Two US Submarines 1950's, USS OWL & USS REDFIN

[collector]

The Owl and Redfin, taken by one of my parents, Turkey early 1950s.

[Salvage Sailor]

Nice photo of REDFIN as a SSR (Radar Picket) with her SV-2 "Nodding Idiot" radar antennae, it was replaced in 1956 with a direct beam model

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Your SEA OWL photo was taken in 1953 after her conversion to a snorkel submarine, note that her deck guns were removed after the Korean War.  She was on here first Med deployment after the conversion and visited Turkey.

 

Sea Owl (SS-405) 7 July 1952.  She was converted to a fleet snorkel submarine in the Philadelphia Navy Yard from April to August 1951 and, for the next year, she participated in Atlantic Fleet exercises in the Caribbean area.

 

 

 

[collector]

Very interesting, thanks! It was 1954, my mother had dinner on the Redfin. Could the Redfin submerge with that radar gear?

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Yes indeed, she and several of here sister subs were converted to SSR Radar Pickets to counter the Cold War 'Radar Gap' while the DEWLINE network was constructed.  These subs and destroyer/destroyer escorts converted to DDR/DER Radar Pickets along with air assets 'held the line' in the 1950's.

 

'Nodding Idiot' Radar antennae

 

 

 

 

 

 

[collector]

Always like those kinds of patches. Guesss they were not worn though?

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Sure they were, on work jackets and deck jackets, just not on dress uniforms.