History of the U.S.S. Pelias (AS14)

The history of the U.S.S. Pelias, Submarine Tender #14 of the U.S. Fleet makes no spectacular reading. However, in baseball terms, no ship of the U.S. Fleet can be credited with more "assists" than "Polly Pelio" as she is known to her crew and thousands of her friends.

The ship was built by the Sun Shipbuilding Company of Chester, Pennsylvania in 1939. After about one year of service as a passenger-freighter of the MooreMcCormick Steamship Company in South America trade, she was acquired by the Navy in late 1940. During the above period she was known as the S.S. Mormacyork. The Bethlehem Steel Company's plant at 56th Street in Brooklyn, New York was awarded the contract of converting her to a submarine tender. This long involved process was accomplished on 5 September 1941 when the ship was commissioned as the U.S.S. Pelias (AS14). Commander Willian Wakefield, U.S. Navy was her first Commanding Officer. On 28 September 1941 the ship departed New York, New York and proceeded to Newport, Rhode Island for degaussing, deperming, compass calibration and loading of torpedoes. During this period she also visited Portsmouth, New Hampshire and New London, Connecticut. On 9 October 1941 the Pelias departed for Pearl Harbor, T.H. via Panama Canal and San Diego, California. Numerous main engine difficulties developed on this cruise. Arrival Pearl Harbor was 25 November 1941. Here she was berthed at the Submarine Base and on 7 December 1941 had a real ringside seat at the Japanese sneak attack on our fleet in the Harbor. During this engagement she shot down one certain and one probable Jap Torpedo Plane. All, or nearly all of the Japanese attacking torpedo planes made their runs down the channel immediately on the port side of this ship, probably only 100 yards abeam. Very unfortunately her anti-aircraft battery was most inadequate for this tremendous task although the opportunity for its use might be called God given.

On 15 May 1942 the Pelias departed Pearl enroute San Francisco, California to fully equip with submarine spares and supplies for her next assignment, West Australia. During her stay in Pearl Harbor, T.H. the refit of nineteen submarines was accomplished. On 22 June 1942, the Pelias headed southwest to Melbourne, Australia and eventually to Albany, West Australia. Here she relieved the U.S.S. Holland on about 23 July 1942. During this stay at Albany, West Australia she refitted ten submarines of the Seventh Fleet; the old Asiatic Fleet under a new name. On 22 October 1942 in order to get closer to the scene of action, the ship moved to Fremantle, West Australia on the beautiful River Swan. Here she stayed until 1 May 1943 when she headed for Exmouth Gulf (Potshot) - still edging closer to our then most active theatre of operations. Here on the nights of 20 May 1943 and again on 21 and 22 May 1943 she underwent air attacks by the Japanese. Another night attack on 27 May 1943 occurred on the berth she had just left. No damage accrued from these attacks. Had the Japs realized her comparative ineffectiveness in anti-aircraft power, they could have partially removed one of their worst scourges and crippled our very harassing submarine warfare which was taking an ever increasing amount of shipping tonnage so vital to supplying their far flung lines. It is believed that no single outfit contributed more to the ultimate victory than did the submarines of the Seventh Fleet.

The Pelias and her brood did not change their scene of action from Exmouth Gulf to a more sheltered protected area mainly because of the Japs but simply because necessary conditions of working at Exmouth Gulf were not ever satisfactory for overhauling submariner. This change brought the Pelias back to Fremantle, West Australia on 30 May 1943. Here she stayed at the now "never-to-be-forgotten" Berth 4 of the North Quay. On 8 March 1944 the Pelias was again underway, bound for Albany, West Australia. During this stay at Fremantle and Exmouth Gulf, forty refits of submarines, plus assorted work on destroyers, cruisers and other minor war vessels were accomplished. This departure was precipitated due to reported movement of a strong Japanese Task Force bound for West Australia with what was regarded as an avowed intention of wiping out the very persistent and extremely annoying American submarine activity and possible invasion of this area. Knowing what were the defences of this area, the success of the mission was in no doubt. However, through some fortunate circumstance unknown to us the Japanese commander did not carry out this mission.

"Polly's" stay at Albany was brief and on 16 March 1944 she was back at her old home, the North Quay in Fremantle where she remained until 15 May 1944 when she turned her prow toward San Francisco and home. During this period she refitted six submarines and her Captain, William Wakefield was relieved on 1 April 1944 by Commander William A. Swanston. The trip home was marked by rough weather most of the way until almost south of Samoa. Our only excitement came on 22 May 1944 when two torpedo tracks were reported as crossing our bow. Evasive measures were taken and speed radically increased - with no further evidence of our suspected Jap enemy. This event occurred at what was known as "Torpedo Junction" in the Tasman Sea. Aside from two reported aircraft sightings of Japanese submarines, strangely enough, both on our course line no other incidents were experienced. A three day stopover was had at Pearl Harbor, T.H. and then "Polly" made her way to San Francisco, California. Here she arrived 15 June 1944 and after a brief pause to unload passengers, ammunition and so forth the ship proceeded to Navy Yard, Mare Island, California for extensive alterations and overhaul, beginning 20 June 1944.

On 26 August 1944 post repair trials were conducted north and west of the Farallon Islands and then in dense fog attempted to enter the Golden Gate and return to Mare Island. Due to errors in judgment, due to fog and a strong ebb tide, the ship was grounded at about 2300, 26 August 1944 near the Golden Gate bridge. After about two or three minutes she was backed clear and then continued her entry into San Francisco Bay and on arrival at Navy Yard was docked and minor damage to plating repaired.

On 10 September 1944, "Polly" again turned her bow westward and after repeated wristpin failures on her main engines arrived Pearl on 18 September 1944. From then until 9 January 1945, one attempt to make Midway, T.H. our next base of operations and three sea trials on post repair work on our main engines resulted in failure. Specialized assistance from various activities, commercial and naval were of some value in solution of the problems. Ultimately, through radical changes, fairly successful operation was achieved. The ship then on 9 January 1945 departed for Midway, T.H., During the period to 26 May 1945, eleven refits and eleven voyage repairs were undertaken and finished. In this work, the ship received a "Well done" by Commander Submarine Squadron Thirty-Two. Under orders, "Polly" departed Midway, T.H. and after a brief period again at Pearl Harbor, T.H. went her way to San Diego, California to work with the "S" class submarines. This only took us up to 10 September 1945 when the ship departed for San Francisco Bay area. Here we undertook the work of decommissioning the "S" class submarines winding up their long and useful career of more then twenty-two years service and ultimately the decommissioning of "Polly Pelio".

During the Pelias's life in the Navy, she will have served with four squadrons. The Sixth Submarine Squadron from 5 September 1941 to December 1944, the ThirtySecond Squadron from December 1944 to 15 June 1945 and the Forty-Fifth Submarine Squadron from 15 June 1945 to some indefinite date in the near future; when all "S" boats and others of Submarine Squadron Forty-Five are decommissioned. Then the Pelias will go to Reserve Submarine Squadron Eleven.
During her four years service with the submarine squadrons the following submarines were serviced:-

PEARL HARBOR, T.H. - 25 November 1941 to 15 May 1942

Name of Boat     Date of Arrival for Refit
USS GUDGEON 27 NOV 41
USS THRESHER 8 DEC 41
USS TAUTOG 9 DEC 41
USS TROUT 15 DEC 41
USS TRITON 20 DEC 41
USS GRAYLING 25 DEC 41
USS TAMBOR 27 DEC 41
USS GRENADIER 22 JAN 42
USS GAR 22 JAN 42
USS GUDGEON 30 JAN 42
USS GRAYBACK 8 FEB 42
USS THRESHER 10 FEB 42
USS GRAYLING 1 MAR 42
USS TAMBOR 18 MAR 42
USS TRITON 18 MAR 42
USS GAR 28 MAR 42
USS TUNA 6 APR 42
USS TAUTOG 16 APR 42
USS TAMBOR 11 MAY 42
TOTAL NO. of Submarines refitted in Pearl Harbor, T.H.-----19

ALBANY, Western Australia - 26 July 1942 to 24 September 1942
USS SAILFISH 6 AUG 42
USS SCULPIN 26 JUL 42
USS STURGEON 28 JUL 42
USS THRESHER 8 AUG 42
USS GAR 25 AUG 42
USS GUDGEON 1 SEP 42
USS GRAYBACK 5 SEP 42
USS TAUTOG 16 SEP 42
USS TAMBOR 21 SEP 42
USS GRENADIER 21 SEP 42
TOTAL NO. of Submarines refitted in Albany, West Australia-10

FREMANTLE, West Australia - 24 October 1942 to 8 March 1944.

Name of Boat   Date of Arrival for Refit
USS SNAPPER 6 OCT 42
USS GAR 8 NOV 42
USS THRESHER 12 NOV 42
USS TAMBOR 21 NOV 42
USS TAUTOG 23 NOV 42
USS SARGO 25 NOV 42
USS SEARAVEN 29 NOV 42
USS GRAYLING 14 DEC 42
USS GRENADIER 1 JAN 43
USS GAR 20 JAN 43
USS THRESHER 20 JAN 43
USS TAMBOR 28 JAN 43
USS TAUTOG 31 JAN 43
USS GUDGEON 28 FEB 43
USS GRENADIER 20 FEB 43
USS GRAYLING 24 FEB 43
USS TROUT 1 MAR 43
USS TAMBOR 14 APR 43
USS GAR 16 APR 43
USS TAUTOG 20 APR 43
USS TROUT 7 MAY 43 - Refitted at Exmouth Gulf (Potshot)
USS THRESHER 24 MAY 43
USS FINBACK 26 JUN 43
USS GRAYLING 6 JUL 43
USS GAR 23 JUL 43
USS KINGFISH 3 SEP 43
USS BOWFIN 10 OCT 43
USS TUNA 14 OCT 43
USS PUFFER 24 OCT 43
USS POMPON 5 NOV 43
USS KINGFISH 5 NOV 43
USS BLUEFISH 26 NOV 43
USS BOWFIN 9 DEC 43
USS NARWHAL 18 DEC 43
USS BONEFISH 18 DEC 43
USS BLUEFISH 17 JAN 44
USS RASHER 24 JAN 44
USS POMPON 28 JAN 44
USS HAKE 21 FEB 44
USS FLASHER 29 FEB 44
TOTAL NO. Submarines refitted at Fremantle & Exmouth Gulf - 40

FREMANTLE, West Australia - 16 March 1944 to 15 May 1944
USS HOE 5 MAR 44
USS BILLFISH 14 MAR 44
USS LAPON 1 APR 44
USS GUNNEL 6 APR 44
USS CABRILLA 12 APR 44
USS HADDO
22 APR 44 TOTAL No. Submarines refitted on return from ALBANY, W.A. – 6

PEARL HARBOR, T.H. - 18 September 1944 to 9 January 1945

Name of Boat   Type of Work Accomplished    Date of Arrival for Refit
USS SEACAT Voyage Repair 3 OCT 44
USS SPIKEFISH Voyage Repair 24 OCT 44
USS PIRANHA Overhaul 24 OCT 44
USS THREADFIN Voyage Repair 3 DEC 44
USS BURRFISH General Overhaul 3 DEC 44
USS PIPER Voyage Repair 17 DEC 44
USS SENNET Voyage Repair 17 DEC 44
TOTAL NO. Submarines worked on while at Pearl Harbor, T.H. – 7

MIDWAY, T.H. - 16 January 1945 to 26 May 1945.
USS SPOT Refit 31 JAN 45
USS THREADFIN Refit 16 FEB 45
USS SNOOK Refit 17 FEB 45
USS ATULE Refit 8 MAR 45
USS SEADOG Voyage Repair 15 MAR 45
USS PILOTFISH Voyage Repair (One Day) 20 MAR 45
USS FINBACK Voyage Repair (One Day) 20 MAR 45
USS PIPEFISH Voyage Repair (One Day) 21 MAR 45
USS SEACAT Refit 24 MAR 45
USS PIPER Refit 30 MAR 45
USS PETO Refit 9 APR 45
USS PUFFER Refit 21 APR 45
USS TIRANTE Refit 25 APR 45
USS THREADFIN Voyage Repair 30 APR 45
USS PIPEFISH Voyage Repair 2 MAY 45
TOTAL NO. Submarine Refits and Voyage Repairs at Midway, T.H. – 15

Any record that can be given relative to work accomplished would appear too detailed. "Polly" serviced and issued 1260 "war shot" torpedoes to her submarines during her service and her record in their performance has few equals and no superiors.

To satisfy the statistically minded reader based on the requirements of personnel and material of ourselves and our tended submarines, the Pelias issued during the course of the war, 7 December 1941 to 15 August 1945 the following: the following:-

322,560 pounds of clothing, small stores and etc.

430,080 pounds of ship's store items including ice cream, cigarettes, toothpaste, soap and etc. - In fact almost all items you'd find in a modern drug store (except drugs and medicine).

12,480,000 pounds of general store items such as tools, nuts, rags, paint (hardware store items).

9,734,400 pounds of food (Not counting snacks).

$9,600,000 in pay to officers and crew.

For the dieting portion of our friends, this 9,734,400 pounds of food represents some 11,680,000,000 calories of food energy. However, the vast percentage of this was worked off in direct work aimed at our Japanese enemies.

It was this ship's pleasure to be recommended by Rear Admiral Ralph W. Christie, U.S. Navy for the Secretary of the Navy's Citation but not yet announced as approved. This citation covered her work in Australia and even if never received, it at least gives us some great measure of satisfaction to know we were equal to our task.