USS Sirago SS 485
The USS Sirago SS 485 was a Tench-class submarine that was originally launched on May 11th, 1945 from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard out of Kittery, Maine and was sponsored by a Mrs. L. Mendel Rivers. The newly constructed submarine was officially commissioned on August 13th, 1945 under the leadership of Commander F. J. Harlfinger, II. Seeing as how the submarine was actually finally completed and commissioned directly at the closing of World War II, she was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet and following her initial shakedown trials and operations and mechanical training, she was determined and decided to be finally ready for real world active service. In the fall of 19445 she headed south moving along the east coast head for the Caribbean Sea.
In January of 1946 she was appointed to and joined Submarine Squadron 8 at New London, Connecticut and then proceeded to Provincetown, Massachusetts where she took part in the destruction of two German submarines. She then returned to New London, Connecticut to participate in Fleet Sound School where she assisted in the trials of experimental type equipment and mechanical conversion manipulation. In December of 1948 she entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for the infamous Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program code named GUPPY and underwent a complete mechanical conversion and modernization overhaul. On July 25th, 1949 the USS Sirago SS 485 departed from the Norfolk Navy Yard with her completely newly modernized structural body and immediately joined up with Submarine Squadron 6.
She remained with Submarine Squadron 6 for the next twenty two years where she conducted antisubmarine warfare exercises and training for the majority and remainder of her naval career. The Sirago served with the Atlantic Fleet and throughout the 1950’s and joined together with Canadian and American joint force programs along with the North Atlantic treaty Organization’s force command. With NATO she traveled to the Mediterranean Sea with the 6th Fleet conducting good will voyages and port stops as well as assisting with peace keeping missions in that region of the world. She returned to Norfolk Navy Yard in October of 1962 and in the spring of 1963 she joined with Task Group ALFA deployed to the Middle East to take part in the CENTO exercise with NATO command. The USS Sirago SS 485 was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Registry on June 1st, 1972 while at Norfolk. She
The USS Sirago SS 485 and her crews battled dangers ranging from enemy attack to violent weather but those were not the only threats that were with them during their service. These men were exposed to harmful chemicals during their tours of duty, including asbestos. Asbestos was used extensively in submarine construction and insulation material. It was widely found around piping and other fixtures which required insulation. Asbestos has been directly linked to the deadly asbestos cancer known as mesothelioma and any veterans who may have been exposed to airborne asbestos fibers should monitor their respiratory health and consult a medical physician for treatment.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
