1945
1946 - 1947
- In September 1946, as part of the Bureau of Ships post-war investigation
of the high speed submarine, ODAX was selected for conversion to a
"Guppy" (Greater Underwater Propulsion Power) and returned to Portsmouth.
Completing conversion in August 1947, first of the "GUPPY" submarines,
then returned to Key West for an intensive program in the field of
research and development. At this time, ODAX was the fastest of U.
S. submarines.
1951
- In August 1951, ODAX again sailed to Portsmouth for conversion.
The major aspect was the addition of a "Snorkel" and redesignation
as a "Guppy II." (Image above)
-
She first put her snorkel to tactical use in a large scale convoy
exercise "CONVEX III" in the spring of 1952.
From 1952 through 1955, the ship provided services to the Operational
Development Force and Fleet Sonar School in Key West and to the
Fleet Training Group in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She then participated
in Operations "LANTSUBEX ONE" and "EMIGRANT", Fleet Scale Operations
designed to investigate the submarine's role in the Navy of the
future.
During the first three months of 1955, ODAX operated
with the Sixth Fleet and Hunter-Killer Group 4 in the Mediterranean
Sea. In the Spring of 1955, ODAX returned to Key West and resumed
furnishing services to commands in that area. She then went into
overhaul in the Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, South Carolina,
where she received new equipment of improved design.
1956
- Odax received a complete Shipyard Overhaul, including new and/or
updated equipment and systems (i.e., Radio, Radar, Sonar and Fire
Control Systems). Four new main power batteries, along with a "modern"
open-cell ventilation system were installed. (One of the first Electronic-magnetic
pit-log system was installed which was forever susceptible to leaking
during deep-submergence.) She departed Charleston NSY in November
1956 for homeport of key West with stops along the way in Newport
RI and San Juan PR.
On 26 December 1956, she departed Key West (air temp 90+ degrees F)
to provide ASW services to the Airedales of Keflavik NAS. Stops along
the way included 28 December at the Deperming Piers in Norfolk (air
Temp 32 degrees F. with freezing rain) and then New London on 31 December
(air temp -10 degrees F.) to have our deck and dog-house hatches welded
shut, periscopes with defrosters installed, etc. (A 100 degree temperature
shift in less than 1 week!)
- Odax left New London during the first week of January 1957 for
the Greenland-Iceland gap for operations. After being on station for
a short period, the exercises with the Naval Aviators was called off:
Weather and visibility was so bad the airedales couldn't fly. (It
was so rough that she had to take in air through the Snorkel Induction
rather than the Main Induction and there were occasionally waves high
enough to cause the head-valve to shut!)
She returned to New London and then re-directed to Portsmouth UK to
operate with British Naval Units in Northern waters. After snorkeling
for 28 consecutive days of operations, Odax returned to Portsmouth
and then on to Dublin Ireland for a Port visit. (Odax was the first
US submarine to visit Dublin after WW II.) She then left for New London
and Key West for a much earned and lengthy upkeep period.)
- In September 1958, ODAX left for a four month cruise with the
U. S. SIXTH FLEET in the Mediterranean. During her deployment, she
participated in the NATO exercise "CRESCENT HINGE" and transited the
Suez Canal, to take part in Operation "MIDLINK 58" a Baghdad Pact
sponsored exercise held in the Arabian Sea.
- Another six month overhaul was completed in Charleston Naval
Ship- yard in August 1959, and at this time the ship's home port was
changed to Charleston, South Carolina.
- After a Barrier Patrol in early 1960, highlighted by visits to
Faslane and Glasgow, Scotland, the ship departed in August 1960 for
South America. There ODAX participated in Operation "UNITAS", an exercise
conducted in conjunction with naval units of various South American
countries.
After leaving Charleston, the ship visited Port of Spain, Trinidad,
BWI, before transiting the Panama Canal. Once through the canal, ODAX
headed south visiting Callao, Peru and Valparaiso, Chile. She then
passed through the "Inland Waterway" enroute to Punta Arenas, Chile,
in the Straits of Magellan. Steering north, the ODAX visited Montevideo,
Uruguay and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil before returning to Charleston
in December 1960, to resume local operations.
- In March 1961, ODAX participated in "LANTFLEX 61". In this exercise
ODAX operated with various surface and air units of the U. S. Atlantic
Fleet in coordinated operations and tactical maneuvers. A subsequent
exercise, "FISHPLAY VI", provided training with other submarine units
in the various aspects of Anti-Submarine Warfare.
- In February 1962, ODAX entered Charleston Naval Shipyard for
a five month overhaul. Notable improvements completed in the shipyard
included the installation of a clamshell type superstructure, streamlining
of the conning tower fairwater, and modifications to the ship's electronic
installation. Following the overhaul, ODAX conducted training operations
in the local Charleston area and also visited Bermuda, BWI, Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
- In the spring of 1964, ODAX made an operational visit to Halifax,
Nova Scotia.
In August 1964 she deployed again to South America to participate
in combined operations while circumnavigating the continent. ODAX
returned to Charleston in December 1964.
-
In March 1966, ODAX participated in Operation LANDLUBBER,
conducted near the island of Bermuda. During this exercise, ODAX operated
with submarine, surface, and air units of the US Atlantic Fleet. ODAX
then returned to Charleston and operated locally until late July 1966,
when she proceeded to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and provided services
to the Fleet Training Group for a period of 6 weeks. While in the
Carib- bean area, ODAX visited Port Antonio, Jamaica. On returning
from Guantanamo Bay, ODAX conducted local operations until November
1966. In November and December of 1966, ODAX participated in the Fleet
Exercise, LANTFLEX 2-66.
ODAX entered Charleston Naval Shipyard in December 1966 for interim
dry-docking, Upon completion, ODAX operated in the Charleston operation
areas and participated in the fleet exercise CLOVEHITCH III.
1967
- In May 1967, ODAX departed for a Northern European deployment.
While in Europe, the ship visited Stavanger, Norway, Cuxhaven, West
Germany, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Antwerp, Belgium.
Upon her return to Charleston, ODAX was awarded the coveted Battle
Efficiency "E" for Fiscal Year 1967. In October and November, ODAX
provided services to the Fleet Training Group in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
for a period of 8 weeks. Visits were made to Port Antonio and Montego
Bay, Jamaica.
- ODAX entered the Charleston Naval Shipyard for overhaul in February
1968 and upon completion in September operated in the Charleston area.
- In January 1969 the ODAX participated in Operation SPRINGBOARD,
visiting San Juan, P. R. and St. Thomas, VI Upon returning to Charleston,
after a visit to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; the ODAX began preparations
for a Mediterranean deployment. March 1969 found the ODAX operating
in the Mediterranean Sea making port calls at Rota, Spain; Valetta,
Malta; Naples, Italy; Toulon, France and Augusta, Sicily. The ODAX
participated in NATO Exercise DAWN PATROL and provided services to
Sixth Fleet Carrier Task Force units. Returning in August 1969, the
ODAX conducted training operations in the local Charleston areas.
- From January to March 1970 the ODAX was again in the Charleston
Naval shipyard where she had four new batteries installed. Upon completion
of the installation ODAX spent one month in Charleston preparing for
deployment to Northern Europe with a US Hunter-Killer ASW Task Force.
ODAX departed Charleston in early May for Europe. During this May
to October 1970 deployment port visits were made to Lisbon, Portugal;
Rota, Spain; Copenhagen, Denmark; Hamburg, Germany; Leith and Holy
Lock, Scotland; Cherbourg, France; and Gosport, England. During the
five month deployment the ODAX provided numerous services to the Hunter-Killer
ASW Task Force and participated in NATO exercises "NIGHT PATROL" and
"NORTHERN ,WEDDING."
Upon completion of her Northern European deployment in October 1970,
ODAX made a short 2-day stop in Charleston, SC to allow personnel
to make vehicle and household goods moving arrangements and the ship
then sailed for her reassigned home port of Key West, Florida.
In December 1970, ODAX was officially awarded the Navy Unit Commendation
for her participation in the ASW operations in Northern Europe. The
ship was also awarded her second Battle Efficiency "E" for the 1970
Fiscal Year competition.
- During 1971 the ODAX provided extensive services as a sonar target
for the Test and Evaluation of the surface ship SQS-26 SONAR system.
She also went to New Orleans, LA to participate in "Mardi Gras" activities.
In August of that year, after completing SONAR evaluation services,
the ship made a six-week deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for services
to US and NATO surface warships undergoing training there. Upon return
to Key West in September 1971, the ODAX commenced an extensive upkeep
and Interim Dry Docking period which extended through December 1971.
- In January 1972, the ODAX underwent an inspection by the Board
of Inspection and Survey; the result of which found that the ship
had "No mission limiting deficiencies." This was particularly noteworthy
in that the ODAX at that point was about one year overdue for Regular
Overhaul. In February 1972, the ODAX repeated her performance of the
previous year by participating in the "Mardi Gras" activities in New
Orleans, LA.
On 9 March 1972, the ODAX departed Key West for a seven week unsupported
deployment to the Eastern Atlantic for participation in NATO Exercise
"SOLID OAK." In the course of this deployment the ship made port visits
to Lisbon, Portugal and Rota, Spain. Upon her return to the United
States on 28 April 1972, the ODAX commenced inactivation and pre-strike
procedures. Numerous changes in the disposition status of the ship
followed. Inactivation procedures were stopped when Brazil indicated
a strong interest in purchasing ODAX for their Navy. A Brazilian crew
was sent to Key West to train in ship operations and a transfer date
of 30 June was set. However, shortly after the Brazilian crew was
certified for operations they were dispatched to New London, CT on
short notice to accept delivery of another US submarine. A second
Brazilian crew was sent to Key West and finally, after training two
complete crews, ODAX was sold to Brazil, decommissioned, transferred
and commissioned in the Brazilian Navy as S. RIO de JANEIRO (S-13)
in ceremonies at Key West, FL on 8 July 1972.
- The S 13 Rio de Janeiro (like any other ship in Brazilian Navy
- the name represents the state of Rio de Janeiro, not the city) made
37.435 MN under Brazilian flag. She was decommissioned in November
16, 1978 (together with the S 11 Rio Grande do Sul - ex US Grampus
SS-523). In June 18, 1981, the boat was sold to Verolme Shipyard to
be dismantled.
-
Update The following is a
letter we received 5/12/2003
 USS
ODAX HISTORY.
As a little curiosity to the history of your great ship
I can tell you the following story. In 1981 I came to the
Verolme Shipyard with the Maersk Pioneer, which is a semi
- submersible oil drilling rig, for repair and overhaul. I
was serving onboard as senior electrician.
At the shipyard we were located next to a submarine with the
ID. S-13 on it waiting to be dismantled, curious as I am and
armed with a flash light, I went over to have a look at it,
there was not much to see inside, it was dark and wet but
I got hold in a little souvenir, the nameplate from one of
the main diesel engines. The S-13 was shortly after dismantled.
At the USS ODAX history page I can see that the S-13 is
the former USS ODAX SS484.
I have been reading the history and noted that she visited
my country Denmark in 1970, very interesting.
Further more I can tell you that the Verolme Shipyard
is located a little south of the city Rio de Janeiro at a
place called Angra dos Reis. In the Portuguese language Angra
dos Reis means "The bay of the kings", and that's where the
USS ODAX ended her days .
All the best to all of you from a 62 year old Dane, former
private in the Royal Danish Navy (1962-1963) at the korvettes,
U-boat hunters! We never got one.
Regards Mogens Christensen, Denmark.
Last sailor on board your great ship
Click the Engine Nameplate to learn about
the Fairbanks-Morse 38D8 Diesel Engine!!
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The USS Odax 