Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Patches contributed by Scott Koen

USS Griffin (AS-13)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Bravo - Kilo
NEBK
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Defense Service Medal (with "A" device) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Philippine Liberation Medal
Griffin Class Submarine Tender:
  • Laid down as SS Mormacpenn, a Maritime Commission type (C3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 44), at Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Co., Chester, PA.
  • Launched, 11 October 1939
  • Acquired by the US Navy in 1940
  • Converted to a Submarine Tender at Robbins Dry Dock and Repair Co., Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Commissioned USS Griffin (AS-13), 31 July 1941, CDR. S. D. Jupp in command
  • During World War II USS Griffin was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 12 October 1945, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 August 1972 and transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for non-transportation use, 9 April 1973, to Zidell Explorations Inc. (PD-X-956 dated 5 march 1973) for $162,888.90
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,613 t.(lt) 14,500 t.(fl)
    Length 492'
    Beam 69' 6"
    Draft 24' 3" (lim)
    Speed 16.5 kts. (design)
    Complement
    Officers - 87
    Enlisted - 1424
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity - Diesel 22,000 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Busch-Sulzer Diesel engine
    single Falk Main Reduction Gear
    six diesel-drive Ship's Service Generators, 275Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    single propeller, 8,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Merchant Service Moore McCormack Steamship Co.
    Griffin 75k SS Mormacpenn under way prior to being converted to a submarine tender, circa 1940. Michael Loveall for his father Huey Loveall USS Griffin
    USS Griffin (AS-13)
    Griffin
    09261324    		 74k
    Namesake
    Griffin - RADM. Robert Stanislaus Griffin (27 September 1857-21 February 1933) a mechanical engineer and Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering through WWI, propelled the U.S. Navy from coal to oil fired engines. He also oversaw the adoption of the electric drive as the propulsion for U.S. Navy capital ships.
    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (Library of Congress, LC-H25- 51167-A [P&P])    		 Tommy Trampp
    Griffin 22k A Chief Torpedoman aboard USS Griffin (AS-13) paints another "hashmark" on the Torpedo Shop scoreboard of Japanese ships claimed sunk by SubRon 5's "S-Boats", operating out of Brisbane, Australia, during April-November 1942. Submarines listed on the scoreboard include;
    USS S-37 (SS-142),
    USS S-38 (SS-143),
    USS S-39 (SS-144),
    USS S-40 (SS-145),
    USS S-41 (SS-146),
    USS S-42 (SS-153),
    USS S-43 (SS-154),
    USS S-44 (SS-155),
    USS S-45 (SS-156),
    USS S-46 (SS-157), and
    USS S-47 (SS-158).
    The original caption dates the photo 7 January 1943, but it may have been taken earlier, as Griffin left Australia in November 1942.
    US National Archives photo 80-G-77065, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.         		Courtesy Randy Guttery
    Tendertales Web Site
    Griffin 77k Stern view of USS Griffin (AS-13) at anchor off San Francisco, CA., 17 April 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2734-43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Griffin 62kBroadside view of USS Griffin (AS-13) at anchor off San Francisco, CA., 17 April 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2736-43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Griffin 64k Bows on view of USS Griffin (AS-13) at anchor off San Francisco, CA., 17 April 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2738-43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Griffin 92k USS Griffin (AS-13) at anchor near Mare Island Navy Yard, 22 April 1943.
    US National Archives photo 19-N-48385, RG-19-LCM, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Robert Hurst
    Griffin 162k USS Griffin (AS-13) at anchor near Mare Island Navy Yard, 22 April 1943.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 53785    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Griffin
    #19-N-62742    		 85k USS Griffin (AS-13) at anchor near Mare Island Navy Yard, 5 March 1944. The ship has undergone a major reconfiguration in which the superstructure was extended forward of the bridge, the after goalpost mast was replaced by a light pole, and the 5" gun on the stern was also removed.
    US National Archives photos # 19-N-62742 and 19-N-62744 RG-19-LCM, US Navy Bureau of Ships photos now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Robert Hurst
    Griffin
    #19-N-62744    		 93k
    Griffin 71k Bows on view of USS Griffin (AS-13) departing Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 5 March 1944. ARD-11 is just visible in the background to the left (under the two hammer head cranes).
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 1516-44.    		 Darryl Baker
    Griffin 74k Stern view of USS Griffin (AS-13) off Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 5 March 1944.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 1517-44.    		 Darryl Baker
    Griffin 78k Broadside view of USS Griffin (AS-13) off Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 5 March 1944. Griffin was in overhaul at Mare Island from 10 January to 9 March 1944.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 1520-44.    		 Darryl Baker
    Griffin 127k Amidships looking aft plan view of USS Griffin (AS-13) at Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 7 March 1944.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 1553-44.    		 Darryl Baker
    Griffin 190k Amidships looking forward plan view of USS Griffin (AS-13) at Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 7 March 1944.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 1554-44. The Naval Hospital is the large group of building in the background.    		 Darryl Baker
    Griffin 364k King Neptune and his court pay a visit to USS Griffin (AS-13) when she crossed the equator, date unknown. Michael Loveall for his father Huey Loveall USS Griffin
    Griffin 95k Griffin (AS-13) divers in their shallow water diving gear, date and location unknown. Michael Loveall for his father Huey Loveall USS Griffin
    Griffin
    09361315    		 69k AS-13 War Diary for February 1945:
    Between February 12-28 1945 USS Griffin (AS-13) was anchored in Berth B-1, U.S. Naval Station Subic Bay Philippines with four submarines alongside, from left to right;
    USS Bergall (SS-320) - 17 February 1945 (Listed as "in progress" through the end of month into March. Departed March 4 for war patrol)
    USS Blackfin (SS-322) - 15 February 1945 (Listed as "in progress" through the end of month into March. Departed March 6 for war patrol)
    USS Blueback (SS-326) - 15 February 1945 (Listed as "in progress" through the end of month into March. Departed March 4 for her second war patrol) Blueback finished her first war patrol, entering Subic Bay on 15 February 1945 and mooring alongside Griffin the same day. According to Griffin's War Diary she remained through the end of the month into March for post patrol repairs
    USS Pampanito (SS-383) - 12-15 February 1945 (Departed Feb 25 for war patrol)
    USS Griffin (AS-13); the battle damaged
    USS LaVallette (DD-448) (15 - 19 February 1945). LaVallette struck a mine, 14 February 1945, while screening for mines in Mariveles Harbor.
    USS LST-457
    DD-448 - War Diary for February 1945:
    USS La Vallette (DD-448) suffered the mine explosions on February 14, 1945 and was towed into Subic Bay on February 15, 1945 and moored alongside AS-13 at 1245. USS LST-457 came alongside DD-448 (while alongside AS-13) on February 16, 1945 at 1650 to take off equipment to help lighten the DD as flooded spaces were being patched and pumped dry. On February 19, 1945 at 0852 DD-448 got underway from AS-13 and moored alongside LST-457 elsewhere in Subic Bay."
    Photo can be dated from 1650 16 February 1945 to 0852 19 February 1945.    		 Photo - Michael Loveall for his father Huey Loveall USS Griffin
    Caption - Michael Goughan for her wifes grandfather LT Leon H. Rathbun Jr., USS Blueback (SS-326)'s Weapons Officer from 1944-1946 and
    CDR. Patrick H. Saxon, USN (Ret) for his father Hurley O. Saxon, RM1 USS Griffin
    Griffin 233k USS Griffin (AS-13) diver Huey Loveall, receives the Navy-Marine Corps Medal for heroism. Griffin's divers received the medal for distinguishing themselves by their acts of heroism while diving to repair the battle damaged USS LaVallette (DD-448) at Subic Bay. Michael Loveall for his father Huey Loveall USS Griffin
    Griffin 381k USS Griffin (AS-13) diver Huey Loveall in his deep sea diving suit. Michael Loveall for his father Huey Loveall USS Griffin
    Griffin 300k USS Griffin (AS-13) officers, probably a photo of CO, XO and Department heads, date and location unknown. Michael Loveall for his father Huey Loveall USS Griffin
    Griffin 255k Photograph of seven USS Griffin (AS-13) enlisted personnel, probably the ships' divers, taken on 3 August 1945, at Midway Island. Michael Loveall for his father Huey Loveall USS Griffin
    Griffin 242k USS Griffin (AS-13) with three submarines alongside at Midway between 26 August and 1 September 1945. Photo taken from USS Gurnard (SS-254) by ChMoMM Benton E. Buell David Buell
    Griffin 536k Newspaper article from Mare Island Navy Yard and official US Navy photo of the decommissioning of USS Griffin (AS-13), 12 October 1945. Darryl Baker
    Pelias 220k Overhead view of, from front to back,
    USS Griffin (AS-13),
    USS Euryale (AS-22),
    USS Aegir (AS-23), and
    USS Pelias (AS-14)
    moored in the Reserve Fleet, at Mare Island Navy Shipyard, Vallejo, CA. with 52 mothballed World War II submarines, circa 1946     		Darryl Baker
    USS Griffin (AS-13)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Jupp, Stanley Dexter, USN (USNA 1918) :COMO31 July 1941 - 22 September 1942
    02CAPT. Thorp, Wakeman Blanchard, USN (USNA 1921-B)22 September 1942 - 20 June 1944
    03CAPT. Madden, John FitzPatrick, USN (USNA 1921-B)20 June 1944 - 25 April 1945
    04CDR. Brown, Thomas Markham, USN (USNA 1925) :RADM25 April 1945 - 12 October 1945
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Submarine Tenders of the United States Navy
    Duty aboard Griffin (AS-13) as told by Arthur S. Harrell
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Auxiliaries and
    Miscellaneous Ship Type Index    		 Back To The Submarine Tender Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 7 April 2023