USS Diodon (SS-349) History

1946 (provided by Don Remily, EM2(SS))

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The DIODON was accepted by the Navy, represented by Captain C.W. Gray, USN, on 18 March 1946. LCDR J. M. HINGSON, USN, read his orders to the assembled crew and took command, during the commissioning ceremonies at New London, Connecticut.

Routine tests and training exercises were conducted in the New London area and on 22 March 1946 the DIODON submerged for the first time.

On 29 April 1946, DIODON departed on a shakedown cruise to South America with Bermuda, Bahia, Trinidad and Rio De Janeiro among the ports of call. This cruise took the ship into the warm waters of the Caribbean, which is the natura1 habitat of her name sake, the DIODON fish.

DIODON crossed the equator submerged on 11 May 1946 and appropriate ceremonies were conducted to welcome 35 shellbacks into the realm of King Neptune.

Upon completion of her shakedown cruise DIODON was ordered to proceed to San Diego, California, via the Panama Canal. The transit of the canal was completed on 13 June 1946 and, after a short stay at Balboa to conduct torpedo firing exercises, DIODON proceeded to San Diego, arriving on 5 July 1946. At her new home port, DIODON joined Submarine Squadron SEVEN.

On 6 July 1946, Commander B. R. VanBuskirk relieved LCDR HINGSON and became DIODON's second commanding officer.

DIODON departed San Diego on 16 July, in company with three other submarines, to participate in operation "DEEP FREEZE" in Alaskan waters. The Alasksan summer was mild, hence the cruise was a pleasant one. Brief Calls were made at Dutch Harbor, Nome, Kodiak, Seward and Juneau. DIODON crossed the Arctic Circle on 29 July.

Memories and Shipmates

P.P. Bocko, CSM; J.E. Vermillion, QM2c. 1946
 

Captain Jim Hingson, First C.O. of USS Diodon

Photos and Stories

1946 Photo Album
(Updated 05-13-05)

Diodon's First CO J.M. Hingson in photo and info from Batfish SS-310 war time service
(new 05-08-04)

Panama Canal 1946

The 1946 Commissioning Crew and the 1971 Decommissioning Crew