USS Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16)

USS Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16)

USS "Howard W. Gilmore" (AS-16) was a sclass|Fulton|submarine tender, originally named "Neptune" but renamed "Howard W. Gilmore" in honor of Commander Howard W. Gilmore, a Medal of Honor recipient. She was launched by the Mare Island Navy Yard at Mare Island, California, on 16 September 1943, sponsored by Mrs. H. W. Gilmore, widow of Howard W. Gilmore and was commissioned 24 May 1944, with Captain D. N. Cone in command. For her first two months, "Howard W. Gilmore" conducted shakedown training out of San Diego, California. After loading parts and supplies, she sailed 12 August for Pearl Harbor, arriving on 18 August 1944.

"Howard W. Gilmore" arrived Majuro Atoll on 19 September 1944, and began her vital tending duties. In the four months that followed she made voyage repairs on submarines, replenished them, and helped in training both crewmen and repairmen. These tasks contributed to the attacks on Japanese shipping which hastened the end of the war. The ship also provided repairs and parts for surface ships when necessary.

Returning to Pearl Harbor on 29 January 1945, the ship took on replacement crews for Australia based submarines and sailed for Brisbane, arriving 23 February 1945. But the tender was soon underway again, this time sailing via Humboldt Bay to Subic Bay, Philippines, with supplies for an advanced base. The "Howard W. Gilmore" arrived 13 March 1945 and immediately started refitting 7th Fleet submarines and setting up a recuperation area for their crews. She continued this duty through the climactic days of the Pacific war, sailing for the East Coast, via Pearl Harbor and Panama 31 August 1945. Arriving in New York City on the 17th of October, the "Howard W. Gilmore" took part in the Navy Day celebrations in New York Harbor, where the fleet was reviewed by President Harry S. Truman.

After a short stay in New London, Connecticut, the "Howard W. Gilmore" steamed to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to load torpedoes and then sailed to her new home port, Key West, where she arrived 25 January 1946. Serving Submarine Squadron 4, the ship was to stay in Florida for the greater part of the next 13 years, serving submarines on their training and readiness duties. The ship occasionally tended submarines at Norfolk, Virginia and deployed to the Caribbean twice during this period, notably for Operation Springboard, a fleet exercise in the Caribbean in 1958.

The "Howard W. Gilmore" sailed into Charleston harbor 30 July 1959 to take up her tending duties from this new base. In addition to servicing submarines during the next 18 months, the ship rode out Hurricane Donna in September 1960 off Charleston. During 1961 she operated off the Florida coast before entering Charleston Naval Shipyard in November for a major overhaul. During this repair period, the "Howard W. Gilmore" was fitted with facilities for servicing nuclear submarines, increasing her versatility and usefulness for today's nuclear Navy. With this Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization Overhaul (FRAM) completed the ship returned to the Caribbean for refresher training before resuming tender duties at Charleston.

In October 1962 the introduction of offensive missiles into Cuba brought strong response from the American President and people, a naval quarantine of the island. The "Howard W. Gilmore's" crew worked around the clock servicing two squadrons of submarines for Caribbean operations.

From 1963 into 1967, the veteran tender continued to serve submarines from her home port, Charleston, making short cruises for training off the South Carolina coast and in the Caribbean. "Howard W. Gilmore" was decommissioned in 1980 and scrapped in March 2006.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h8/howard_w_gilmore.htm


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Howard W. Gilmore — Infobox Military Person name= Howard Walter Gilmore born= birth date|1902|9|29 died= death date and age|1943|2|7|1902|9|29 placeofbirth= Selma, Alabama placeofdeath= placeofburial= caption= nickname= allegiance= United States of America branch=… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Boarfish (SS-327) — USS Boarfish (SS 327), a Balao class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the boarfish, a fish having a projecting hog like snout. Boarfish (SS 327) was laid down on 12 August 1943; launched on 21 May 1944 by Electric Boat Co …   Wikipedia

  • Gilmore — may refer to: *Gilmore (surname) Places In Australia: *Gilmore, Australian Capital Territory, suburb in the Canberra district of Tuggeranong *Gilmore Avenue, Perth, road in Perth, Western Australia *Division of Gilmore, Australian Electoral… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Lagarto (SS-371) — USS Lagarto (SS 371), a Balao class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the lagarto, a lizard fish.Her keel was laid down on 12 January 1944 by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. She was …   Wikipedia

  • USS Chivo (SS-341) — USS Chivo (SS 341), a Balao class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the chivo or big scaled goatfish Pseudopenaeus grandisquamis , a fish inhabiting the Pacific Ocean between Panama and Mexico. Chivo was launched 14… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Tunny (SSN-682) — USS Tunny (SSN 682), a sclass|Sturgeon|submarine, was the second submarine of the United States Navy to be named for the little tunny (tuna). Her keel was laid down on 22 May 1970 at Pascagoula, Mississippi, by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Aylwin (FF-1081) — The USS Aylwin (FF 1081) was a United States Navy Sclass|Knox|frigate. She was the fourth vessel named for John Cushing Aylwin. Aylwin was laid down on 13 November 1969 at Westwego, La., by the Avondale Shipyard, Inc.; launched on 29 August 1970; …   Wikipedia

  • USS Growler (SS-215) — USS|Growler|SS 215, a Gato class submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy named for the growler, a large mouth black bass. Her keel was laid down by the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on 2 November… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Wilhoite (DE-397) — Career (US) …   Wikipedia

  • USS Growler — Four ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Growler for the growler , a largemouth black bass fish.*USS|Growler|1812 served during the War of 1812 and she was taken into the Royal Navy as Hamilton *USS Growler (1812 2) also served… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”