The USS Irex SS-482: Family-Gram No. 4/title> <meta name="description" content="The USS Irex SS-482: Family-Gram No. 4 /> <meta name="keywords" content="sea stories,submarine,SS-482,Irex,USS, 482,SS" /> <meta name="generator" content="GNU Emacs 21.4.1 (Linux;I)" /> <meta name="security" content="public" /> <meta name="contact" content="Haines Brown: brownh @ hartford-hwp.com" /> <meta name="creation-date" content="29-nov-2007" /> <meta name="last-revised" content="29 November 2007" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../styles/irex.css" title="docstyle" /> <style type="text/css"> div.center { text-align: center; } p { clear: right; } div.right { width: 9em; float: right; } span.underline { text-decoration: underline; } ul { list-style-type: none; } div.closing { width: 12em; float: right; } div.bouton { clear: right; } </style> </head> <body class="history"><div class="inside"> <h1>The USS Irex SS-482: Family-Gram No. 4</h1> <p> <div class="center">USS IREX (SS-482)<br /> Care of Fleet Post Office<br /> New York, N.Y. </p></div><div class="right"><p> GBA:Ifs<br /> 19 September 1961 </p></div><div class="center"><p> FAMILY-GRAM No. 4 </p></div><p> Dear Wives, Mothers, Sweethearts, Children and Fathers: </p><p> Saturday, Sunday & Monday, 2—4 September 1961 </p><p> Our second visit to Livorno was essentially a repeat of the first few days in. The ship sent 15 men to Rome for a tour during the period of this visit. Everyone who went enjoyed it very much. Those that remained behind regularly visited the beaches This particular section of Italy has very fine swimming beaches. Unlike what we enjoy in the states, there are few free beaches or uninhabited areas to swim in. Everyone pays and in return uses the beach and the locker rooms. People come from all over northern Italy to swim. </p><p> Tuesday, 5 September 1961 </p><p> Underway early from Livorno for the Ligurian Sea. This is the large body of water north of Corsica and bounded on the north by the European continent. We pulled just north of Corsica and patiently waited. Sure enough shortly after lunch the fleet came steaming in and we joined for exercises. It was a merry few hours. About 5:00 P.M. IREX snorkeled southeast and passed between Corsica and Elba into the Tyrrhenian Sea. We joined the SHARK and both moved south. </p><p> Wednesday, 6 September 1961 </p><p> Underway with SHARK enroute the southern Tyrrenian Sea. The weather has been calm, clear and warm. During the day we pushed south and at midnight again found the Sixth Fleet. </p><p> Thursday, 7 September 1961 </p><p> A very quiet day with IREX just left out for the day. This is our first completely lost day with no targets and no action. Surfaced at sunset and lay to recharging batteries. The day was beautiful. </p><p> Friday, 8 September 1961 </p><p> Our last day with the Fleet for a few days. Early in the morning IREX's luck changed and the fleet came in. Shortly after lunch, we surfaced and had a good swim. At sunset the exercise ended and we pushed south at high speed to reach Malta by noon, Saturday. At midnight we were due west of Sicily and turned to head for Malta. </p><p> Saturday, 9 September 1961 </p><p> Turned east for Malta and hit fog. This is the first since New London and it rolled in like a curtain. To further confuse us all the Sicilian fishermen were out milling around. DIABLO had joined us and we slowly picked our way east towards Malta. </p><p> Broke out of the fog about 4:00 A.M. and then poured coal to IREX to reach Valletta, Malta. The DIABLO bravely held on with us. At sunrise the British island of Gozo was in sight and we charged on. At 1030 we sighted KITTIWAKE, SHARK and SEA LEOPARD ahead and waiting to enter Valletta. DIABLO and IREX joined up and we all entered the harbor together. Malta's harbor is a narrow, small place with hundreds of little boats. We penetrated deep into the ancient port and finally turned into a very small creek. To say it was narrow is really the truth. After hours of maneuvering, we moored to HMS NARVIK with SEA LEOPARD and DIABLO. It was a welcome relief to be tied up. Malta is a very old and quite a historic rock. The Crusaders used to stop here enroute to the Holy Land. The ancient forts still stand. The towns were almost wiped out during World War II. Valletta received three air raids each day and still the Maltese and British held on. The creek in which we are now moored was used by the British during the war for submarines. It is a good hiding place and so narrow that it is almost impossible to bomb. The city of Valletta is very well restored and today a big commercial center. Unfortunately, the tides of business are slowly leaving here and the island is suffering economic troubles. </p><p> Sunday, 10 September 1961 </p><p> A hot morning in our section of the world. It last rained in Malta before Christmas. Needless to say, the town is very dusty. The men attended church early and then off to explore the town. Unfortunately, the stores are mostly closed. </p><p> Monday, 11 September 1961 </p><p> Maneuvering watch early and then we back out of our narrow creek. This is like trying to back a truck out of a long narrow alley. The British submarine underway ahead of us managed to back into a minesweeper. As we cleared the entrance our luck came to Malta and it poured rain. The rain came down in torrents and over on the beach we could see the children running about the streets. This is the second port we have left where the bridge watch has been soaked to the skin. Turned east again and all day we moved east into the Ionian Sea. This was a very smooth transit with beautiful, smooth seas. </p><p> Tuesday, 12 September 1961 </p><p> Submerged just before dawn and sure enough the fleet hove into view shortly thereafter. Again a hot and heavy time. Remained submerged all day and surfaced shortly after dusk. The area was alive with merchant ships. The night, however, was very dark and we fortunately could stay on the surface. </p><p> Wednesday, 13 September 1961 </p><p> Again we were very lucky and stayed up until just before dawn. Then a routine dive and a pleasant day submerged. The ship has been operating for the last two days in operation “Checkmate.” Checkmate is a routine NATO training exercise and is one of a series conducted each year to improve the readiness of NATO. We will be operating with these NATO forces until we enter Athens later on this month. </p><p> Shortly after breakfast the cruiser NEWPORT NEWS came into sight over the horizon with her ever present destroyer escort. The Executive Officer handled this approach and the three ships had a merry time of it for several hours. Fortunately, the surface units departed prior to lunch and we were able to enjoy an orderly meal. This noon the meal consisted of Tamale Casserole, French Fried Potatoes, Buttered Lima Beans, Salad Bar, and Chocolate Sundaes. Several of the men have sworn off heavy food in an attempt to reduce their size. We shall see how long their good intentions last. As the day wore on it was apparent that no further activity would be forthcoming. Late in the afternoon we started taking pictures of the men at work and relaxing. Many of you will receive these pictures with this letter. It is our hope that we will be able to send each parent or wife one picture in this letter or the next. </p><p> Thursday, 14 September 1961 </p><p> Once again we were able to spend a quiet night on the surface. The seas were calm with very heavy merchant shipping moving back and forth. We are in a position where all the ships from Greece and Turkey must pass in order to reach the Atlantic. At 0600 a U.S. Navy Patrol type aircraft came over evidently looking for IREX. These huge planes have been patrolling the area daily. This particular exercise includes units of the Italian, British and U.S. Navy's. One of the most impressive parts of NATO from the Navy standpoint is the fact that all NATO nations' ships can and do operate together very effectively. This to a civilian may not be impressive but when you realize the language barriers, and the completely different backgrounds of these groups of people, it is quite a feat. Tonight the first phase of our exercise ends and we will shift station north deeper into the Aegean Sea. </p><p> Friday, 15 September 1961 </p><p> At dawn we were well north in the Aegean Sea with a free day. Many of the men spent the day topside working on routine maintenance. The day was warm and pleasant. After lunch we had a swim and a shower. Most of the men got a chance to clean up and shower. At midnight the exercise started again and we went back to action stations. </p><p> Saturday, 16 September 1961 </p><p> Dawn at 0500 and we dove again for the day. The surface temperature of the water was 82° F and the sea absolutely glassy. During the day, the merchant ships continued their heel and toe parade across the horizon. </p><p> Sunday, 17 September 1961 </p><p> A very quiet day as if everyone was at rest. Church services were held at 0900 and 0930 for all of us. The sea remained glassy all day and it was extremely dangerous to show a periscope. During the afternoon we showed two movies and for the night watch repeated a feature at 2000 (8:00 P.M.). During our stay in Malta we managed to exchange our movies and pick up about twelve new ones. </p><p> Over half were first run pictures and improve morale markedly. The cooks exceeded themselves and provided turkey with all the fixings for supper. Chief Williams and Electricians' Mate Gary are all put out as they continue to diet and can't consume all the food. However, Chief Williams has developed a nice looking mustache which already shows in his picture. Most of the photographs were taken submerged, many with flash bulbs. All the men have beards but strangely enough many appear beardless in the pictures. Mrs. Woodrum will note in her picture that her husband was intent on the ship's movie when it was taken. I believe he was watching “Psycho.” Two pictures were taken just after the men got up and Radioman Allore and LT Cyr are both barely awake, These two pictures are entitled “Tired Blood”, having been taken just after they got up. </p><p> Monday, 18 September 1961 </p><p> IREX remained surfaced throughout the night again and submerged just before dawn. During the early morning hours the sea roughened materially and by noon was running four feet or better. </p><p> Shortly after lunch the ship received word to proceed directly to Athens and we have surfaced and are now headed for port. This was very fortunate and we will arrive at this Greek city tomorrow night. </p><div class="closing"><p> Sincerely, </p><p> G, B. Apthorp<br /> LCDR, U.S. Navy<br /> Commanding Officer </p></div> <div class="bouton" id="first"> <a href="../index-03.html" title=""> <span class="a"><span class="b"><span class="c"> Documents index </span></span></span> </a> </div>  <div class="bouton"> <a href="../history/history-08.html" title=""> <span class="a"><span class="b"><span class="c"> History page </span></span></span> </a> </div>  </div></body>  </html>