USS Runner (SS 476)

"Submarine Honor Guard"

USS Runner (SS 476)

On July 10, 1944, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard laid the keel to the Tench-class submarine USS Runner (SS 476).  Three months later the submarine was launched and on February 6, 1945, she was commissioned into the United States Navy. 

USS Runner (SS 476), March 1945.  United States Navy photograph.

Runner joined the Pacific Fleet on May 21, 1945.  Her first war patrol’s primary mission was to scout for defensive minefields that guarded the Japanese home islands.  When Runner arrived on station at Honshū, Japan, for her second war patrol peace had come. The submarine, Runner, was given the order to participate in the formal surrender ceremony of the Empire of Japan.

After World War II, Runner served out of various ports. 

·         Balboa, Panama: 1946 to 1949

·         Norfolk, Virginia: 1949 to 1957

·         San Juan, Puerto Rico: 1958 to 1959

·         Norfolk, Virginia: 1959 to 1963

In 1957, the submarine participated in North Atlantic NATO exercises visiting ports in France and England.  While Runner served in Puerto Rico, she served as a Regulus missile guidance submarine.

USS Runner (SS 476) docked at Great Lakes Naval Training Station.  Photograph courtesy of Joe Radigan.

Later in life, Runner served as an educational tool. The summer of 1964, Runner arrived in Great Lakes to serve as a training vessel for the Naval Reservists.  In 1967, she served for educational services for future submariners.  Runner provided services for Underwater Demolition Team school at Little Creek, Virginia, in 1968. Runner did complete one last Mediterranean Sea deployment in April through July of 1968. During the deployment the submarine visited European ports and participating in NATO exercises.

USS Runner (SS 476) in Genoa, Italy, June 29, 1968.  Photograph courtesy of Carlo Martinelli.

January 25, 1969, Runner was decommissioned from the United States Navy.  She was still useful to the Navy as a Naval Reserve Training vessel as an auxiliary submarine (AGSS 476).  Runner was finally stricken from the Naval Register on December 15, 1971. The submarine was sold for scrap on June 19, 1973, to Diamond Scrapyards in Waukegan, Illinois for $108,000.00. 

USS Runner (SS 476) towed to Great Lakes Naval Station, August 12, 1969. Photograph courtesy of Ron Reeves. 

Runner served continuously for the United States Navy for twenty-three years, eleven months, and nineteen days.  After being decommissioned she served for almost two more years.  During her service she did earn one battle star for her World War II service.

Author: Allison Hiblong

USS Gato (SS 212)

"Submarine Honor Guard"

USS Gato (SS 212)

Line drawing of USS Gato (SS 212).  Drawing courtesy of Thomas F. Walkowiak.

USS Gato (SS 212) was the lead boat of her class.  Gato-class submarines were launched from 1941 to 1943 and were the first mass production United States submarine class produced in World War II.

USS Gato (SS 212) December 31, 1941.  United States Navy photograph.

The Electric Boat Company laid Gato's keel on October 5, 1940.  She was launched in Groton, Connecticut, on August 21, 1941, and was commissioned into the United States Navy December 31, 1941.  Her first war patrol began in the Pacific on April 20, 1942.

During World War II, Gato completed thirteen war patrols.  Her first five patrols she served off the coast of the Marshall Islands, Kurile Islands, Kiska, Truk atoll, Solomon Islands, and Gilbert Islands. Then during the summer of 1943, Gato was assigned to Mare Island Naval Shipyard for overhaul. 

Pen and ink drawing of USS Gato (SS 212) at Mare Island.  United State Navy photograph.

War patrols six through ten, Gato served in the Salomons, Bismark Archipelago, Milne Bay, Majuro atoll, and Chichi Jima. During her ninth war patrol she transported Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood from Pearl Harbor to Midway in June of 1944.  After the tenth war patrol, Gato again returned to Mare Island for another overhaul.

USS Gato (SS 212) 4"/50 cal deck gun during November 1944 overhaul. United States Navy photograph.

The modifications made to Gato, included installation of new freestanding mast for SD radar and relocation of SJ to a new mast supported by her periscope shears.   January 1945, Gato returned to war for her eleventh patrol.  The rest of the war she patrolled the Yellow Sea, off the coat of Okinawa, and the coast of Wake Island.  While serving lifeguard duty during air strikes on Wake Island, "Cease Fire" was received aboard the submarine.  Gato was able to be apart of the formal surrender ceremony by the Empire of Japan on September 2, 1945.

November 1944 modifications made in Mare Island.  Photograph courtesy of Norman Friedman.

After World War II, Gato was sent to the New York Naval Shipyard.  She was decommissioned on March 16, 1946.  She did serve as a Naval Reserve training ship at New York and Baltimore, Maryland.  March 1, 1960, her name was stricken from the Naval Register.  The Northern Metals Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bought Gato for scrapping on July 25, 1960.

Gato actively served  in the United States Navy for four years, 3 months, and 16 days.  During that time she earned 13 battle stars and Presidential Unit Citation for her service in World War II.

An American syndicated anthology television series, The Silent Service, aired from 1957 to 1958. This series was based on actual events about submarine service in the United States Navy.  The series finale focused on the service of Gato.  The episode "Five Ring Circus" tells the story of when a Japanese depth charge landed on the deck of the boat without exploding.  The episode can be viewed on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngb5_JChxac.

Author: Allison Hiblong