Submarine Squadron 3

Submarine Squadron 3 (also known as SUBRON 3) was a squadron of submarines of the United States Navy based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Pearl Harbor, HI which was disestablished in 2012.[1]

Submarine Squadron Three
Active25 November 1930–February 2, 2012
Country United States of America
Branch United States Navy
Part ofUnited States Pacific Fleet
Garrison/HQJoint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam

Submarine Squadron 3 was first established on November 25, 1930 at Coco Solo in the Panama Canal Zone.[2] One of its first submarines was the R-1 built in 1917. Her ten boats conducted Panama Sea Frontier patrols for the Atlantic Fleet. As tensions grew through the Thirties, Squadron Three's mission evolved into the defense of coastal regions on both ends of the canal. Most of Squadron Three's submarines shifted to the Pacific end of the canal when war broke out.

As the Second World War progressed, most of the squadron's submarines were transferred to more active regions, leaving only four subs in Squadron Three by August 1943. By May 1945, there were no submarines left in the squadron; only the rescue vessel USS Mallard (AM 44) and three destroyers remained.

Squadron Three was deactivated July 1, 1945 and reactivated in Guam on October 1, 1945. The United States built a fleet of diesel-electric submarines during the war and commissioned a new submarine tender, USS Sperry (AS 12), near its end. To support these ships, the Navy reorganized its submarine squadrons, re-establishing COMSUBRON 3 on Guam on Oct. 1, 1945.

In February, 1946 the squadron moved to San Diego. Submarine Squadron Three continued to serve until March 31, 1995 when it was again deactivated. On June 16, 1997 Submarine Squadron Three rejoined the Pacific Submarine Force in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii with six submarines assigned: USS Columbia (SSN 771), USS Louisville (SSN 724), USS Key West (SSN 722), USS Olympia (SSN 717), USS Chicago (SSN 721), and USS Honolulu (SSN 718).

In 2003, five submarines from COMSUBRON 3 were deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Three of these submarines, USS Columbia (SSN 771), USS Louisville (SSN 724) and USS Key West (SSN 722), conducted Tomahawk strike operations against targets in Iraq.

On February 2, 2012, Commander, Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) 3 disestablished, as COMSUBRON 1 changed command, during an official ceremony aboard USS Greeneville (SSN 772) at the submarine piers at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.[3] The disestablishment reassigns all COMSUBRON 3 attack submarines to COMSUBRON 1 and COMSUBRON 7. Under the deactivation, USS Jacksonville (SSN 699), USS Key West (SSN 722) and USS North Carolina (SSN 777) are assigned to COMSUBRON 1 and USS Louisville (SSN 724) and USS Olympia (SSN 717) are assigned to COMSUBRON 7. USS Chicago (SSN 721) will be assigned to COMSUBRON 15 in Apra Harbor, Guam. COMSUBRON 1 will support the unit and act as its host until she conducts a change of homeport to Guam.

Notes
  1. Gutridge, Ronald (3 February 2012). "Submarine Squadron 3 Disestablishes as Submarine Squadron 1 Changes Command" (Press release). Navy News Service. U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs. NNN. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  2. Naval Submarine Force Pacific, Submarine Squadron Three Archived 2011-10-20 at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 2012
  3. MCS 2/c Ronald Gutridge, Submarine Squadron 3 disestablishes as Submarine Squadron 1 changes command, Naval Submarine Force Pacific, February 3, 2012
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