USS Diodon (SS-349) History

1968 (Provided by Jim Santos, ex-TM2(SS) - USNR; PSCS - USCGR, Retired)

Note:  Your Historian and Webmaster was aboard during these events, up to October 1, 1968.

Go to Memories and Shipmates below

Go to Photos and Stories below

From The Periscope, Patrol 11, Run 22, Submarine Flotilla One, September 20, 1968

Diodon Returns to San Diego under New Command

USS DIODON (SS-349) steamed into her homeport of San Diego after a six-month absence which saw her undergo a major overhaul and make a one month cruise to the great Northwest to check out her weapons systems.

DIODON entered the Mare Island Naval Shipyard at Vallejo, California on 28 February for overhaul and refitting completing her schedule on 9 August. Heading for Puget Sound, the boat spent two weeks calibrating and aligning her fire control systems.with the crew catching liberty calls in the ports of Vancouver, British Columbia and Seattle, Washington.

A new commanding officer returned to San Diego with DIODON; he is Lieutenant Commander Robert J. Duke, USN, who relieved Commander Harry J. Sweet III at a change of command ceremony held in NAD Bangor, Washington on Saturday 24 August 1968.

DIODON. a member of Submarine Squadron Five and Submarine Division FIFTY-TWO at Ballast Point, was built by the Electric Boat Company and was commissioned 18 March 1946. She was later converted to a Guppy type submarine with additional batteries installed to provide extra speed and range capabilities.

Change of command ceremony was held on board the submarine USS DIODON (SS.-349) at 1000 Saturday, 24 August 1968 at NAD Bangor, Washington. Friends and family were invited to witness the traditional navy ceremony when Commander Harry J. Sweet 111. USN, relinquished command of the submarine and the new commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Robert J. Duke, l; SN, assumed command of the 90 man crew.

Commander Sweet, a native of Aurora. Illinois, received a Fleet Appointment to the U. S. Naval Academy in 1950. He graduated in 1954 and served on USS WALKER (DDE-317) and subsequently on the USS LINCOLN COUNTY (LST- 898).

Commander Sweet completed submarine school in June of 1958 and proceeded to his first submarine billet on board USS ARGONAUT (SS-475). Then, following staff duty at the U.S. Naval Academy and the US Military Academy, Commander Sweet returned to sea as Executive Officer of the USS VOLADOR (SS-490). He assumed command of DIODON on 14 January 1967. He and his wife, the former Linda Lee Hardy of Annapolis, Maryland. are the parents of four sons.

Lieutenant Commander Duke graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in August of 1954. He served aboard the USS ROANOKE (CL-I45) before attending submarine school in 1956. Following a tour on USS SPIKEFISH (SS-404) and on the commissioning crew of USS GROWLER (SSG-587), he served with COMSUBRON SEVEN Staff in Pearl Harbor and the Defense Supply Agency, Washington, D.C.

Lieutenant Commander Duke then returned to sea on board USS JALLAO (SS- 368) and then served as Executive Officer on USS SABLEFISH (SS-303). Prior to reporting to DIODON. Lieutenant Commander Duke conp1eted a tour of duty as Squadron Engineer, COMSUBRON TWELVE Staff at Key West. Florida.

LCDR Robert J. Duke. USN, makes his address upon assuming command of USS DIODON (SS-349) at Bangor. Washington as Commander Wade H. Harris. USN. Commander Submarine Division FIFTY-TWO and Commander Harry J. Sweet. USN. former commanding officer of DIODON took on.

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

(new 01-14-03)

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

Gary Fessler STS2(SS)
 

TMCM(SW) John L. Quillman, USN ret compliments TM2(SS) Wally Levander post Diodon service
(New 12-06-04)
 

Photos and Stories

Diodon (SS-349) in Mare Island CA. drydock, 1968.
(new 01-03-11)

Diodon has an Unexpected Visitor in October 1968
(New 02-28-03)

Photo and News Clippings from David Robeson from 1968
(Updated 01-27-04)

Photo from Jay Mack from 1968
(New 02-02-04)

USS Diodon (SS-349) Photos from Steve Wilber from 1968