Submarine Squadron 4 (also known as ''SUBRON 4'' or ''CSS-4'') was raised by the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

in 1930. Since 9 July 1997, the squadron has been based at the

Naval Submarine Base New London Naval Submarine Base New London is the primary United States Navy East Coast submarine base, also known as the "Home of the Submarine Force." It is located in Groton, Connecticut directly across the Thames River from its namesake city of New Lon ...

Groton, Connecticut Groton is a town in New London County, Connecticut located on the Thames River. It is the home of General Dynamics Electric Boat, which is the major contractor for submarine work for the United States Navy. The Naval Submarine Base New London is ...

United States of America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...

Composition

The current submarines assigned to the squadron include: *

Los Angeles-class submarine The ''Los Angeles'' class of submarines are Nuclear marine propulsion, nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (hull classification symbol, SSN) in service with the United States Navy. Also known as the 688 class (pronounced "six-eighty-eight") af ...

s ** USS Hartford (SSN-768) *

Virginia-class submarine The ''Virginia'' class, also known as the SSN-774 class, is a class of nuclear-powered cruise missile fast-attack submarines, in service in the United States Navy. Designed by General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB) and Huntington Ingalls Indust ...

s **

USS Virginia (SSN-774) USS ''Virginia'' (SSN-774) is a nuclear powered cruise missile attack submarine and the lead ship of her class, currently serving in the United States Navy (USN). She is the tenth vessel of the Navy to be named for the Commonwealth of Virgi ...

** USS California (SSN-781) ** USS North Dakota (SSN-784) **

USS Colorado (SSN-788) USS ''Colorado'' (SSN-788) is a nuclear powered United States Navy attack submarine, named for the State of Colorado. She is the fifteenth of her class and fifth of the significantly redesigned Block III, including a revised bow and VLS t ...

** USS Indiana (SSN-789) ** USS South Dakota (SSN-790) ** USS Delaware (SSN-791) – Commissioned 4 April 2020 **

USS Vermont (SSN-792) USS ''Vermont'' (SSN-792) is a Nuclear marine propulsion, nuclear powered attack submarine in the United States Navy. She is the 19th boat of the class and the USS Vermont, third vessel of the Navy to be named for the U.S. state of Vermont. Th ...

– Commissioned 18 April 2020

Pearl Harbor 1930 to 1945

In 1930, the squadron was raised at the

Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the Naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the Re ...

submarine base. Its commanding officers to 1945 included the following captains: * W. K. Wortman (1930 - 1932), * H. W. Osterhas (1932 - 1934), * R. A. Kock (1934 - 1936), * R. S. Culp (1936 - 1938), * Francis W. Scanland (1938 - November 1940), * Worrall R. Carter (November 1940 - 7 December 1941), * Freeland A. Daubin (7 December 1941 - 6 February 1942), * Robert H. English (19 March 1942 - 10 May 1942), * John M. Haines (18 May 1942 - 24 June 1942), * John H. Brown Jr. (14 July 1942 - 4 November 1943), * Charles D. Edmunds (12 May 1943 - 31 August 1943), * Leon J. Huffman (11 September 1943 - 27 September 1943), *

Charles B. Momsen Charles Bowers Momsen (June 21, 1896 – May 25, 1967), List of military figures by nickname#S, nicknamed "Swede", was born in Flushing, Queens, Flushing, New York (state), New York. He was an American pioneer in submarine rescue for the United S ...

(12 November 1943 - 2 July 1944), * Clarence E. Aldrich (1 December 1943 - 27 December 1943), * Charles F. Erck (July 1944 - 12 October 1944) * William V. O'Regan (15 October 1944 - 24 May 1945) It was Captain Freeland Allan Daubin who was in command during the

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

ese

attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, j ...

on 7 December 1941. While stationed there, the squadron comprised * Submarine Squadron 4 Headquarters, at Pear Harbour Submarine Base **

USS Litchfield (DD-336) USS ''Litchfield'' (DD-336/AG-95) was a in the United States Navy following World War I. Namesake John R. Litchfield was born on 7 March 1899 at Flanagan, Illinois. He was a Navy pharmacist's mate serving with the 6th Marine Regiment. He was k ...

, underway south of

Oahu Oahu () (Hawaiian language, Hawaiian: ''Oʻahu'' ()), also known as "The Gathering place#Island of Oʻahu as The Gathering Place, Gathering Place", is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to roughly one million people—over t ...

– Tactical Flagship **

USS Widgeon (ASR-1) USS ''Widgeon'' (AM-22/ASR-1) was an acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. Later converted to a submarine rescue ship. ''Widgeon'' was name ...

** Submarine Division 41, at

Naval Base San Diego Naval Base San Diego, also known as 32nd Street Naval Station, is the second largest surface ship base of the United States Navy and is located in San Diego, California. Naval Base San Diego is the principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet, cons ...

, commanded by

Commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

Forrest Marmaduke O'Leary *** USS S-18 (SS-123) (F) *** USS S-23 (SS-128) ***

USS S-27 (SS-132) USS ''S-27'' (SS-132) was a ''S''-class submarine of the United States Navy. Construction and commissioning ''S-27''′s construction was authorized in March 1917, and her keel was laid down on 11 April 1919 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporat ...

, being overhauled at

Mare Island Naval Shipyard The Mare Island Naval Shipyard (MINSY) was the first United States Navy base established on the Pacific Ocean. It is located northeast of San Francisco in Vallejo, California. The Napa River goes through the Mare Island Strait and separates th ...

*** USS S-28 (SS-133), being overhauled at

*** USS S-34 (SS-139) *** USS S-35 (SS-140) ** Submarine Division 42, at Pear Harbour Submarine Base, commanded by Commander Clifford Harris Roper *** USS Argonaut (SM-1) (F), on patrol in the vicinity of

Midway Atoll Midway Atoll (colloquial: Midway Islands; haw, Kauihelani, translation=the backbone of heaven; haw, Pihemanu, translation=the loud din of birds, label=none) is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean. Midway Atoll is an insular area of the Unit ...

*** USS Narwhal (SS-167) (F) ***

USS Nautilus (SS-168) USS ''Nautilus'' (SF-9/SS-168), a and one of the "V-boats", was the third ship of the United States Navy to bear the name. Construction and commissioning ''Nautilus'' was originally named and designated ''V-6'' (SF-9), but was redesignated an ...

, at

***

USS Dolphin (SS-169) USS ''Dolphin'' (SF-10/SC-3/SS-169), a submarine and one of the "V-boats", was the sixth ship of the United States Navy to be named for that aquatic mammal. She also bore the name ''V-7'' and the classifications SF-10 and SC-3 prior to her commi ...

***

USS Cachalot (SS-170) USS ''Cachalot'' (SC-4/SS-170), a United States Navy submarine and the lead ship of her class, known as the "V-boats", was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the sperm whale. Her keel was laid down by the Portsmouth Nav ...

*** USS Cuttlefish (SS-171), being overhauled at

** Submarine Division 43, at Pear Harbour Submarine Base, commanded by Commander Norman Seaton Ives *** USS Plunger (SS-179) (F), underway en-route from

*** USS Pollack (SS-180), underway en-route from

***

USS Pompano (SS-181) USS ''Pompano'' (SS-181), a United States ''Porpoise''-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the pompano. Her keel was laid down on 14 January 1936 by the Mare Island Navy Yard in California. She was ...

, underway en-route from

On 13 January 1943, the command of Submarine Base Pearl Harbor and Submarine Squadron 4 were separated, due to the demands on each command by war time operations. As a result, Captain C. D. Edmunds relieved Captain J. H. Brown, Jr., as commanding officer of the submarine base. Captain Brown retained the command of the squadron. The commanding officer of the submarine base continued under the squadron commander until October 1945. At that time, the submarine force was reorganised and the base commander came directly under command of the Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Key West 1945 to 1959

In about August 1945, the squadron began operations from

Key West, Florida Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Sigsbee Park, Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Isla ...

, as part of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Commanding officers at Key West were Captains Edward S. Hutchinson (October 1945 to 12 March 1947) and Lawrence Randall Daspit (12 March 1947 to 1949). In December 1947, during Daspit's command, President

Harry Truman Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin ...

visited the base. While at Key West, the squadron included USS ''Howard W. Gilmore'' (AS-16), and USS ''Petrel'' (ASR-14). Submarines assigned to the squadron included the USS ''Clamagore'' (SS-343) which was the squadron flagship from January 1946 to 1 August 1959. The USS ''Sea Poacher'' (SS-406) was with the squadron from 1 June 1949 to 20 October 1969. The USS ''Thornback'' (SS-418) joined the squadron on 2 October 1953. She remained until she was reassigned to the Charleston Naval Base in 1959. Other submarines were the USS ''Quillback'' (SS-424); USS ''Trumpetfish'' (SS-425) (1953); USS'' Medregal ''(SS-480), which joined after the end of World War II; the USS ''Requin'' (SS-481) (joined 6 January 1946); USS'' Irex ''(SS-482) (1945 to 1947); USS ''Odax'' (SS-484); and USS ''Amberjack'' (SS-522). The ''Amberjack'' arrived in January 1948, and operated along the East Coast and in the West Indies for 11 years. On 23 April 1947, the former German USS U-3008 reported for duty at Key West with Submarine Squadron 4 and began working with the Operational Development Force. That duty involved the development of submarine and antisubmarine tactics and lasted until October 1947 when she returned to New London.

Charleston 1959 to 1995

In 1959, the squadron was moved to the

Charleston Naval Shipyard Charleston Naval Shipyard (formerly known as the Charleston Navy Yard) was a U.S. Navy ship building and repair facility located along the west bank of the Cooper River, in North Charleston, South Carolina and part of Naval Base Charleston. H ...

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

. Its new home port was Pier Mike. The move was part of a plan to disperse the Atlantic Fleet so it would be less vulnerable to

nuclear Nuclear may refer to: Physics Relating to the nucleus of the atom: * Nuclear engineering *Nuclear physics *Nuclear power *Nuclear reactor *Nuclear weapon *Nuclear medicine *Radiation therapy *Nuclear warfare Mathematics *Nuclear space *Nuclear ...

attack. The squadron soon came to be known as the ''Swamp Fox'' squadron. This was in reference to

Francis Marion Brigadier-General Francis Marion ( 1732 – February 27, 1795), also known as the Swamp Fox, was an American military officer, planter and politician who served during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. During the Ameri ...

, an

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

general nicknamed the ''Swamp Fox''. The squadron commanders at Charleston included: * Richard C. Latham (August 1959 - 27 October 1960) * Morton H. Lytle (27 October 1960 - TBD) * Phillip A. Beshany (TBD - 10 August 1962) * Murray F. Frazee, Jr. (10 August 1962 - July 1963) * Raymond W. Alexander (July 1963 - TBD) * George F. Morin (TBD - 5 July 1966) * Henry Hanssen (5 July 1966 - TBD) * R. G. Black (TBD - 11 October 1966) * Max C. Duncan (11 October 1966 - TBD) * William R. Banks (TBD - 11 October 1970) * John A Walsh (11 October 1970 - 1972) * Stan Anderson (1972 - 1974) * Al Baciocco (1974 - 1976) * Larry Burkhart (1976 - 1978) * Claude C. Cross (TBD-1980) * Thomas C. Maloney (TBD - 1980s) * James E. Collins (July 1982 - 8 August 1984) * William A. Owens (8 August 1984 - TBD) * Mario P. Fiori (July 1986 - June 1987) * John Jordan (June 1987 - August 1989) * Dennis Napior (July 1991 - July 1993) * Stanley R. Szemborski (July 1993 - Late 1995). Squadron tenders while at Charleston included USS ''Howard W. Gilmore'' (AS-16), USS'' Orion'' (AS-18), USS ''Frank Cable'' (AS-40), USS ''Canopus'' (AS-34), USS ''Ortolan'' (ASR-22), and USS ''Petrel'' (ASR-14). Submarines included USS'' Sturgeon'' (SSN-637), USS'' Grayling ''(SSN-646), USS ''Ray'' (SSN-653), USS ''Sand Lance'' (SSN-660), USS ''Sea Devil'' (SSN-664), USS ''Seahorse'' (SSN-669), USS ''Narwhal'' (SSN-671), USS ''Bluefish'' (SSN-675), USS ''Billfish'' (SSN-676), USS'' Batfish'' (SSN-681), USS L.'' Mendel Rivers'' (SSN-686), USS ''Sunfish'' (SSN-649), and the

Barbel-class submarine The ''Barbel''-class submarines, the last diesel-electric propelled attack submarines built by the United States Navy, incorporated numerous, radical engineering improvements over previous classes. They were the first production warships built w ...

USS'' Bonefish ''(SS-582). The

Base Realignment and Closure Commission Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) is a process by a United States federal government commission to increase United States Department of Defense efficiency by coordinating the realignment and closure of military installations following the end o ...

announced on 26 February 1993 that the

would be closed. The squadron was deactivated in late 1995 just prior to the official closure of Charleston Naval Shipyard on 1 April 1996.

Reactivation at Groton, Connecticut

On 9 July 1997, the squadron was reactivated at Naval Submarine Base Groton in

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...

. From July 1997, commanders included: * Carl V. Mauney (9 July 1997 - 16 April 1999) * Melvin G. Williams, Jr. (16 April 1999 - 8 September 2000) * George E. Manaskie (8 September 2000 - 26 July 2002) * David E. Eyler (26 July 2002 - 29 April 2004) * Robert H. Perry (29 April 2004 – July 2006) * Richard P. Breckenridge (July 2006 - 27 June 2008) * Robert E. Clark II (27 June 2008 - 9 April 2010) * Mike Bernacchi (9 April 2010 - 13 January 2012) * Michael Holland (13 January 2012 - 30 August 2013) * Jim Waters (30 August 2013 - 31 July 2015) * John McGunnigle (31 July 2015 - June 2021) * John Stafford (June 2021 - Present) From 1997, boats assigned to the squadron included USS ''Trepang'' (SSN-674), USS ''Billfish'' (SSN-676), USS ''City of Corpus Christi'' (SSN-705), USS ''Providence'' (SSN-719), USS ''Miami'' (SSN-755), USS ''Annapolis'' (SSN-760), USS ''Springfield'' (SSN-761), USS ''Hartford'' (SSN-768), USS ''New Hampshire'' (SSN-778), USS ''New Mexico'' (SSN-779), USS ''Missouri'' (SSN-780), and the USS ''Mississippi'' (SSN-782).

References

External links

Submarine Squadron Four official homepage.
United States Navy.

United States Navy.
''All Hands'' magazine archive (1922-2013).
{{United States Navy Submarine squadrons Submarine squadrons of the United States Navy Military units and formations established in 1930