USS Pomodon (SS-486)

USS "Pomodon" (SS-486), a "Tench"-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the "Pomodon" (an obsolete synonym for "Hemilutjanus") genera of snapper. Her keel was laid down on 29 January 1945 by the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine. She was launched on 12 June 1945 sponsored by Mrs. Lorena Neff, and commissioned on 11 September 1945 with Commander Melvin H. Dry in command.

Departing Portsmouth 6 January 1946, "Pomodon" slipped through the Cape Cod Canal and set her course for the Panama Canal Zone for further training. By May the submarine was back north to New London, Connecticut, for several days operations before an availability and upkeep period at New London.

Slipping out of the Submarine Base at New London, "Pomodon" set her course southward again; transited the Panama Canal arriving San Diego, California, on 12 October, and joined Submarine Squadron 3. After alterations at Mare Island from 25 October 1946 to 26 July 1947 had made "Pomodon" the first Greater Underwater Propulsive Power Program (GUPPY) submarine in the Pacific Fleet, the submarine returned to San Diego on 28 July and began operations in the area as part of Task Forces 52 and 56.

At the outbreak of hostilities in Korea in July 1950, "Pomodon" was deployed to Pearl Harbor. In January 1951, "Pomodon" was again modernized at Mare Island Naval Shipyard and in May 1951 she returned to service as the most modern and advanced GUPPY submarine in the Submarine Force.

"Pomodon" departed San Diego in November 1951 for a six month deployment with the United Nations Forces in Korea, followed by operations in the San Diego area. During the next decade, the submarine made six more WestPac deployments.

On 21 February 1955, while recharging batteries in the San Francisco Naval Yard, a build-up of hydrogen gas caused an explosion and fire, damaging the submarine and killing five of men. TM1(SS) Charles E. Payne earned the Navy Commendation Ribbon with Medal Pendant by his actions in fighting the fire and rescuing the injured. Pasquale Talladino EnD2(SS) received the Navy Marine Corp Medal. After the third explosion he entered the control room through the conning tower in an attempt to rescue anyone who might still be alive.

On 16 November 1962, "Pomodon" sank the hulk of ex-"Aspro" (SS-309).

"Pomodon"’s eighth deployment with the Seventh Fleet, 6 June to 30 November 1966, took her to Vietnamese waters and she operated with American destroyers and antisubmarine aircraft carrier USS|Kearsarge|CVS-33|3 on Yankee Station. Training operations on the West Coast and overhaul at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard, filled 1967. She again headed west across the Pacific for her ninth deployment on 22 March 1968. She operated in Japanese waters, off Okinawa, and in the Philippines before entering the Vietnam combat zone 13 August. "Pomodon" returned to San Diego 17 October 1968.

Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 August 1970, "Pomodon" was sold on 28 December 1971.

References