Index

USS CHARR
SS328

Voice Call ~ LOYAL

Call Letters ~ NKDC

This is my attempt to try and keep the memories of the Diesel Electric, Fleet type Submarines
and the men who manned them, alive and well.
Although we ol-bubbleheads, or otherwise called Pig-Boat Sailors know that our type of Submarine
will never be endeared again to the heart of our Great Navy, we also know that like all the other Boats before us, we had a hand in the building and development, of the Great Nuclear force we have
today.

So sit back, grab a long-necker (or B & B) and enjoy . There won't be a whole lot of sound files and stuff, but I will attempt to keep you entertained.
Any comments you might have would be appreciated.

Ray Samson EN3(SS)

USS CHARR as she appeared around 1954 prior to overhaul at MI in 1955

This is USS Charr after her overhaul in 55.
Other than the Measure 32 paint job, the big difference is the Sonar dome.

USS Charr is a Fleet Snorkel Boat.
I say "is" because she is still in her crews memory, as she will always be.

There were 19 boats that were modified into Fleet Snorkel's.
They Are as Follows

NAME/HULL NO.	CLASS	YEAR MODIFIED	SHIP YARD
USS IREX SS482	TENCH	1947	PORTSMOUTH
USS SABLEFISH SS303	BALAO	1951	PHILADELPHIA
USS CHARR SS328	BALAO	1951	MARE ISLAND
USS BUGARA SS331	BALAO	1951	PEARL HARBOR
USS SEGUNDO SS398	BALAO	1951	SAN FRANCISCO
USS SEA OWL SS405	BALAO	1951	PHILADELPHIA
USS PIPER SS409	BALAO	1951	CHARLESTON
USS SABALO SS302	BALAO	1952	PEARL HARBOR
USS BERGALL SS320	BALAO	1952	PHILADELPHIA
USS CARBONERO SS337	BALAO	1952	MARE ISLAND
USS CARP SS338	BALAO	1952	SAN FRANCISCO
USS STERLET SS392	BALAO	1952	SAN FRANCISCO
USS SEA CAT SS399	BALAO	1952	PHILADELPHIA
USS SENNET SS408	BALAO	1952	PHILADELPHIA
USS TORSK SS423	TENCH	1952	PORTSMOUTH
USS ARGONAUT SS475	TENCH	1952	PHILADELPHIA
USS RUNNER SS476	TENCH	1952	CHARLESTON
USS MEDREGAL SS480	TENCH	1952	CHARLESTON
USS CUSK SS348	BALAO	1954	SAN FRANCISCO

Reprinted from the book, Submarines of the US Navy by Stefan Terzibaschitsch

SHIPS HISTORY - USS CHARR SS328

This information from materials in the USS CHARR (SS328) scrapbook.

Submarine Force Museum
Naval Submarine Base New London
Groton, CT 06349-5571

Terry Henn LCDR,USN
Officer in Charge

SS-328, originally designated Bocaccio, was renamed Charr on 24 September 1942.

    The keel of the USS CHARR was laid down on 26 August, 1943 at the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut. On 28 May 1944, she slid down the ways, christened by Mrs William F Orkney of Groton, wife of an employee, at the Victory yard plant. On 23 September 1944, in company with the USS BOARFISH SS327, CHARR was delivered to the U S Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut for acceptance as a unit of the fleet. Rear Admiral F. A. Daubin, U S Navy, accepted the CHARR and BOARFISH in the first double commissioning ceremony ever held at the base. The watch was set at 13:00 on the morning of the 23rd of September and Commander Francis D. Boyle, U S Navy, took command. After intensive training for war patrol at New London, USS CHARR headed for the Pacific on 5 November 1944. At Pearl Harbor, the submarine was made ready for her first war patrol.
    USS CHARR, under command of Commander Boyle, left Pearl Harbor on 30 December 1944, to patrol the northeast coast of French Indo-China. The patrol was highlighted by the unusual rescue of a naval aviator, a crew member of a PBY patrol plane that had been forced down, just off the coast. While CHARR lay at anchor for four hours mile off the coast in broad daylight, an easy target for Japanese planes or patrol boats, two men went ashore in a rubber boat. The aviator was brought aboard and three successive attempts were made to pick up the remaining nine members of the plane s crew during subsequent evenings, but contact with them could not be reestablished. CHARR completed her 64 day patrol by escorting the badly damaged Dutch submarine ZWAARUISCH through the Java Sea and Lombok Straits, arriving at Freemantle, Western Australia on the 3rd day of March, where she was refitted for her second war patrol.
    The second patrol began on 27 March 1945 and consisted of two parts. The first was conducted in the Flores Sea, Java Sea and South China Sea, and was featured by the sinking of a 5200-ton Natori Class cruiser, the ISUZH. USS CHARR, USS BESUGO SS321and USS GABILAN SS252 teamed together in a four day chase of the cruiser and three escorts, BESUGO sinking one escort, GABILAN hitting the cruiser with one torpedo, and CHARR finishing her off with three hits. CHARR also sank a 500-ton coastal freighter by gunfire in the Java Sea, laid a minefield and made an unsuccessful attack on two mine layers. She then proceeded to Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, for a torpedo reload and then to the southern coast of Formosa and the second part of the patrol. One month was spent in this area on lifeguard duty. An Army P-51 pilot who had been forced down following a raid over Formosa was rescued during this time. CHARR then returned to Subic Bay, 54 days after her departure from Freemantle, where she was refitted for the third war patrol.
    The third patrol commenced on the 14th day of June 1945 and was conducted in the Gulf of Siam, where no opportunity to attack presented itself. However, CHARR coordinated a wolf pack of four submarines that resulted in the sinking of the large Japanese submarine I-351 by the USS BLUEFISH SS222. This 42-day patrol ended in Freemantle, Western Australia. Following the cessation of hostilities, CHARR made stops at Sydney, Australia, Guam and reported to Pearl Harbor for repairs. Upon completion of repairs, CHARR was assigned duty at Guam where training was conducted for one month.
    The boat returned to the West coast on 27 January 1946, after an absence of 15 months from the United States. Local training operations in the San Diego area followed. On 1 April 1946, Commander Boyle was relieved by Commander Jack M. Seymour, U.S. Navy, as skipper of CHARR. After completing a ninety day overhaul at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, CHARR departed from San Francisco on the 4th of October 1946 for her first post-war simulated war patrol. This 115 day training patrol included visits to Pearl Harbor, Subic Bay, Shanghai and Tsingtao, China, Yokosuka Japan, and was concluded at San Diego on 27 January 1947. Local training operations were resumed in the Southern California area. On 19 June 1947, Commander Oliver W. Bagby, U.S.Navy, relieved Commander Seymour as Commanding Officer.
    After completing a second simulated war patrol, CHARR was nominated for the Battle Efficiency Award by the Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. This award is indicative of the high state of training and readiness for war of a naval vessel in competition. On 6 July 1949, CHARR traveled to Portland, Oregon for a two week reserve training cruise before entering the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California, for a three month overhaul period. On completion of the overhaul , in October 1949, CHARR returned to San Diego, California to conduct local operations and training until June 1950 . At the time , CHARR was deployed to the San Francisco area to provide services to the submarine training facilities in order to further the submarine training of naval reservists including services to the U. S. Navel School, General Line, Monterey, California.
    At the outbreak of the Korean hostilities, CHARR was deployed to Pearl Harbor, territory of Hawaii, and then to return to San Diego, California, August 1950 to continue local operations and training.
    On 23 August 1950, CHARR received the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Prize, the first submarine in Naval History to receive such an award. CHARR at this time, also, received the Battle Efficiency Pennant for the competition year 1950, for the second consecutive time.During the months of January through February 1951, CHARR operated in the Puget Sound Area conducting operations with commander Fleet Air Wing Four, Whidbey Island, Washington, thence returned to San Diego. Before entering the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 10 July 1951, CHARR again provided services to the Submarine Training Facilities in the San Francisco area with a stop at the U. S. Naval School, General Line, Monterey, California.
    During the four month overhaul period at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, CHARR was converted to a Four Engine Fleet Type Snorkel Submarine. On 26 March 1952, CHARR left San Diego, California for a six month tour of duty with commander Naval Forces, far East. While in the far East, CHARR , as a unit of commander Naval Forces, Far East, supported the United Nations forces in the common effort against the Korean aggressor forces. CHARR returned to San Diego, California on 2 October 1953 for extensive training and local operations.
    On 22 November 1953, CHARR officially adopted and sponsored the Girl Scout Mariner Ship Sea Tiger of Pasadena, California. The ceremony tool place aboard CHARR at Long Beach, California.
    During January 1954, CHARR made a two- week cruise to Acapulco, Mexico to train twenty-three naval reserve officers and enlisted men. Upon her return to San Diego, CHARR continued local operations and training until June.
    On 11 June 1954, CHARR left San Diego, California for a six month tour of duty with Commander Naval Forces, far East, based in Yokosuka, Japan. During this tour, CHARR helped train air and surface units of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and United NationsFleet in anti-submarine defense, and completed her second Special Patrol. Generalissimo Chiang Kei- Shek, President of Nationalist China and Vice Admiral Alfred M. Pride, Commander SEVENTH Fleet, rode CHARR on 9 November 1954 during the visit to Formosa. It was the Generalissimo s first underway trip aboard a submarine. On 7 December 1954, CHARR returned to San Diego, California and commenced local operations as a unit of Submarine Division THIRTY ONE.
    On 2 March 1955, during an operating period in the Long Beach area, the Commanding Officer became an honorary girlscout and was made an Honorary Officer of the Sea Tiger Unit, Girl Scout Marine Ship 36 of Pasadena, California. In turn , the Skipper presented an award to the Most Outstanding Girl Scout in the Sea Tiger crew.
    On 14 June 1955 found CHARR steaming into beautiful and scenic Puget Sound for operations at Charr Inlet. Upon leaving the Inlet, CHARR proceeded to Vallejo, California , and entered the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in 30 June 1955 for a regularly scheduled overhaul of 4 1/2 months. Lieutenant Commander Richard A. Harris, U.S. Navy, relieved Commander William A. Whitman, U.S. Navy as Commanding Officer. In January 1956, CHARR departed San Diego for Acapulco, Mexico. After returning two weeks later, CHARR conducted type training exercises in local operating waters until 4 June 1956. At this time, she departed San Diego Bay for San Francisco Bay Area to participate in the First Fleet Pacific Training Exercise ( FIRST FLT PACTRAEX). Following this , she remained in the San Francisco Bay Area to proceed to a Seattle, Washington to celebrate the Seattle Sea Fair which commenced 8 August 1956.
    On 22 March 1957, the CHARR departed for the Western Pacific. During this tour, CHARR visited Hong Kong from 3 June to 8 June. On 27 June during a brief ceremony on board, Lieutenant Commander Thomas E. Auger, U.S. Navy , relieved Lieutenant Commander Richard A. Harris, U.S. Navy as Commanding Officer. She returned to San Diego on 14 October 1957. CHARR commenced for a four month required shipyard overhaul at Mare Island Navy Shipyard in January 1958, departing Mare Island Naval Shipyard 3 June 1958, enroute to San Diego.
    From June through August 1958, CHARR participated in local operations at San Diego. On 11 September 1958, CHARR departed San Diego to participate in fleet exercises with Canadian ships off the West Coast of the United States. CHARR operated locally from October through November 1958 , completing the year as a holiday and leave period. From January to May 1959, CHARR participated in local operations off the coast of Southern California.
    On 6 May 1959, CHARR departed for duty with the SEVENTH FLEET in the Western Pacific. During this period of duty, CHARR visited Hong Kong and Yokosuka, Japan. In July 1959, in ceremonies at Yokosuka, Japan, Lieutenant Commander James W. Bowen, U.S. Navy, relieved Lieutenant Commander Thomas E. Auger, U.S. Navy, as Commanding Officer. CHARR returned to San Diego on 28 October 1959. CHARR operated locally in November and completed the year in a holiday and leave period.
From January to July 1960, CHARR participated in local operations in the San Diego area. On 11 July 1960, CHARR departed San Diego for Olympia, Washington, for the Capitol Lake Fair Celebration during the weekend of 15 to 18 July. Departing Olympia on 18 July, the CHARR proceeded to San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard where she underwent a scheduled overhaul from 22 July to 5 December 1960. CHARR departed San Francisco on 12 December and arrived in San Diego on 14 December where she completed the year in a holiday and leave status. After local refresher training, CHARR departed San Diego on 24 February 1961 for duty with the SEVENTH Fleet in the Western Pacific. During the deployment, CHARR visited Yokosuka, Nagasaki (participating in that city s port festival), Kobe and Komatsu Shima, Japan, as well ad Chinhae, Korea, Okinawa, Subic Bay and Manila, Philippines, and finally Hong Kong, B.C.C. CHARR returned to San Diego via Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on August 1961 commencing a leave and upkeep period on arrival.
    On 25 August 1961, in ceremonies on board at San Diego, California, Lieutenant Commander James W. Bowen, U.S Navy, was relieved as Commanding Officer by Lieutenant Commander Harold f. Skelly,U.S. Navy. In September, CHARR commenced local operations. On 26 September while at deep submergence, a circulating water connection to the main motors gave away flooding the motor room. After surfacing and stopping the flooding, CHARR was towed to San Diego and thence to San Francisco Naval Shipyard for repairs. Upon completion of repairs in 9 november 1961, CHARR returned to San Diego and operated locally until mid December when the Holiday Period commenced. CHARR operated in the Puget Sound area between January and March 1962 returning to San Diego on 17 March.
    On 24 April 1962, in ceremonies in board at San Diego, California, John J. McGee, 607 19 51, Electrician s Mate First Class ( Qualified in Submarines), U.S. Navy, was awarded the Navy Connendation Medal by Commander Submarine Flotilla One, Captain D.H. McClintock, U.S. Navy on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable John B. Connally, for his meritorious actions and devotion to duty during the previously noted casualty that occurred in 26 September 1961.
    Following a brief upkeep period, the ship departed San Diego for Seattle, Washington and a visit to the World Fair. Upon returning to San Diego on 17 May, CHARR conducted local operations until departing on 3 November for a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific. During this deployment, CHARR visited the Japanese cities of Yokosuka, Nagoua and Kobe as well as Naha, Okinawa; Subic Bay, Philippines and Hong Kong, B.C.C. CHARR returned to San Diego, via Pearl Harbor on 10 May 1963.
    On 28 June 1963, Lieutenant commander John M. Draddy, U.S. Navy , relieved Lieutenant Commander Harold F. Skelly, U.S. Navy ad commanding Officer in ceremonies at San Diego, California. On 1 July 1963, CHARR departed San Diego to spend the Fourth of July weekend in Eureka, California. Then proceeded to San Francisco Naval Shipyard to commence a normal shipyard overhaul on 10 July. On 29 November, CHARR departed San Francisco and returned to San Diego. After one week of local operations, CHARR completed the year in a holiday and leave status. 1964 was a quiet time in the life of CHARR. January through October were spent conducting local operations in the San Diego area. In October , CHARR entered Mare Island Division, San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard for replacement of her main storage batteries. Replacement was completed in late November and CHARR returned to San Diego completing the year in pre-deployment exercises and upkeep.
    In January 1965, CHARR again deployed to the Western Pacific area. During this deployment, she participated in SEATO Exercise   Sea Horse and operated in support of the Viet Nam conflict, receiving the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for these direct support operations. It was during these Viet Nam support operations that CHARR recovered Commander J.H. Harris, U.S. Navy, commanding Officer of va-155, from the Gulf of Tonkin. Commander Harris had ejected from his damaged A4E Skyhawk after a strike over Bach Long Island on 29 March 1965. CHARR visited Esquimalt and Vancouver, British Columbia on completion of Buttonhook and scored a first by embarking approximately 25 Canadian guests, including the Mayor of Vancouver, Superintendent of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, American Counsel in Vancouver and others and conducting submerged operations in the Straits of Georgia. Returning to San Diego in Mid-February, CHARR continued providing services to First Fleet ships, participating in Fleet exercise Gray Ghost. In June, CHARR was permitted to return to Vancouver, as a unit of the First Fleet visit to the Vancouver Sea Festival.
    On 30 June 1966, CHARR arrived at Mare Island Division, San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard Vallejo, California and commenced a shipyard overhaul. The following day, 1 July, CHARR's designation was changed from Submarine ( SS) to Auxiliary Submarine (AGSS). The overhaul was completed on 12 December 1966 and CHARR returned to her home port of San Diego. The first two months of 1967 were harbingers of a busy year to come. CHARR conducted local operations during January and early February. On 13 February, CHARR sailed for the Pacific northwest and Puget Sound. Operations were conducted with the Naval Reserve and the Naval Torpedo Station at Keyport, Washington. CHARR made three day visit to Vancouver, B.C. prior to leaving the Puget Sound area and returning to San Diego.
    On May 1967 , USS CHARR's 13th commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Charles H. Wright, Jr. , U.S. Navy relieved Commander Charles G. Darrell, U.S. Navy. Two weeks later, on 23 May, CHARR departed San Diego for a seven month Western Pacific Deployment. Following a brief upkeep period in Yokosuka, Japan, CHARR left for the South China Sea to participate in the SEATO Exercise Sea Dog. Upon completion of   Sea Dog, CHARR was assigned duties as a Military Assistance Program (MAP) submarine. MAP services were provided to the armed forces of the Republic of the Philippines, Republic of South Korea, and Republic of China. The Asian ports of Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan; Manila, Sangley Point, and Subic Bay, Philippines; Bangkok, Thailand; Chinhe and Pusan, Korea; Kaohsiung, Formosa, and, Hong Kong, B.C.C. were visited by CHARR during this deployment period.
    In December 1967, CHARR returned to her homeport of San Diego, California for a post-deployment and holiday leave and upkeep period.
   CHARR was decommissioned on 28 June 1969. She continued "In Service, In Reserve" until 20 December 1971 at which time she was struck from the Navy List. She was sold for scrapping 17 August 1972. CHARR received one battle star for her service during World War II.

WOULD YOU LIKE A PICTURE LIKE THIS?
On October the 28th of 2003
Tom Denton finalized this painting for your pleasure.
They are 14" x 11"
Price is $25.00 includes Shipping and Handling.
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8629 Discovery Blvd
Walkersville, MD 21793
(301)845-0049
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Skippers of USS Charr SS328

First double commissioning ceremony at EB. USS Charr SS328 & USS Boarfish SS327.
Watch set at 1300 on morning of September 23 1944.
Commander Francis D. Boyle took command.

On April 1 1946, Commander Francis D. Boyle relieved of command by
Commander Jack M. Seymour.

On June 19 1947, Commander Jack M. Seymour relieved of command by
Commander Oliver W. Bagby, Jr.

On July 6 1949, Commander Oliver W. Bagby relieved of command by
Lieutenant Commander Richard T. Fahy.

On June 21 1951, Commander Richard T. Fahy relieved of command by
Lieutenant Commander, R. B. Poage.

On July 9 1953, Lieutenant Commander, R. B. Poage relieved of command by
Commander William A Whitman. Passed on December 2002 ~ Sailor ...Rest Your Oars

On June 30 1955, Commander William A. Whitman relived of command by
Lieutenant Commander Richard A. Harris.

On June 27 1957, Lieutenant Commander Richard A. Harris relived of command by
Lieutenant Commander Thomas E. Auger.

On July 21 1959, Lieutenant Commander Thomas E. Auger relived of command by
Lieutenant Commander James W. Bowen.

On August 25 1961, Lieutenant Commander James W. Bowen relived of command by
Lieutenant Commander Harold F. Skelly.

On June 28 1963, Lieutenant Commander Harold F. Skelly relived of command by
Lieutenant Commander John M. Draddy.

On July 1 1965, Lieutenant Commander John M. Draddy relived of command by
Lieutenant Commander Charles G. Darrell.

On May 9 1967 Lieutenant Commander Charles G. Darrell relived of command by
Commander Charles H. Wright Jr.

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