- USS Griffin (AS-13)
USS "Griffin" (AS-13), originally "Mormacpenn", a
United States Maritime Commission Type C3 pre-war cargo ship, was launched bySun 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 asubmarine tender atRobbins Dry Dock and Repair Company ,Brooklyn , N.Y. "Griffin" commissioned31 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 Newfoundland22 November 1941 . Recalled toNewport, Rhode Island , afterPearl Harbor , the ship was assigned to theUnited States Pacific Fleet , and departed14 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 theFiji Islands11 November 1942 and1 December 1942 sailed toBora Bora to escort Submarine Division 53 to thePanama Canal Zone . ArrivingBalboa 7 January 1943 , "Griffin" continued north toOakland, California , arriving20 January 1943 .After repairs at
San Diego, California , "Griffin" again departed for the Pacific, sailing27 April 1943 . She arrived Pearl Harbor4 May 1943 to take up her vital support duties, and remained until3 January 1944 . The ship performed refits, battle repairs, and general upkeep on submarines before sailing toMare Island to arrive10 January 1944 ."Griffin" returned to
Pearl Harbor 17 March 1944 , and departed8 April 1944 for the great submarine base atFremantle ,Australia . She arrived 8 May and immediately set about servicing the growing submarine fleet. The tender remained at Fremantle until20 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 atMios Woendi ,New Guinea , arriving9 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 until1 February 1945 when she sailed forSubic Bay , viaLeyte .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 destroyerUSS La Vallette (DD-448) . Shifting base, the tender sailed22 March 1945 via Leyte, and arrived in the Hawaiian Islands10 April 1945 . After a brief stay at Pearl she departed10 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 until10 September 1945 , then sailed to Pearl Harbor andSan Francisco , entering the bay 24 September. Decommissioned at Mare Island12 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
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USS Pelias (AS-14) - sister shipExternal 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]
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