Launch-Day Tag

Design Specifications   Class:                   BALAO (Sea Owl variant) Displacement:      1,526 (surf.) 2,401 (subm.) Dimensions:           length 311'7''; beam 27'2; draft 15'3" Speed:                   20.25 kts. (surf), 8.75 kts (subm) Weapons:              1-5"/25 cal, 10-21" torpedoes tubes (6 fwd, 4 aft) Complement:        6 officers - 60 enlisted men Depth:                   400 ft.

The story of the Balao class submarine USS Sea Robin begins when her keel was laid down on building way # 3 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard on March 1, 1944. Following a period of rapid wartime construction, she was christened by her sponsor, Mrs. Herbert Ambrose and launched on May 25, 1944.

The Commissioning ceremony took place, and her first Commanding Officer, Paul C. Stimson assumed command on August 7, of the same year. From the period of August 22 to Sept. 16, Sea Robin conducted extensive sea trials in the water off of Portsmouth, then proceeded to Newport, Rhode Island to conduct torpedo trials. She next traveled to the New London Submarine Base at Groton, Connecticut and conducted further training exercise during the period from Sept.20 to Oct. 3.

Commisioning OFFICERS AND CREW OF THE U.S.S. SEA ROBIN Lieut. Comdr. P. C. Stimson, U.S.N. Lieutenant P. F. Eckert, U.S.N. Lieutenant F. P. Melzar, U.S.N.R. Lieutenant V. C. Page, Jr., U.S.N.R. Lieutenant B. P. Percy, U.S.N. Lieutenant (jg) R. W. Greene, U.S.N.R. Lieutenant (jg) L. A. McHenry, U.S.N. Ensign J. H. Bruns, U.S.N.R.   W. D. Hunter, CTM, U.S.N., Chief of the Boat Allard, R.L.   QM3c Hoyt, R.E. EM3c Allen, C.H. EM3c Hurd, J.H. SC3c Allen, R.Q. Bkr3c        Kelley, J.C. MoMM2c Bell, R.G. MoMM1c      Krieg, K.H. CMoMM Britten, G.W. MoMM3c   Lacy, J.W. GM2c Carbee, M. G. MoMM2c Lawrence, K.G. MoMM2c Carlton, O.F. SMlc      Lidman, A.A. MoMMIc Carter, J.N. MoMM2c Loveland, E.N. E.N. S2c Casey, R.N. TM3c Madden, L.G. TMlc Cook, J.A. TM3c   Manikas, A. GM3c Cornish, F.F. MoMM3c Mc Allister, J. S1c Cosgro, J.P. S1c   Mc Murtrey, E.A. CPhM Cowles, R. I. S2c Minuteli, A.E. S2c Davidson, P.L. Ck3c Murdock, W.L.Jr. S2c Deitchler, K.K. TM3c Neal, P.A. RM1c Dembkowski, J.C. RM3c  Novak, C.J. TM3c De Palma, R.R. RM3c O'Hare, W.J. F1c Dingman, G.B. EM2c O'Shea, J.T. MoMM2c Drake, E.J. S1c Paull, R.B. S2c Duquid, J.D. EMlc Phillips, J.J. Flc Durrant, H.W. TM2c Rackley, R.R. GM2c Everett, H.E. StM2c Richards, R.W. EM2c Felix, W.H. Jr. TM3c Roberts, "J" "B" TM2c Fineberg. F. Flc Robinson, W.J. S1c Flynn, T. Jr. EM3c Sellers, F. A. F1c Gardineer, C.P. RM2c Shadbolt, R.C. Flc Gauthier, G. E, RT2c   Shepherd,R.E. Ylc Griffin, T.W. MoMM3c Smyly, J. T. Jr. EM2c Grom, W.H. MoMMIc Thomson, A. C. Jr. Flc Haffey, G.P. F1 c    Uhl, E.I. MM1c Hagopan, J. CMoMM Walker, D.R. S1c Hand, G.C. Jr. QM2c    Wallace, S.C. CMoMM Harding, W.S. S2c White, R.H. QM2e Henderson, H.J. Jr. EMlc Wiggins, G.W. SIc Hill, A.M. S2c Winer, I. EM3c Hilley, R.L. TM2c   Young, W.T. CEM

Sea Robin departed the Submarine Base at Groton and headed for Balboa, Canal Zone, arriving there on Oct. 13. Even before she could get to the Panama Canal, she was fired on by a Scandinavian merchantman, who had mistaken her for a German U-Boat. More trial, torpedo shooting exercises and attack training filled her time while at Balboa. On Oct. 21 she headed west to her wartime base of Pearl Harbor, arriving there on Nov.5.

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