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About the Tenders - and the TenderTale site.

Tender News

Where are they now?

Down to a (shrinking) handful...

Gilmore, Orion, Proteus and Hunley all scrapped;

Word has it that clearance has now been given to start scrapping Canopus.

Sperry is inventoried as "Historical Hold" (again)

Nereus and Holland both now slated for "disposal".

This is the current list of the last known location of all "intact" Submarine Tenders.

March 1, 2008

The location date given is the last time the location was "confirmed":
the Status is the most recent as "published" - which publication and date.
MANDRF: Maritime Administration, National Defense Reserve Fleet
NIF: Naval Inactive Fleet, NAVSEA Command facility
USS Sperry (AS-12) MANDRF Suisun 4/16 - Status: Historical Hold (MARAD report 1/31/08) This is a change in status from disposal. We're trying to get more info...
USS Nereus (AS-17) MANDRF Suisun 4/16 Status: Disposal (MARAD report 1/31/08)
USS Holland (AS-32) MANDRF Suisun 4/16 Status: Disposal. (MARAD report 1/31/08)
USS Simon Lake (AS-33) Current location unknown. Last known location was NIF St. J's Portsmouth
USS Canopus (AS-34) Able Shipbreakers, Teeside, UK 8/06
Status: Word (as yet only one source) has it that Hartlepool council have just given permission for it to be broken up along with 3 other US vessels. We'll try to get confirmation and post it as we get it. Thanks to A.C.Thomson of Northumberland for the "heads-up".
USS L.Y. Spear (AS-36) Current location unknown. Last known location was NIF St. J's Portsmouth.
Status: Stricken, to be disposed of in Fleet Exercise (Sinkex - current NVR inventory list)
USS Emory S. Land (AS-39) Naval Base Kitsap, Bremmerton, WA - to begin a "10 month upkeep". After the upkeep - the ship will become part of a "hybrid force" of civilians and Navy Sailors. See Emory S. Land's page for more details. (Again - thanks to Frank Cantrell - our eyes and ears in the sound). (verified 11/30/07)
USS Frank Cable (AS-40) Active at Guam 4/07
USS McKee (AS-41) Current location unknown. Last known location was NIF St. J's Portsmouth.
Status: Stricken, to be disposed. (Current NVR inventory list status as of 4/25/06)
Active 1
Undergoing a yard maintenance period 1
In "harm's way" - scrap contracted or underway1
To be sunk by sinkex -- or as artificial reef 1
Status hold (Sperry) 1
Listed for disposal - but not committed 4
Intact 9
In "harm's way": Canopus is already at Teeside to be scrapped as soon as environmental issues can be put to rest. There is no way that ship is coming back to the U. S. - it's loaded with PCBs and other nasty stuff- it just remains to be seen which "rug" (country) the mess is swept under.

"Sinkex" or as an artificial reef: As noted - USS L. Y. Spear has already been prepped for a SinkEx - time, date and location yet to be announced (rumor has mentioned early next year).

USS Simon Lake and USS McKee are listed on the current NVR list as "Stricken, to be disposed" - but nothing further is known. Personally - I think the Navy is missing a great opportunity to deal with their New London issue by not putting Lake and McKee back to work. But what do I know - I'm just a swab. (See more on this in Deployments - New London).

News - TenderTale - This Site
Work continues on the various sections - we're nearly through the ship's pages re-work; there is still much to be done in the deployments section. Again - any help would be welcome!

TenderTale VI?


We've recently acquired a collection of papers that constitute the bulk of a tender sailor's military records during World War II. We've been trying to track him or his heirs down - so far with little success. We have found that his wife has passed away and is buried in the Veterans Cemetary at Riverside, California. His name is John L. Rhatigan, he was from Temple City, California, and we have reason to believe he may have become a dentist in the San Gabriel Valley area after the war. We have enough materials to do another TenderTale - he served as an officer first aboard Proteus during her final outfitting and first deployment; and then Holland for the rest of the war. He filled a number of billets, and his records provide a unique look into what it was like serving at that time. The issue here is - the existing five tales are all told in first person - either written by the person directly - or assembled from that person's writings and recolections. In this case - with what we have - that's going to be difficult - if not imposible - as what we have is primarily the dry and matter-of-fact military records - with insight into the man and his thoughts and feelings being provided by personal writings - most of which will remain private. Unlike TenderTale II where Hank Henderson tells his story in the form of a diary - which included his thoughts and feelings - in this case - even things written by Mr. Rhatigan are mostly formal writings where his military bearing and manor are foremost. The few personal writings we have - while shedding a lot of light on him and his thoughts - are mostly of a personal nature - the details of which will remain private. All this is to say - while there is ample material to put together another TenderTale - unlike the previous five - it can't be done in the same way - i.e. in first person. I'm considering writing it as a fiction based on facts - (and duly noted as to which is fiction and which is historically accurate) -- but I'm hesitant to do so - considering that it might detract from the other five. If you have some thoughts about this - I'm open to opinion, suggestions and any and all help in this matter. comments: randy@tendertale.com

The Mid Watch

As Ships Sleep
If you'd rather remember your ship in her better days - fresh paint - shiny brass - you might want to bypass this section - as they say - sometimes the truth hurts - and unfortunately the truth is - the rest of the world has forgotten these ships - save for a few who scavenge and plunder. The following ain't pretty!
If you'd like to skip past to the Reunion Listings - click here-> Goto Reunions

If - on the other hand - you recognize that times, people, places - and yes our old ships age and pass on- and you'd still like to see her one last time - at least she's still afloat and not (yet) a Toyota hood or Schlitz beer can... Scroll on down.

The Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, California is the final holding place for ships taken out of service and held pending final (government wise) disposition. A few ships escape to other uses - but not many -- most ship are sold for recycling (how's that for a polite euphemism for cutting torch) - .

In the mean time- here they stay - bleaching in the California sun and riding the gentle tide of the backwaters of the San Francisco Bay whose salt water rusts away at their bottoms. One more chance to bail out -> Goto Reunions

Sometime back in some of my ramglings here on TenderTale - I made the "request" that someone with an airplane and a camera close to Suisun and/or Ft. Eustis -- go take some pictures. Well - Chris Lund has done just that.

NOTICE -- PLEASE READ! THIS IS SERIOUS...

Back in August 2001 - Chris just jumped in his plane - and buzzed the reserve fleet at Suisun and clicked away with his camera. It made the people at the reserve a little nervous - but once they found out who / what / why (and that Chris wasn't some nut trying to bomb / steal /who knows what - a ship... everything was cool. Then 9/11. Needless to say - security at these facilities is tighter now-- If you're thinking about taking some aerial photos - fine - BUT DO IT RIGHT!!!! Contact the appropriate authorities and tell them what you'd like to do and get permission. I have contact info here - if you need name / numbers, etc. - email me and I'll send it in a reply. I talked to the nice folks at Suisun just today - and they noted just how different things are now - and buzzing the fleet there will garner you a buzz by some serious folks from Travis - which are seconds (literally) away --- as fighters are STILL aloft patrolling the area. Keep in mind - Langly is equally close to Ft. Eustis - so unless you're ready to pit your puddle hopper against an F15 or better... THINK IT THROUGH - and do it right!!!!  Also note - USS Proteus is no longer at Suisun (see above).
Thanks to Chris Lund - who took my suggestion and overflew the Reserve Fleet at Suisun - and got some great aerial pictures. Without further ado...
Nereus and Proteus
Three of several "groups". Eighth ship from the left is NEREUS (AS-17)
second from right is PROTEUS (IX-518 former AS-19).
Keep in mind - Proteus is no longer there - she was scrapped Jan/Feb. 2008.
 
Nereus and Proteus
Back side of that front row - again eighth from right is NEREUS' stern.
 
Another group - HOLLAND (AS-32) is first ship on the right.
 
Ship in the middle is SPERRY (AS-12)
 
Again - Sperry in the middle (We warned you some of these were tough!)
 
Sperry one more time - from the side. It's hard to see much -
but the profile of that FULTON class bow is unmistakable!
 
PROTEUS. Sorta like a recruit coming out of the
barber shop that first day... very little dignity left (and she's competely gone now).
 
PROTEUS. It too has that FULTON class bow line -
but with all that white... hard to see.
 
Another picture of the back of the row
NEREUS and PROTEUS are on-- it was partly cloudy -
so Chris was having to take shots around the cloud's shadows...
 
An enlargement of the NEREUS and PROTEUS -
pretty grainy - but at least you can see some details here.
 
Approaching HOLLAND
 
Passing HOLLAND
 
Coming in for a really close look...
 
What Airplane??? (Who me? buzzing the reserve fleet?)
 
Right on top of HOLLAND
 
Time to say goodbye... and head for home.
 
Again - our great thanks to Chris Lund for sharing these great photos with us - (sorry but a little legal business- All these photos are the property of and copyright © 2001 Chris Lund - all rights reserved. Use on TenderTale by written permission by Chris Lund). And I don't mean to beat it to death - but again - if you are thinking about flying over any reservation, etc. and taking pictures - GET PERMISSION from the appropriate authorities!
And with permission: from the Inactive Ship Facility, St. Julian's Creek, Portsmouth (and with thanks to Kelvin May): here are USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36); USS Simon Lake (AS-33); USS Dixon (AS-37); USS McKee (AS-41); and USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37). Of these - Gompers has already been sunk, as noted above - L Y. Spear has been prepped for a SinkEx; leaving only Lake and McKee - though both are now officially stricken and also slated for "disposal" - though what "kind" of disposal remains unknown at this time.
Again - Thanks to Kelvin May, former crew member L. Y. Spear (AS-36) 1981 - 1983.

TenderTale - Site News

The reaction to the recent major update to TenderTale has been enthusiastic to say the least. I'm quite pleased that the vast majority of people are not only understanding that life sometimes doesn't go the way we'd like. and that circumstances can derail the best of intentions. One area that has been a bit of a mystery is the Deck Log - as noted before - that had been one of the most requested additions to the site - but now that it's there - a LOT of people look - and think about posting - but then don't. ??? Is there some issue about the Deck Log I need to look into? Send me an email if you have some thoughts on this.
So - what's new - and what's not - - -
I've added an "update log page". As large as TenderTale has become - it would take a long time (too long for many folks) to "cruise" the site just looking for what might have been added / changed, etc. The link to this page is on the bottom right hand corner of TenderTale's main page.

There are still many areas that had to be let go until later. That - or (almost) never post an update. Tender Time Line has to have it's data updated with the new tenders - and additional data on the rest. Well - I thought I had this done:

"I've only added one "job" and it's not tender specific - Damage Control sort of - what we have is a video of Fire Fighting School Treasure Island. It's from the last day - the day they show off the "neat stuff" - like signal flares, totally involved cooking oil; magnesium; thermite grenade; phosphorus "surprise"; and of course application of foam. I understand they had to shut down that facility - something about being Nasty...!"

Turns out I didn't have this done afterall. I'll have this done soon - and posted - watch here - or the "updates" page.

There are "other" areas that need completing - Above and Beyond - I have Operation New Life done - but Hugo and Operation Fiery Vigil are still in the "gathering materials" stage - I've had people ask "Well - what about Andrew?" and other humanitarian accomplishments - but so far no one has written anything up. Please- all help welcome.

One recent addition that may (or may not) be of interest to Boomer sailors (and those tender pukes so inclined) is GMS Dam Neck. After 40 years of service to the fleet -- training (according to some estimates) 30,000+ sailors - that the facility would just fade away seemed odd to me - so I've added a page in the Ship's Office for GMS Dam Neck. So far not much - just a dozen or so pictures - but perhaps in time - with some other people digging out some (until now) long forgotten pictures - we'll keep the "fade" from becoming a total eclipse. Here's a "quick link" to the page: GMS Dam Neck

Reunion Listings

REUNION of USS CANOPUS AS 34 and AS 9

Sept. 11 to 14, 2008

Crowe Plaza - Riverfront in Jacksonville , FL .


Crewmembers that served on the AS-34 and AS-9, and supporting Marine detachments, SUBRONs, ARDMs, and ASRs

Contact: Richard Retin
2245 Wintercreek Way SE
Salem , OR 97306
(503) 689-1712

e-mail: usscanopus@mail.com or website: www.usscanopus.org

REUNION of USS FULTON AS 11

was held

September 20 – 24, 2006

Holiday Inn

Fairborn, OH 45324


Future info may be available from:
http://www.ussfulton.org


REUNION of USS SPERRY AS 12

Is Planned for 2007 at Branson, MO
See the Sperry Association's page: Sperry Association Page for more info.

REUNION of USS GRIFFIN AS 13

Will be held September 20-23, 2007
at the Ramada Inn
4016 Frederick Blvd.
St. Joseph, Mo. 64506
Telephone 816-233-6192

Please make your reservations by September 1, 2007
and request the U.S.S. Griffin Reunion special room rate.

For additional information contact:
Garland and Mary Roach
Rt. 1 Box 81
Grant City, MO., 64456

gandmroach@grantcity.net

REUNION of USS PELIAS AS 14

All crew - including her submarine sailors
was held May 8 thru 10, 2006
San Diego, CA
Bayside Holiday Inn on Harbor Drive
Banquet & Memorial: May 10 at 6:00 PM

For additional information contact:

Ray Lorenz
355 Lorenz Spur Drive
Hamilton, MT 59840
Tel: (406) 961-4481
Tad/Fax (406) 961-4094
E Mail: lorenzspur@cybernet1.com

REUNION of USS BUSHNELL AS-15

Will hold thier 7th Reunion:

March 30-April 2,2008

OMNI Hotel
Newport News Virginia

Contact: Ben Supowitz
13675 Philmonmt Avenue-Unit #3
Philadelphia, Pa. 19116
215 676 3585
email: benel24@comcast.net

or

Mike Wentzel
417 Main Street
Oley, Pa. 19547
610-987-6641
email: wenfab@1usa.com

More Info: as15-burninbush.com

REUNION of USS GILMORE AS 16

Was held October, 2005
New Orleans
For future info contact:
Roscoe Wise

740-992-2675 l

REUNION of USS ORION AS 18

Was held September 10.
Branson, Mo.
For more information contact orionvets@comcast.net

REUNION of USS PROTEUS AS 19

October 9 - 12

The Grand Plaza Hotel - Branson, MO.

Proteus Reunion Registration Website:

http://www.reunionproregistration.com/ussproteus.htm

Reunion info contact:

Mr. Paul Castle  619-237-1314 or 619-864-2932

Email Lt. Paul Castle, USN(Ret):paul1@ix.netcom.com

Click here for->



Pictures and news from the 2006 reunion...

REUNION of USS EURYALE AS 22

October 18-21, 2004
San Antonio, TX

Contact:

Bill Bradfield
2282 Fenton Avenue
Clermont, FL 34711
352-242-2216
wbradfield@cfl.rr.com

or

Sheri Lytle
638 19th Avenue SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
319-355=66-4930
webmaster@katiebuglove.com
More infor here: http://www.katiebuglove.com/euryale2004reunion.html

USS ANTHEDON AS 24

The participants of the USS ANTHEDON AS 24 reunion
held in Florida October 2007
have voted to suspend any further formal reunions.

The declining number of crew members able to attend reunions was cited as the primary reason.
However, if any crew members decide to get together at any time,
they are encouraged to contact others and invite them to attend an informal reunion.

Contact for USS Anthedon can be made through:

Email: George Treusch

REUNION of USS HUNLEY AS 31

Is being planned for 2008

It will be held at Norfolk, VA

The tentative dates are Sept.13-16

For more information -

Hunley's web page

4th REUNION of USS HOLLAND AS 32

Is being planned for 2007

It will be held at San Antonio,Texas

The tentative dates are Sept.13-16

For more information - contact:

Jose A. Garcia,
1313 East Plum Street
Laredo,Tx.78040-2220.

E-Mail:jgarcia7469@stx.rr.com

Phone: 956.791.2039 or 956.645.3539

-Or-

Check out the Holland's new Website:

www.ussholland.org

REUNION of USS SIMON LAKE AS 33

For more info go to: www.simonlake.org

REUNION of USS CANOPUS AS 34 and AS 9

Sept. 11 to 14, 2008

Crowe Plaza - Riverfront in Jacksonville , FL .


Crewmembers that served on the AS-34 and AS-9, and supporting Marine detachments, SUBRONs, ARDMs, and ASRs

Contact: Richard Retin
2245 Wintercreek Way SE
Salem , OR 97306
(503) 689-1712

e-mail: usscanopus@mail.com or website: www.usscanopus.org

REUNION of USS L. Y. SPEAR AS 36

USS L. Y. Spear's 2nd Reunion
will be held:

Sept. 12-16 2007

at the
Ramada Charleston International Airport
7401 Northwoods Blvd. (I26 Exit 209)
Charleston, SC 29406
More Info:
Bill Barnard e-mail: bilz52@hotmail.com
Spear's reunion page with more info, forms, etc.

REUNION of USS Emory S. Land AS 39

is being planned for
June 12 - 17, 2008
at Las Vegas, NV
More Info:
email: Robert Baker

REUNION of USS McKee AS 41

is in the "Kicking it around" stage.
Anyone interested can get more info:
USS McKee
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