USS ODAX (SS-484) US Service 1945-1972 Tench-Class Submarine (1945), Converted to Guppy (1947), Converted Guppy II-Class Submarine (1951) This site is dedicated to the USS ODAX (SS-484), the officers, and enlisted men who served on board during her career in the silent service. E-MAIL WEBMASTER

Specifications: Displacement Surface: 1834 tons Displacement Submerged: 2400 tons Length: 306' 10" Beam: 27' 4" Draft : 15'3" Speed Surface: 20.25 Knots Speed Submerged: 8.75 Knots Test Depth: 400' Gun: 1-5"/25 Torpedo Tubes Forward: 6-21" Torpedo Tubes Aft: 4-21" Complement: 6 Officers - 60 Enlisted Class: Tench Built: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME Keel:4 December 1944 Launched: 10 April 1945; Sponsored by Mrs. John E. Fogarty; Commissioned: 11 July 1945 with Cdr. Francis D. Walker, Jr. in command; Decommissioned: 8 July 1972 sold to Brazi USS Odax Radio Call Sign: November - Yankee - Echo - India Timeline 1965-1982: 1965 In April 1965 commenced overhaul in the Charleston Naval Shipyard. Upon leaving the shipyard in September 1965, ODAX conducted training in the local operating areas and took part in PHIBASWEX 1-65. 1966 In March 1966, ODAX participated in Operation LANDLUBBER, conducted near the island of Bermuda. During this exercise, ODAX operated with submarine, surface, and air units of the US Atlantic Fleet. ODAX then returned to Charleston and operated locally until late July 1966, when she proceeded to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and provided services to the Fleet Training Group for a period of 6 weeks. While in the Carib- bean area, ODAX visited Port Antonio, Jamaica. On returning from Guantanamo Bay, ODAX conducted local operations until November 1966. In November and December of 1966, ODAX participated in the Fleet Exercise, LANTFLEX 2-66. ODAX entered Charleston Naval Shipyard in December 1966 for interim dry-docking, Upon completion, ODAX operated in the Charleston operation areas and participated in the fleet exercise CLOVEHITCH III. 1967 In May 1967, ODAX departed for a Northern European deployment. While in Europe, the ship visited Stavanger, Norway, Cuxhaven, West Germany, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Antwerp, Belgium. Upon her return to Charleston, ODAX was awarded the coveted Battle Efficiency "E" for Fiscal Year 1967. In October and November, ODAX provided services to the Fleet Training Group in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for a period of 8 weeks. Visits were made to Port Antonio and Montego Bay, Jamaica. 1968 ODAX entered the Charleston Naval Shipyard for overhaul in February 1968 and upon completion in September operated in the Charleston area. 1969 In January 1969 the ODAX participated in Operation SPRINGBOARD, visiting San Juan, P. R. and St. Thomas, VI Upon returning to Charleston, after a visit to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; the ODAX began preparations for a Mediterranean deployment. March 1969 found the ODAX operating in the Mediterranean Sea making port calls at Rota, Spain; Valetta, Malta; Naples, Italy; Toulon, France and Augusta, Sicily. The ODAX participated in NATO Exercise DAWN PATROL and provided services to Sixth Fleet Carrier Task Force units. Returning in August 1969, the ODAX conducted training operations in the local Charleston areas. 1970 From January to March 1970 the ODAX was again in the Charleston Naval shipyard where she had four new batteries installed. Upon completion of the installation ODAX spent one month in Charleston preparing for deployment to Northern Europe with a US Hunter-Killer ASW Task Force. ODAX departed Charleston in early May for Europe. During this May to October 1970 deployment port visits were made to Lisbon, Portugal; Rota, Spain; Copenhagen, Denmark; Hamburg, Germany; Leith and Holy Lock, Scotland; Cherbourg, France; and Gosport, England. During the five month deployment the ODAX provided numerous services to the Hunter-Killer ASW Task Force and participated in NATO exercises "NIGHT PATROL" and "NORTHERN ,WEDDING." Upon completion of her Northern European deployment in October 1970, ODAX made a short 2-day stop in Charleston, SC to allow personnel to make vehicle and household goods moving arrangements and the ship then sailed for her reassigned home port of Key West, Florida. In December 1970, ODAX was officially awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for her participation in the ASW operations in Northern Europe. The ship was also awarded her second Battle Efficiency "E" for the 1970 Fiscal Year competition. 1971 During 1971 the ODAX provided extensive services as a sonar target for the Test and Evaluation of the surface ship SQS-26 SONAR system. She also went to New Orleans, LA to participate in "Mardi Gras" activities. In August of that year, after completing SONAR evaluation services, the ship made a six-week deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for services to US and NATO surface warships undergoing training there. Upon return to Key West in September 1971, the ODAX commenced an extensive upkeep and Interim Dry Docking period which extended through December 1971. 1972 In January 1972, the ODAX underwent an inspection by the Board of Inspection and Survey; the result of which found that the ship had "No mission limiting deficiencies." This was particularly noteworthy in that the ODAX at that point was about one year overdue for Regular Overhaul. In February 1972, the ODAX repeated her performance of the previous year by participating in the "Mardi Gras" activities in New Orleans, LA. On 9 March 1972, the ODAX departed Key West for a seven week unsupported deployment to the Eastern Atlantic for participation in NATO Exercise "SOLID OAK." In the course of this deployment the ship made port visits to Lisbon, Portugal and Rota, Spain. Upon her return to the United States on 28 April 1972, the ODAX commenced inactivation and pre-strike procedures. Numerous changes in the disposition status of the ship followed. Inactivation procedures were stopped when Brazil indicated a strong interest in purchasing ODAX for their Navy. A Brazilian crew was sent to Key West to train in ship operations and a transfer date of 30 June was set. However, shortly after the Brazilian crew was certified for operations they were dispatched to New London, CT on short notice to accept delivery of another US submarine. A second Brazilian crew was sent to Key West and finally, after training two complete crews, ODAX was sold to Brazil, decommissioned, transferred and commissioned in the Brazilian Navy as S. RIO de JANEIRO (S-13) in ceremonies at Key West, FL on 8 July 1972. End of US Service 1972 1973-1982 S Rio de Janeiro (S-13) Brazilian Navy July 1977 The ex-Odax (SS-484) as the S Rio de Janeiro (S-13) at her name sake. (Image above) Brazilian Navy photo by SRPM, courtesy of naval.com.br. The S Rio de Janeiro (S-13) (like any other ship in Brazilian Navy - the name represents the state of Rio de Janeiro, not the city) made 37.435 MN under Brazilian flag. She was decommissioned in November 16, 1978 (together with the S Rio Grande do Sul (S-11) - ex US Grampus SS-523). In June 18, 1981, the boat was sold to Verolme Shipyard to be dismantled.

Timeline 1945-1964: 1945 If the USS Odax had been commissioned prior to the end of WWII, the above logo was intended for her use. This logo was designed by Disney. The USS ODAX (SS-484) was commissioned on 11 July 1945 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and was assigned to Submarine Squadron FOUR in Key West, Florida, for peacetime operations and training. After shakedown off Portsmouth, USS ODAX (SS-484) got underway 19 September 1945 for Guantanamo Bay to provide services to the Fleet Training Group. On 30 October she sailed to Key West, Florida for duty with the Fleet Sonar School and conducted operational training until September 1946 1946 - 1947 In September 1946, as part of the Bureau of Ships post-war investigation of the high speed submarine, ODAX was selected for conversion to a "Guppy" (Greater Underwater Propulsion Power) and returned to Portsmouth. Completing conversion in August 1947, first of the "GUPPY" submarines, then returned to Key West for an intensive program in the field of research and development. At this time, ODAX was the fastest of U. S. submarines. USS ODAx (After 1952) 1951 In August 1951, ODAX again sailed to Portsmouth for conversion. The major aspect was the addition of a "Snorkel" and redesignation as a "Guppy II." (Image right) 1952 - 1955 She first put her snorkel to tactical use in a large scale convoy exercise "CONVEX III" in the spring of 1952. From 1952 through 1955, the ship provided services to the Operational Development Force and Fleet Sonar School in Key West and to the Fleet Training Group in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She then participated in Operations "LANTSUBEX ONE" and "EMIGRANT", Fleet Scale Operations designed to investigate the submarine's role in the Navy of the future. During the first three months of 1955, ODAX operated with the Sixth Fleet and Hunter-Killer Group 4 in the Mediterranean Sea. In the Spring of 1955, ODAX returned to Key West and resumed furnishing services to commands in that area. She then went into overhaul in the Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, South Carolina, where she received new equipment of improved design. 1956 Odax received a complete Shipyard Overhaul, including new and/or updated equipment and systems (i.e., Radio, Radar, Sonar and Fire Control Systems). Four new main power batteries, along with a "modern" open-cell ventilation system were installed. (One of the first Electronic-magnetic pit-log system was installed which was forever susceptible to leaking during deep-submergence.) She departed Charleston NSY in November 1956 for homeport of key West with stops along the way in Newport RI and San Juan PR. On 26 December 1956, she departed Key West (air temp 90+ degrees F) to provide ASW services to the Airedales of Keflavik NAS. Stops along the way included 28 December at the Deperming Piers in Norfolk (air Temp 32 degrees F. with freezing rain) and then New London on 31 December (air temp -10 degrees F.) to have our deck and dog-house hatches welded shut, periscopes with defrosters installed, etc. (A 100 degree temperature shift in less than 1 week!) 1957 Odax left New London during the first week of January 1957 for the Greenland-Iceland gap for operations. After being on station for a short period, the exercises with the Naval Aviators was called off: Weather and visibility was so bad the airedales couldn't fly. (It was so rough that she had to take in air through the Snorkel Induction rather than the Main Induction and there were occasionally waves high enough to cause the head-valve to shut!) She returned to New London and then re-directed to Portsmouth UK to operate with British Naval Units in Northern waters. After snorkeling for 28 consecutive days of operations, Odax returned to Portsmouth and then on to Dublin Ireland for a Port visit. (Odax was the first US submarine to visit Dublin after WW II.) She then left for New London and Key West for a much earned and lengthy upkeep period.) 1958 In September 1958, ODAX left for a four month cruise with the U. S. SIXTH FLEET in the Mediterranean. During her deployment, she participated in the NATO exercise "CRESCENT HINGE" and transited the Suez Canal, to take part in Operation "MIDLINK 58" a Baghdad Pact sponsored exercise held in the Arabian Sea. 1959 Another six month overhaul was completed in Charleston Naval Ship- yard in August 1959, and at this time the ship's home port was changed to Charleston, South Carolina. 1960 After a Barrier Patrol in early 1960, highlighted by visits to Faslane and Glasgow, Scotland, the ship departed in August 1960 for South America. There ODAX participated in Operation "UNITAS", an exercise conducted in conjunction with naval units of various South American countries. After leaving Charleston, the ship visited Port of Spain, Trinidad, BWI, before transiting the Panama Canal. Once through the canal, ODAX headed south visiting Callao, Peru and Valparaiso, Chile. She then passed through the "Inland Waterway" enroute to Punta Arenas, Chile, in the Straits of Magellan. Steering north, the ODAX visited Montevideo, Uruguay and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil before returning to Charleston in December 1960, to resume local operations. 1961 In March 1961, ODAX participated in "LANTFLEX 61". In this exercise ODAX operated with various surface and air units of the U. S. Atlantic Fleet in coordinated operations and tactical maneuvers. A subsequent exercise, "FISHPLAY VI", provided training with other submarine units in the various aspects of Anti-Submarine Warfare. 1962 In February 1962, ODAX entered Charleston Naval Shipyard for a five month overhaul. Notable improvements completed in the shipyard included the installation of a clamshell type superstructure, streamlining of the conning tower fairwater, and modifications to the ship's electronic installation. Following the overhaul, ODAX conducted training operations in the local Charleston area and also visited Bermuda, BWI, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. 1964 In the spring of 1964, ODAX made an operational visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia. In August 1964 she deployed again to South America to participate in combined operations while circumnavigating the continent. ODAX returned to Charleston in December 1964.