- USS Ronquil (SS-396)
USS "Ronquil" (SS-396), a "Balao"-class
submarine , was the only ship of theUnited States Navy named for theronquil , a spiny-finned fish found along the northwest coast of North America. It has a single dorsal fin and a large mouth and resembles the tropicaljawfish ."Ronquil" was laid down
9 September 1943 at thePortsmouth Navy Yard , inKittery, Maine ; launched27 January 1944 , sponsored by Mrs. C. M. Elder; and commissioned22 April 1944 , Lieutenant Commander Henry S. Monroe in command.World War II
After shakedown off the
New England coast, "Ronquil" sailed forHawaii . She arrived atPearl Harbor on8 July 1944 ; and, after preparatory training, sailed on her first war patrol (31 July –8 September 1944 ) in the northeastern Formosa-Sakishima Gunto area. On24 August the submarine sank two attack cargo ships: "Yoshida Maru No. 3" (4,646 tons) and "Fukurei Maru" (5,969 tons). "Ronquil"’s second war patrol, from30 September to28 November 1944 , was carried out in two phases. She first operated with a coordinated submarine attack group in theBungo Suido area, and then joined six other submarines to carry out an antipatrol ship sweep off theBonin Islands .On her third war patrol, from
1 January to14 February 1945 , "Ronquil" patrolled the Bonins and did lifeguard duty in that area for Army bombers hitting theJapan ese home islands. Her fourth war patrol from11 March to23 April 1945 , brought her no worthwhile enemy targets but resulted in the rescue of 10 Army aviators from aB-29 bomber downed between the Bonins and Japan. The submarine's fifth and last patrol from19 May to26 July 1945 , took her into theEast China Sea and theYellow Sea .The end of the war in the Pacific found "Ronquil" off Pearl Harbor, training for another war patrol. She returned to
San Diego in the fall of 1945 and engaged in training exercises off theCalifornia coast.Post-war service
In January 1947, "Ronquil" departed San Diego for her first peacetime western Pacific deployment. This patrol lasted 114 days and took the submarine to
Tahiti , the Carolines, the Marianas, Japan, and the Yellow Sea. On her return to San Diego, she resumed local operations before beginning a 3-year period of intensive training in offensive andantisubmarine warfare , embodying lessons learned during World War II as well as new postwar developments."Ronquil" entered
Mare Island Naval Shipyard in May 1952 for decommissioning and "Guppy IIA" modernization: Her hull and sail were streamlined for greater submerged speed. She received new, increased-capacity batteries for underwater endurance, and a snorkel which enabled her to use her diesels atperiscope depth. New electronics, including improved sonar and fire-control systems, were installed."Ronquil" was recommissioned on
16 January 1953 , and on12 June departed for Japan. She arrived at Yokosuka before sailing on toTokyo on19 July to take part in the "Black Ship Festival" commemorating Commodore Matthew Perry's opening of Japan in 1852. Throughout August and September, "Ronquil" participated in antisubmarine and other operations in the waters near Japan; this was to set the pattern for most of her later deployments.On
11 December 1953 "Ronquil" returned to San Diego for a year of overhaul, refresher training, Naval Reserve training, and fleet exercises. She sailed for a second western Pacific tour on21 March 1955 , returning late in September. The next 2 years were devoted to operations off the west coast of the United States; on31 July 1957 , the submarine again deployed to the Far East for 7 months.From
3 July to7 July 1958 , "Ronquil" took part, with other ships of the fleet, in an observance of the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the "Great White Fleet " at San Francisco. She resumed normal operations, then sailed from San Diego on6 April 1959 for a 5-month "WestPac" deployment. During July and August of 1960, she participated in extensive antisubmarine exercises in the eastern Pacific with United States and Canadian forces.In the early fall of 1961 "Ronquil" again sailed for the Far East, returning in March 1962. After taking part in a demonstration of antisubmarine operations for the national radio and television networks, she began a period of overhaul and local operations. The submarine departed San Diego in November 1963 for duty with the 7th Fleet; on her return to California, she again resumed operations off the west coast. Late in 1964 "Ronquil" began preparations for deployment to the
Vietnam area. In February 1965 she sailed forSoutheast Asia and a five-month deployment.In mid-1966, "Ronquil" rejoined the 7th Fleet, returning to San Diego in February 1967 for further work off the coast of California. This was interrupted in August, when "Ronquil" played the part of the fictional USS "Tigerfish" (SSN-509) in themotion picture "Ice Station Zebra".On
26 December the submarine was again underway for Japan. During this deployment, she took part in exercises with United States, British, Japanese, Australian, and Canadian forces. On2 July 1968 "Ronquil" returned to the west coast. "Ronquil" departed for the Far East4 July 1969 , returning to San Diego onChristmas Eve .At the end of January 1970 "Ronquil" began a period of repair and overhaul, followed by training and fleet exercises in the eastern Pacific. August 1970 brought another 7th Fleet deployment, returning to her homeport of San Diego on
5 March 1971 . TheVietnam Service Medal was awarded for this deployment.SPS "Isaac Peral" (S-32)
On
1 July 1971 , "Ronquil" was decommissioned, struck from theNaval Register , and transferred toSpain , under the Mutual Security Assistance Act. The submarine was commissioned into theSpanish Navy as "Isaac Peral" (S-32), named after Spanish submarine pioneerIsaac Peral . Under her new commander Lt. Cmdr. Pedro Soler Yolif, she sailed from San Diego to her new homeport ofCartagena, Spain , arriving22 August ."Isaac Peral" faced retirement in 1982, but her service was extended until the commissioning of the new "Siroco" (S-72). The Spanish Navy decommissioned "Isaac Peral" on
3 April 1984 ."Ronquil" earned six
battle star s forWorld War II service.References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/r8/ronquil.htm|http://hazegray.org/danfs/submar/ss396.txt
External links
*navsource|08/08396|Ronquil
* [http://www.ussronquil.com/ USS "Ronquil" website]
* [http://perso.wanadoo.es/pfcurto/s32.html SPS "Isaac Peral"]
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