USS Diodon (SS-349) History

1967 (Provided by Jim Santos, ex-TM2(SS) - USNR; PSCS - USCGR, Retired)

Note:  Your Historian and Webmaster was aboard during these events, beginning in early February, 1967

Go to Memories and Shipmates below

Go to Photos below

CDR Harry. J. Sweet III was Commanding Officer. DIODON prepared to get underway to WestPac in late Spring of 1967. However, one of the cylinders in Engine #1, was scored as she backed out into the stream at Pt. Loma Submarine Base, San Diego. Several weeks later the engine was totally overhauled on board.

DIODON made the run to Yokosuka, Japan.

DIODON performed a 55 day surveillance patrol, and participated in various operations/ maneuvers with the American and Japanese fleets.

DIODON, during that WestPac:

1.  After R&R in Okinawa, we hit something at 250 feet down during a dive while operating with the Japanese fleet off Okinawa.  We knocked up the sonar dome on the bow.  We continued on to Hong Kong for 3 days R&R, and then were going back to Yokosuka, to go into the yards for a few weeks to repair the sonar dome.

2.  Brian Slagle had Port Lookout and I had Starboard Lookout.  LT James Carlier had the OOD on the Bridge.  We had left Hong Kong R&R and were heading back to the shipyard at Yokosuka, Japan, to repair the sonar dome.

Suddenly, the fire alarm sounded and a belch of black smoke rose up through the Conning Tower upper hatch and up through the Sail to us on the Bridge.  What happened was a fire in Maneuvering, which caused DIODON to roll about a 45 degrees to starboard, in 45 foot high seas. Subsequently, during that roll, both starboard engines were flooded by sea water backfilling through their exhausts.

The port engine was under repair, and thus DIODON lost all propulsion. Had to wait three days drifting in that typhoon for a Navy Sea tug to arrive, which towed Diodon back to Yokosuka. DIODON, however, was able to get the port engine working, and made it in under her own power to port. EM2(SS) Pappy Graham and the Filipino EM1(SS) Augustus Emperador were almost killed by smoke inhalation in the Maneuvering Room fire.

In late 1967, DIODON returned to the U.S.

I recall that the USS Sperry AS-12 collided with a highway in 1967 in her trip from San Diego up to Washington state.

Rick Becker who was an Ensign to LT on Diodon 1965-1968

LT(SS) James F. Carlier, WP '67

Gary Fessler STS2(SS)

Art Knoles - Memories of WestPac cruise in 1967

Photos

1967 USS Diodon (SS-349) WestPac Album

Diodon Christmas Card from 1967
(From Jim Santos)