Scaridae", the parrot fishes. Her keel was laid down by Portsmouth Navy Yard on 4 December 1944. She was launched on 10 April 1945 sponsored by Mrs. John E. Fogarty, and commissioned on 11 July 1945 with Commander F. D. Walker, Jr. in command.

After shakedown off Portsmouth, "Odax" got underway 19 September 1945 for Guantanamo Bay to provide services to the Fleet Training Group. On 30 October, she sailed to Key West, Florida, for duty with the Fleet Sonar School and conducted operational training until September 1946.

In September 1946, as part of the Bureau of Ships post-war investigation of the high speed submarine, "Odax" was selected for conversion to a Greater Underwater Propulsive Power Program (GUPPY) and returned to Portsmouth. Completing conversion in August 1947, first of the GUPPY submarines, she sailed to Key West for extensive research development work.

In August 1951, "Odax" again sailed to Portsmouth for conversion. The major aspect was the addition of a snorkel and redesignation as a GUPPY II. She first put her snorkel to tactical use in a large scale convoy exercise in the spring of 1952.

From 1952 through 1955, "Odax" provided services to the Operational Development Force and Fleet Sonar School in Key West and to the Fleet Training Group in Guantanamo Bay. During 1956 she received new equipment of improved design at the Charleston Naval Shipyard and departed in December, bound for the North Atlantic, to operate with the British Fleet. Subsequent operations in 1957 included services to the Operational Development Force, training submariners in the latest tactics of undersea warfare.

In September 1958, "Odax" deployed to the Mediterranean Sea for a tour with the Sixth Fleet. During this deployment she transited the Suez Canal to participate in a Baghdad Pact exercise in the Arabian Sea.

After her return home, "Odax" changed home port transferring to Charleston, South Carolina, in August 1959. She sailed from here early in 1960 to return to the North Atlantic for Barrier Patrol.

"Odax" departed Glasgow, Scotland, in August 1960 for South America to conduct exercises with naval units of various South American countries. In December, she returned to Charleston to resume local operations.

Between 1961 and 1964, "Odax" conducted training operations out of Charleston with interim periods for overhaul and modernization.

In August 1964, she deployed again to South America to participate in combined operations while circumnavigating the continent, returning in December. From 1965 to 1967 she operated out of Charleston.

In May 1967, "Odax" began a deployment in Northern Europe. Upon her return to Charleston she was awarded the coveted Battle Efficiency "E" for Fiscal Year 1967. She resumed coastal operations in October 1967.

In October and November 1967, Odax provided services to the Fleet Training Group in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for a period of 8 weeks.

In February 1968, Odax entered the Charleston Naval Shipyard for overhaul and upon completion in September operated in the Charleston area.

In January 1969, Odax participated in fleet operations in the Caribbean.In March 1969, Odax deployed to the Mediterranean Sea for NATO operations. In August 1969, Odax conducted training operations in the local Charleston area.

In May 1970, Odax departed Charleston for northern Europe for a five-month NATO exercise. During this deployment, while submerged in the Norwegian Sea, Odax learned that her home port had been changed to Key West, Florida.

In December 1970, Odax was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for her participation in the NATO operations in Northern Europe. The ship was also awarded her second Battle Efficiency "E".

During 1971 Odax participated in extensive tests of the new SQS-26 SONAR system. Early in the year she took time out to visit New Orleans for Mardi Gras, and to submerge in the Mississippi River for publicity purposes.

In August 1971, she went to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to provide services for US and NATO training exercises.

In February 1972, Odax again provided publicity services by submerging in the Mississippi River in downtown New Orleans during Mardi Gras.

In March and April 1972, in her last military duty, Odax provided NATO services during a seven week unsupported deployment to the Eastern Atlantic.

On 8 July 1972, "Odax" was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register and transferred to Brazil. Commissioned into the "Marinha do Brasil" as "Rio de Janeiro" (S-13), she was decommissioned in 1978 and broken up in 1981.

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