|
USS ''Seadragon'' (SS-194), a ''Sargo''-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the seadragon. Her keel was laid on 18 April 1938 by the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut. She was christened and launched on 21 April 1939, sponsored by Mrs. May F. Richardson, wife of Admiral James O. Richardson, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, and commissioned on 23 October 1939 with Lieutenant John G. Johns in command. ==Operational history== Following a shakedown cruise off the east coast and in the Caribbean Sea, ''Seadragon'' returned to New England and, on 23 May 1940, departed New London, Connecticut, for the Philippine Islands. With Commander, Submarine Division 17 (ComSubDiv 17) embarked, she arrived at Cavite on 30 November and commenced training operations as a unit of the Asiatic Fleet. A year later, she prepared for overhaul; and, by 8 December 1941 (7 December east of the International Date Line), she had started her yard period at the Cavite Navy Yard. Two days later, on 10 December, she and sister ship , moored together, were caught in an enemy air raid against Cavite. ''Sealion'' took a direct hit which demolished her and damaged ''Seadragon''. The force of the explosion ripped off part of the latter's bridge. Fragments and splinters punctured her ballast tanks and conning tower, killing one and wounding five. The heat of the explosion scorched her hull and blistered her black paint. Fires and explosions raged along the wharf. A nearby torpedo shop went up and flames reached toward a lighter, loaded with torpedoes, lying alongside ''Seadragon''. Submarine Rescue Vessel , however, disregarded the danger and moved in to tow ''Seadragon'' into the channel; she continued into Manila Bay under her own power. Temporary repairs were accomplished by tender and ''Pigeon''; and, on the night of 15 December, ''Seadragon'' embarked members of the Asiatic Fleet staff. At 00:00, 16 December, she headed out of Manila Bay. Escorted by destroyer , ''Seadragon'' moved south, ''via'' Surigao and Makassar Straits to Soerabaja, where she disembarked her passengers; received further repairs, exclusive of a paint job; and prepared for her first war patrol. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「USS Seadragon (SS-194)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|