Grampus VI SS-523

Grampus VI

(SS-523: dp. 1,570, 1. 311'8" b. 27'3"; dr. 15'3"; s. 20
k.; cpl. 76; a. 1021' tt.; cl. Tench)

Built at the Naval Shipyard, Boston, Grampus ( SS-523) was begun in 1944 but left uncompleted at the end of the war. Construction was resumed in 1948, and Grampus launched 26 October 1949, Mrs. Clark H. Woodward, who also sponsored the previous Grampus, sponsor. She commissioned the same day, Comdr. George F. Sharp in command.

With her new snorkeling equipment, which permitted her to remain submerged for periods far longer than the World War II fleet class ships, Grampus served as a prototype for the "Guppy" class submarines and also incorporated many features to appear later in nuclear submarines. Attached to SubDiv 61 at Norfolk, she has participated in a variety of exercises along the East Coast and in the Caribbean, including torpedo and attack exercises, snorkeling tests and demonstrations, and antisubmarine training. Grampus also did a great deal of work with the early HUE (Hunter-Killer) antisubmarine patrols now a vital part of American defenses, to whose development she greatly contributed.

From 5 January to 2 April 1955 Grampus proceeded independently to the Mediterranean, where she "showed the flag" at Algiers, Naples, Barcelona, Malta, Beirut, Monaco, and Gibraltar before returning to Norfolk and her routine of exercises and tests, spaced with regular overhauls at Portsmouth and Philadelphia. During the late 1950's and early 1960s Grampus operated out of Norfolk in the North Atlantic.

Under the command of Lt. Comdr. D. A. Kilmer, Grampus sailed with Task Force "Alia" for 6 weeks prior to 13 February 1964. On 3 April, she deployed with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea until 3 August.

She operated out of the Virginia Capes until entering Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in mid-April 1965 for overhaul. After refresher training and shakedown in the fall, Grampus operated along the East Coast engaging primarily in ASW exercises.

She departed Norfolk 13 May 1966 for the eastern Atlantic and Northern European countries to participate in NATO ASW exercises. Back in Norfolk 30 August, she resumed operations in Mhe Virginia Capes area and Caribbean until sailing 29 December to Philadelphia for repairs in the naval shipyard. Shipshape again, she resumed operations with the Atlantic Fleet.