Submarine Tenders with their Subs

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Since 09-11-02

Updated 06-27-07

Story of USS Sperry endangering subs involving the Diodon and four other boats of Squadron 7, in 1947

Tender with Uboats in WWI

AS 2 Bushnell with her "brood" of S Class subs in the 1920s

Waiting their turn for Holland's expert repair service -
these subs have obviously been "in action."


AS-3 USS Holland servicing subs in Alaska


AS-3 USS Holland with 6 Submarines at San Diego in October, 1926
 

AS-3 USS Holland at North Island San Diego in 1927 with her brood of Subs
 

AS-3 USS Holland with boats at San Diego 1930

My Father was aboard the USS Holland in WWII
(New 11-02-04)

AS-4 USS Alert

 



AS-4 USS Alert at San Pedro (Los Angeles) California, about 1921

 

AS-5 USS Beaver with her brood of subs



 Submarine Tender USS Canopus with subs in Manila Harbor pre-WWII.

 

Another view of the Submarine Tender Canopus anchored in the Philippines with her charges. There are six Fleet Boats to the right and six S Class boats to the left

 

A 2nd shot of the Canopus with S-36 thru S-41 rafted along side

Tender USS Sperry AS-12 tending WWII submarines

 

USS Griffin AS-13
(New 05-14-03)

Added at the request of Henry G. Spenceley

From: Henry G. Spenceley <hspencel@tampabay.rr.com>
Date: 5/14/2003 3:35:41 PM

Would like to see a picture of USS Griffin AS13 placed on your site. A photograph can be seen of the ship in the Philipnes with four submarines along side and the damaged destroyer USS Lavalette and a LST. This photo is on the TenderTales site. I served on this ship from 1942 to 1945.

The USS Griffin - with four subs to starboard - and the heavily damaged LaValette to port (Also the USS 457). Here is the report take from the divers just after having completed recovery of the killed sailors - and applying a patch to the LaValette's side:

(picture and written record courtesy Henry G. Spenceley)

The statement is by Hugh Loveall who was one of the divers, all the divers were awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.

"We went into the ship through the hole blown in the side of the ship. Because of water tight integrity we could not open any of the hatches. I went in first and brought the first three bodies out. They had been in the water long enough that the first ones I found were floating against the top of the compartment. We would tie a line around them and the crew on top would pull them out. After the bodies were recovered we then put a plate over the hole in the side, using high velocity tools shot bolts into it and into the sides of the LaValette. We worked 16 hours straight so the water pumps could keep enough water out that it could get underway back to Pearl Harbor. The LaVelette hit a mine while on patrol off Corregedor".

At this time the Griffin was caring for four submarines and along side of the destroyer was the USS 457 the writer is not sure of the reason that this vessel was tied up with us also. After we reestablished a new sub. base there we went to Pearl and then to Midway for the same purpose. What a lovely place to end a war in.

Henry G. Spenceley Y2c(T) Gunnery and Torpedo Dept.
 

 

Tender USS Proteus and Submarine Squadron at end of WWII in Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945

 

Another view with Commanding Officers and Subs Identified, thanks to George Arnold

Tender and her Nest of boats in Sicily, Italy, 1950.
 

Tender USS Nereus with nesting subs in San Diego, CA, 1959
 

 Tender and Subs in San Diego, 1960

Subs and Crews undergoing Inspection in Nest alongside Tender in Norfork, Virginia in 1960s

View 1 - Left to Right: Barbero, Requin, Torsk, Argonaut, Cobbler, Runner, Cutlass, and Sailfish

View 2 - Another View of the above Tender and subs

View 3 - Another View of the above Tender and subs

View 4 - Yet another View of the above Tender and subs

Tender AS-11 subs in nest at State Pier in the "Port of New London", New London, Connecticut - unknown date

AS-12 with Subs in San Diego, CA
(New 02-07-05)