- USS Raton (SS-270)
USS "Raton" (SS/SSR/AGSS-270), a .
The submarine sailed on
22 June for her final patrol ofWorld War II , lifeguard duty offHong Kong . No Allied planes went down in the area, and she made no enemy contacts. Arriving atSubic Bay 23 July for upkeep, "Raton" was preparing for her next patrol when the war ended. On31 August 1945 she sailed for home, arriving at San Francisco in mid-September.Post-war service, 1946–1948
Following overhaul at Mare Island Shipyard, "Raton" transited the
Panama Canal , and arrivedNaval Submarine Base New London on12 March 1946 where she was assigned to the 2d Fleet. She spent the next 2½ years in training exercises in the North Atlantic and theCaribbean , helping to maintain America and the West's defense posture during the early years of theCold War .Radar picket submarine (SSR-270), 1953–1959
After being placed in reserve in the fall of 1948, "Raton" was decommissioned at New London, Conn., on
11 March 1949 . She remained in theAtlantic Reserve Fleet at New London until July 1952 when she was towed toPhiladelphia Naval Shipyard for conversion to a radar picket submarine. Redesignated SSR-270 on18 July 1952 , she was recommissioned21 September 1953 , Cmdr. J. K. Wills in command.Departing Philadelphia on
8 December , she underwent training for several months in the Norfolk area. Ordered to the Pacific, she arrived atSan Diego on7 March 1954 via the Panama Canal.The submarine spent the next year in local operations, before departing from San Diego on
11 May 1955 for a 6-month deployment to WestPac. She returned to San Diego on6 November 1955 . Prior to and following her second 7th Fleet deployment,13 May 1957 –8 November 1957 , SSR-270 trained in exercises off the Pacific coast.After overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, from
7 July to24 November 1958 , and underway training, the submarine deployed to the 7th Fleet from early March 1959 to mid-November, participating in operations withSEATO and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.Auxiliary research submarine (AGSS-270), 1960–1968
In early 1960 "Raton" was engaged in local operations, including evaluation of new
sonar concepts, and training ofUDT personnel in covert reconnaissance. On1 July 1960 , "Raton" was redesignated an auxiliary submarine AGSS-270.In Mare Island Naval Shipyard from January to April 1961 for a major overhaul, "Raton" sailed west for her fourth 7th Fleet deployment
3 July 1961 , returning to San Diego19 December . The year 1962 was occupied in fleet training operations off the west coast of the United States, providing services for air, surface, and submarine forces.Her fifth post-World War II WestPac deployment, from January to June 1963, included participation in two major ASW exercises with U.S. and SEATO forces. Following an overhaul period from November 1963 to early March 1964, "Raton" deployed again from
6 July to23 December to the Far East, where she operated with naval forces ofThailand , the Philippines, and theRepublic of China , under the Military Assistance Program.Local fleet and type operations filled 1965 and early 1966 when "Raton" once more followed the setting sun in mid-April for another tour of duty with the 7th Fleet. While deployed, "Raton" exercised with SEATO naval units in Exercise "Sea Imp". On
17 October 1966 AGSS-270 returned to San Diego.1967 was spent in local operations, reserve training, and semiannual overhaul. On
20 May and21 May 1968 , "Raton" served as a test ship to determine that a small fleet tug could rescue men from a sunken submarine resting on the ocean floor. "Raton" commenced her final WestPac deployment15 July 1968 , arriving Yokohama7 August . During her deployment AGSS-270 provided training services to 7th Fleet and SEATO units. The veteran submarine returned to San Diego20 December 1968 . She was decommissioned at Mare Island Naval Shipyard and stricken from the Navy List28 June 1969 . The stripped hull was designated as a target ship for Pacific Fleet gunnery exercise. She was sold for scrapping10 December 1973 ."Raton" was awarded six
battle star s for service in World War II.References
External links
*navsource|08/08270|Raton
* [http://www.rddesigns.com/ww2/listr.html Sinkings by boat: USS "Raton"]
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