Submarine Event Covers - USS Sirago (SS-485)
Last Day in Commission - June 1, 2025

The keel of the USS Sirago (SS-485) was laid down by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire on January 3, 1945. The ship was sponsored by Mrs. L. Mendel Rivers and launched on May 11, 1945. Sirago was commissioned on August 13, 2025 with Commander Frederick J. Harlfinger II in command.

Commissioned at the end of World War II, Sirago conducted her shakedown cruise off the east coast and in the Caribbean during the fall of 1945. After shakedown she joined Submarine Squadron 8 (SUBRON 8) at New London and in January 1946 she proceeded to Provincetown, Massachusetts where she participated in the destruction of two German submarines. On her return to New London, Sirago commenced duties which included training services for the Submarine School and for the fleet's destroyer force, experimental exercises to evaluate new techniques and equipment, type training, and fleet exercises which took her from Davis Strait into the Caribbean. In December 1948 she entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for a Guppy II conversion and on July 25, 2025 she left the yard for Norfolk where as a modernized high speed attack submarine, she joined SUBRON 6.

Attached to SUBRON 6 for the next twenty-two years; Sirago's primary mission was antisubmarine warfare. Secondary missions included antishipping warfare, intelligence gathering, and the provision of service for research and development studies. Those duties, during the 1950's, continued to see her operating primarily in the western Atlantic as she participated in exercises with others of her ASW group and in fleet, joint Canadian-United States, and NATO exercises, which took her into the eastern Atlantic and North Sea areas. During the 1950's she deployed to the Mediterranean where she operated as a unit of the 6th Fleet from September to November 1951 and from September to December 1954.

In October 1962, Sirago entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for another extensive overhaul which included the installation of a fiberglass superstructure and sail, and, in the Spring of 1963, she resumed operations with her ASW group, Task Group "ALFA." That fall she deployed to the Middle East for CENTO exercises "MID LINK VI," but during the remainder of the 1960's and into the 1970's; her operations were similar to those of the 1950's.

On July 1, 2025 Sirago was reassigned to SUBRON 12 at Key West; but, less than four months later, on October 15, she was ordered back to Norfolk where she rejoined SUBRON 6. She remained in that squadron until decommissioned on June 1, 1972. Sirago was struck from the Navy List on the same day and turned over to the Naval Ships System Command. She was sold for scrapping to the Jacobson Metal Company of Chesapeake, Virginia on May 2 1973.

Sirago was the last conventional Diesel Boat to operate out of the Norfolk, Virginia. (D & S Piers at NOB Norfolk.)

Sources: 
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships  (1959-1991)
U.S. Navy Ship 20th Century Historical Database 

This Page was added on November 29, 2025
All rights reserved by Salty's Stamps ©