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USS Argonaut SS-475

The USS Argonaut SS-475 was Tench-class submarine, and the second to bear the Argonaut name. Launched on October 1, 1944 and commissioned on January 15, 1945, her service in World War II was short in comparison to other vessels which were launched much earlier in the war, but she remained in service after the close of the war and had an active career until the 1970s. The USS Argonaut SS-475 was awarded one battle star for her service during World War II.

The USS Archer-Fish during World War II

After shakedown in Portsmouth and Narragansett Bay, the USS Argonaut returned briefly to Portsmouth before departing on April 14, bound for Key West in Florida. After participating in tests for light aircraft, and training exercises with the Fleet Sound School, she departed Florida on May 13 for Pearl Harbor. Arriving on June 11 via the Panama Canal, the USS Argonaut then spent two weeks undergoing repairs and taking part in further training exercises, before commencing her first and only patrol of the war on June 28, 1945.

After stopping to refuel at Saipan on July 10, the USS Argonaut journeyed to the Formosa Straight, where she patrolled in that area, as well as in the East China and Yellow Seas, searching for enemy ships. On July 16 she performed an unexpected rescue after spotting and picking up a downed aviator. She saw little contact with Japanese vessels, and her first and only combat action during World War II came on August 12, when she spotted a 25-ton Japanese junk. After attacking and sinking the vessel, the remainder of the patrol was uneventful. The USS Argonaut's sole patrol of the war ended at Guam on August 21, six days after the Japanese had surrendered.

After the War

Unlike most other Navy vessels which served in World War II, the USS Argonaut SS-475 was more active after the war than during it.

After the Japanese capitulation, the USS Argonaut departed Guam on September 1, and traveled via Pearl Harbor and the Panama Canal to New York, in Tompkinsville. After briefly stopping in New York, she traveled to Kittery, Maine, where she was scheduled to undergo an overhaul. In early 1946, she was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, and was based in Panama. Later in the year she became part of SubRon2 and shifted her base to New London in Connecticut.

Over the next several years, the USS Argonaut underwent several equipment upgrades and conversions. In July 1952, she underwent conversion at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, receiving a snorkel system and streamlined conning tower which markedly improved her underwater endurance. Operating out of New London until July 1955, she was then reassigned to Norfolk Virginia, to become part of SubRon6. After this reassignment, she was equipped with a Regulus I nuclear missile, and was converted into a guided-missile submarine. In 1958 she was transferred to operate out of San Juan in Puerto Rico, where she was engaged mainly in missile operations until making a return to Norfolk, Virginia in 1959. Her missile equipment was removed during a 1960 overhaul, after which she resumed her support of antisubmarine warfare training operations, based in Norfolk.

In October 1962, the USS Argonaut spent some time carrying out duties in connection with the naval quarantine of Cuba, before undergoing a routine overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. On August 19, in service with the Sixth Fleet, she was bound for the Mediterranean. During her deployment she visited many different ports in Gibraltar, Crete, Greece, Turkey, France, and Italy before returning to her home port in December.

Until December 1965, the USS Argonaut continued with a pattern of operating along the east coast, combined with periods of deployment to the Mediterranean. Following a June 1966 overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, she spent the remainder of the year providing her services for a New London submarine training school.

Early in 1967, she participated in Operation Springboard in the Caribbean, before returning to Norfolk at the end of February to prepare for a Mediterranean and North Atlantic cruise. Sailing on May 26, she stopped at ports in Norway, Germany, Scotland, Spain, Italy, and Malta before returning home on September 20.

After an overhaul at the beginning of 1968, the USS Argonaut traveled briefly to Florida before arriving back at Norfolk and preparing for deactivation. She was decommissioned and removed from the Naval Register on December 2, 1968. Subsequently she was sold to Canada where she served in the Royal Canadian Navy as the Rainbow until December 31, 1974.

Many United States Navy vessels contained large amounts of asbestos, as the substance was once used extensively as an insulator and fire-proofing material. Many people who served onboard these vessels, or were involved in building, repairing, or outfitting them, have subsequently developed asbestos-related diseases due to asbestos exposure. If you've developed an asbestos-related disease as a result of involvement with Navy vessels, contact us for information about your legal options.

Submarines Index

USS Albacore SS 218 USS Amberjack SS 219 USS Angler SS 240 USS Apogon SS 308 USS Archer-Fish SS 311 USS Argonaut-SM-1 USS Argonaut SS 475 USS Aspro SS 309 USS Atule SS 403 USS Balao SS 285 USS Bang SS 385 USS Barbel SS 316 USS Barbero SS 317 USS Barb SS 220 USS Barracuda SS 163 USS Bashaw SS 241 USS Bergall SS 320 USS Besugo SS 321 USS Billfish SS 286 USS Blackfin SS 322 USS Blackfish SS 221 USS Blenny SS 324 USS Blower SS 325 USS Blueback SS 326 USS Bluefish SS 222 USS Bluegill SS 242 USS Boarfish SS 327 USS Bonefish SS 223 USS Bonita SS 165 USS Bowfin SS 287 USS Bream SS 243 USS Brill SS 330 USS Bugara SS 331 USS Bullhead SS 332 USS Bumper SS 333 USS Burrfish SS 312 USS Cabezon SS 334 USS Carbonero SS 337 USS Hake SS 256 USS Hammerhead SS 364 USS Harder SS 257 USS Hardhead SS 365 USS Hawkbill SS 366

USS Herring SS 233 USS Hoe SS 258 USS Icefish SS 367 USS Jack SS 259 USS Jallao SS 368 USS Kete S 369 USS Kingfish SS 234 USS Kraken SS 370 USS Lagarto SS 371 USS Lizardfish SS 373 USS Loggerhead SS 374 USS Macabi SS 375 USS Mackerel 204 USS Manta SS 299 USS Mapiro SS 376 USS Marlin SS 205 USS Mingo SS 261 USS Moray SS 300 USS Muskallunge SS 262 USS Narwhal SS 263 USS Nautilus SS 168 USS Paddle SS 167 USS Pampanito SS 383 USS Parche SS 384 USS Pargo SS 264 USS Perch SS 176 USS Permit SS 178 USS Peto SS 265 USS Pickerel SS 177 USS Picuda SS 382 USS Pike SS 173 USS Pilotfish SS 386 USS Pintado SS 387 USS Pipefish SS 388 USS Piranha SS 389 USS Plaice SS 390 USS Plunger SS 179 USS Pogy SS 266 USS Pollack SS 180 USS Pomfret SS 391 USS Pompano SS 181 USS Pompon SS 267 USS Porpoise SS 172

USS Puffer SS 268 USS Queenfish SS 393 USS Quillback SS 424 USS Rasher SS 269 USS Raton SS 270 USS Ray SS 271 USS Razorback SS 394 USS Redfin SS 272 USS Redfish SS 395 USS Robalo SS 273 USS Rock SS 274 USS Ronquil SS 396 USS Runner SS 275 USS Runner SS 476 USS S-1 SS 105 USS S-20 SS 125 USS S-46 SS 157 USS Sailfish SS 192 USS Salmon SS 182 USS Sand Lance SS 381 USS Sargo SS 188 USS Saury SS 189 USS Sawfish SS 276 USS Scabbardfish SS 397 USS Scamp SS 277 USS Scorpion SS 278 USS Sculpin SS 191 USS Sea Cat SS 399 USS Sea Devil SS 400 USS Sea Dog SS 401 USS Seadragon SS 194 USS Sea Fox SS 402 USS Seahorse SS 304 USS Sealion SS 195 USS Seal SS 183 USS Sea Owl SS 405 USS Sea Poacher SS 406 USS Searaven SS 196 USS Sea Robin SS 407 USS Seawolf SS 197 USS Segundo SS 398 USS Sennet SS 408

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