USS Griffin (AS-13)

USS Griffin (AS-13)

USS "Griffin" (AS-13), originally "Mormacpenn", a United States Maritime Commission Type C3 pre-war cargo ship, was launched by Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock, Chester, Pennsylvania, 11 October 1939. She served briefly with Moore-McConnack, Inc., was acquired by the Navy in 1940, renamed "Griffin" (AS-13) and converted to a submarine tender at Robbins Dry Dock and Repair Company, Brooklyn, N.Y. "Griffin" commissioned 31 July 1941, Comdr. S. D. Jupp in command.

Her conversion completed in September 1941, "Griffin" conducted shakedown off the East Coast and sailed with a sub squadron to Newfoundland 22 November 1941. Recalled to Newport, Rhode Island, after Pearl Harbor, the ship was assigned to the United States Pacific Fleet, and departed 14 February 1942 for Australia.

"Griffin" arrived Brisbane 15 April 1942 to tend Submarine Squadron 5. Early in the war, the United States developed a major submarine base in Australia; and submarines tended by "Griffin" struck hard at Japanese shipping while surface forces strengthened themselves for the first Pacific offensives. During this period "Griffin" also repaired merchant ships at a time of great need. The tender departed Brisbane for the Fiji Islands 11 November 1942 and 1 December 1942 sailed to Bora Bora to escort Submarine Division 53 to the Panama Canal Zone. Arriving Balboa 7 January 1943, "Griffin" continued north to Oakland, California, arriving 20 January 1943.

After repairs at San Diego, California, "Griffin" again departed for the Pacific, sailing 27 April 1943. She arrived Pearl Harbor 4 May 1943 to take up her vital support duties, and remained until 3 January 1944. The ship performed refits, battle repairs, and general upkeep on submarines before sailing to Mare Island to arrive 10 January 1944.

"Griffin" returned to Pearl Harbor 17 March 1944, and departed 8 April 1944 for the great submarine base at Fremantle, Australia. She arrived 8 May and immediately set about servicing the growing submarine fleet. The tender remained at Fremantle until 20 November 1944, during her Stay founding a rubber fabrication shop which solved one of the great shortages on board the submarines. She then moved closer to the Japanese shipping lanes at Mios Woendi, New Guinea, arriving 9 December 1944. There she tended submarines, surface craft of all kinds, and even lent her repair equipment to shore facilities. "Griffin" remained at Mios Woendi until 1 February 1945 when she sailed for Subic Bay, via Leyte.

Arriving 10 February 1945, "Griffin" set up one of the initial submarine repair facilities in the Philippines since 1942. She also helped to salvage damaged destroyer USS La Vallette (DD-448). Shifting base, the tender sailed 22 March 1945 via Leyte, and arrived in the Hawaiian Islands 10 April 1945. After a brief stay at Pearl she departed 10 May 1945 for Midway, arrived 4 days later, and set up another repair facility for submarines. By that time submarines supported by "Griffin" had practically annihilated Japanese merchant shipping and had played a decisive role in the great Pacific offensive. She remained at Midway until 10 September 1945, then sailed to Pearl Harbor and San Francisco, entering the bay 24 September. Decommissioned at Mare Island 12 October 1945, the ship was placed in reserve. Later she transferred to the Stockton group, Pacific Reserve Fleet, where she remains in reserve, in service, tending reserve submarines through 1967.

References

ee also

*USS Pelias (AS-14) - sister ship

External links

* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/AS13.htm Naval Vessel Register - AS13]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/36/3613.htm NavSource.org USS Griffin]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • USS Amberjack (SS-219) — USS|Amberjack|SS 219 was a Gato class submarine, the first United States Navy ship named for the amberjack, a vigorous sport fish found in the western Atlantic from New England to Brazil.Her keel was laid by the Electric Boat Company of Groton,… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Orion (AS-18) — USS Orion (AS–18) was a United States Navy Fulton class submarine tender. Orion was laid down 31 July 1941 at the Moore Dry Dock Company, Oakland, California; launched 24 June 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Robert A. White; and commissioned 30 September …   Wikipedia

  • USS S-37 (SS-142) — was an S class submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down on 12 December 1918 by the Union Iron Works in San Francisco, California. She was launched on 20 June 1919 sponsored by Miss Mildred Bulger, and commissioned on 16 July… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Daniel T. Griffin (DE-54) — Career (United States) …   Wikipedia

  • USS Higgins (DDG-76) — Career (US) …   Wikipedia

  • USS Iowa turret explosion — USS Iowa s Turret Two explodes Date April 19, 1989 Place Caribbean Sea ne …   Wikipedia

  • USS Langley (CV-1) — USS Jupiter / USS Langley (CV 1) portaaviones langsley Banderas …   Wikipedia Español

  • USS Langley (CV-1) — USS Langley p1 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • USS Stump (DD-978) — USS Stump (DD 978), named after Admiral Felix Budwell Stump USN, was a Sclass|Spruance|destroyer built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula, Mississippi. The USS Stump was decommissioned and stricken on 22… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) — USS Liscome Bay (CVE 56), a sclass|Casablanca|escort carrier during World War II, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Liscome Bay in Dall Island in the Alexander Archipelago off Alaska s southeast coast. She was lost to a… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”