Help Identifying Ships

[reefera4m]

Can any one identify the ships in the attached Photos? All are US Navy and the photos were taken in 1979.

Thanks

[mike d]

I am not an expert,as some of the members of this site certainly are,but
I will start the ball rolling!
Picture #1 shows a destroyer of the Charles F Adams class,and by her hull pennant number she would be USS Waddell, DDG-24. Outboard of her is what appears to be a frigate of the Brooke or Garcia class.
Picture # 2 shows a pair of LSD's. (Landing Ship Dock) I am not sure of the class.
Picture # 3 is very interesting! The submarine at the top could be Nautilus or one of her near sisters,based upon the lack of a tear-drop hull design.
The sub in the middle is an SSN by the look of it. (not much help,I know!)
As for the behemoth at the bottom of the picture, my first guess was something like USS Halibut,or something expiremental along those lines.
Halibut used to carry the Regulus missile in a hangar forward of the sail.
I am sure that some of the more 'seasoned' members here will be of much more help! In the meantime,good luck!!

[reefera4m]

Thanks! It's a start.

I guess I should explain more of why I'm trying to identify the ships. I had the photos taken by the Cubi Point Naval Station official photograhper for my boss, the CO of 31st Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) in 1979. The reason for the pictures was that there were more ships at the base on this day than at any time since the height of Vietnam War. I've been able to ID many of the ships in other pictures I have, USS Constellation (CVA-64), USS Tarawa (LHA-1), and many others.

These ships I could not identify and want to add the info to my book.

Thanks

[John Brown]

Reefer

Not much help I'm afraid but I am fairly sure the big submarine at the bottom of the 3rd picture is either the USS Grayback SSG-574 or USS Growler SS-577. I lean towards it being 'Grayback' purely because the attached photo shows her, at some point, having that small fin aft of her sail as in your picture.

Growler is now, along with USS Intrepid, one of the exhibits at the 'Air Sea and Space museum' in New York.

Hope this helps


Regards...John

[reefera4m]

You're correct about the USS Grayback. I recall that it joined us on a joint trainging exercise.

[mike d]

Grayback!! Halibut was not a bad guess for a newbie! At least I was close in that Halibut and Grayback both carried versions of the Regulus missle.

[CGRET]

The picture of the submarines the sub in the middle is an SSN, but of the Sturgeon Class. As for the other ships they are Amphibious transports, Dock. the inboard appears to be of the Austin Class and the outboard is of the Anchorage Class.

Regards
CGRET

[mike d]

That's why I love this site!!

[ontos0311]

The outboard boat looks like the Old USS Anchorage LSD36 or one
of her sisters....Like we rode with the old FMF back in the early
70s. I sailed on both the Anchorage and the Mount Vernon on a
number of floats. But don't quote me, I am just a poor Jarhead
and if it floats - it is a boat , so said our Batt Gunny.:D
I also did a hitch as a seagoing Bellhop aboard the Coral Sea -
The Ageless Warrior.....Once around the Pac.

[DaveJ576]

In the submarine photo, the boat at the top (alongside the pier) is a Skate class SSN, probably Swordfish (SSN-579) or Seadragon (SSN-584). The boat in the middle is actually a Permit class SSN. This is given away by the position of the sailplanes high up on the relatively small sail. A Sturgeon class SSN has a larger sail with the planes are mounted midway up the sail. The boat at the bottom is indeed the USS Grayback (SS-574)

This photo was probably taken at the Ship Repair Facility, Naval Station Subic Bay, R.P. sometime in the early 1980's. All Regulus missile equipment had been removed from the Grayback by this time and she was serving as a transport submarine. Her twin missle hangers had been converted for submerged lock-out up to 67 special operations forces and could carry Swimmer Delivery Vehicles. The three shark-fin domes arranged along her deck are for the AN/BQG-4 PUFFS (Passive Underwater Fire-control Feasibility System) ranging sonar.

The oval shaped float in the water near the Grayback's open hanger doors is called a "donut" and is used to collect waste oil. This type was frequently used in Subic Bay.

Dave Johnston USS Darter (SS-576) 1984-87

[DaveJ576]

The first photo is of the USS Waddell (DDG-24) with an unidentified Garcia class frigate. This photo was also probably taken at Naval Station Subic Bay, R.P. in the early 1980's.

Dave Johnston

[bushman32]

I know this is late, but I just came across it. The 2nd photo of the amphibs, the inboard ship ship is an Austin class LPD. Looking at her, she just might be my first, and favorite, old scow USS Ogden (LPD-5), but it is hard to tell as the picture is too blurry. I used to refer to her as my Old Garbage Scow, but she was my favorite.
Ron W.

[blueeyes89406]

Just arrived here and decided to post a somewhat kind of answer as to the identity of the ship(s) in picture #2...I do agree that the outboard ship is an Anchorage class LSD....since I served on the Fort Fisher (LSD-40) in the late 70's. There were only 5 of these ships in this class. As for the inboard ship I have no idea...hope this helps some. Peace!

[Don Boyer]

The submarine that looks like Nautilus is probably Seadragon, which operated out of Pearl Harbor all through the early 60s. The outboard ship is definitely Grayback. Growler was never fitted with the three fins of the "PUFFS" sonar array which was the sonar used by diesel-electrics equipped with the MK 105 Astor torpedo.

[reefera4m]

It's been a while since I've been on here so first let me say thanks for the help.

The photos were taken on Oct. 14th, 1979 at Subic Bay. On this particular day there were more ships in the harbor than any time since the height of the Vietnam War. As Air Staff Officer for 31st MAU I was asked to task a helo for by the base commander to take the base photographer around for a few shots.

There were two fix-wing carriers, two Assault (helo) carriers, and a slew of support and escort ships. The LSDs were part of the Assault Carrier Groups, including the one I was with ARG Alpha (Amphibious Ready Group) which at the time included the USS Tarawa on its maiden voyage.

One side note - the next day all the ships had to leave Subic Bay for Typhoon evacuation. Unfortunately I was left behind to investigate an assault on a RP police officer allegedly by a Marine Staff Sergeant.

Late afternoon on the 15th (payday) I started into Olongopo City to interview the police officer - there I was, the only Marine left in Oplongopo the day after 20,000 sailors and Marines set sail, walking down the road from the main gate. Imagine what was waiting for me! Though not easily intimidated, I immediately did an about face and decided discretion was the better part of valor!:o:p

[Don Boyer]

Ahhh.... Olangapo City, where the Elite meet in the Pacific Fleet!

I remember being in whatever passed for the Shore Patrol Station by the main gate/bridge on election day there. The candidate for mayor had already been shot, and was electioneering on TV and radio from her hospital bed next to the one bodyguard of hers that survived. Apparently the rival candidates hadn't yet been found, because most of the gunshots were from pistols.

It was wonderful being on post just across from the big crowd of enthusiastic young voters with guns of all varieties. Fortunately, the biggest group of voting dissidents were located on the far side of town on another street. The Marines came around in a big van and picked us up before the voting tallies started.

So I can imagine your enthusiasm for going into town ;)

[reefera4m]

Rival candidates with guns pale in comparison to what I faced - 20,000 'ladies of the evening'!!!http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo276/reefera4m/Emoticons/yim_rolling_on_the_floor.gif

They were waiting for the 20,000 sailors and Marines that ad left the day before!:p

[Don Boyer]

That might have been a wee bit of a strain, true...but think of the free beers!
:)