USS REDFIN (SS/AGSS-272)
1963
 

REDFIN was moored in Norfolk until January 18 when she got underway at 1317.  She operated in the assigned area until January 25^th when she departed enroute to Mayport, Florida.  REDFIN arrived and moored at 1439 starboard side to USS GRAMPUS (SS-523) in a nest with USS SEALION (APSS-315) at Berth D-1, U.S. Naval Station, Mayport, Florida. 

REDFIN departed Mayport on January 28 at 1403 for Norfolk.  The period of February 1963 was spent on a classified operation and there are no records of her events.  On March 01 she is moored starboard side to USS REQUIN (SS-481) in a nest with USS TORSK (SS-423) at Pier 21, D & S Piers, Norfolk. 

REDFIN operated locally between March 1^st and April 11, 1963. 

On Wednesday, April 10, communications were lost with USS THRESHER (SSN-593).  On April 11 at 1738 REDFIN was underway to assist in the search for THRESHER.  On April 13 at 0950 a yellow and black buoy was sighted.  The buoy was picked up at 1012 at Latitude 41°-04.0’ north and 66°-02.0’ west.  It was determined to be a fisherman’s marker buoy. 

REDFIN spent most of the day searching and examining debris while in company with USS WARRINGTON (DD-834).  At 2056 REDFIN departed formation to conduct independent searching.

April 14 was spent maneuvering on east and west courses, while conducting a sound search.  At 0825 USS WARRINGTON came alongside for a light line transfer. 

On April 15^th REDFIN conducted the search with ATLANTIS II.  At 1515 a high line transfer was made with USS WARRINGTON.  At 1535 she proceeded to take station for a Memorial Service for USS THRESHER.  The Guide was such; USS WARRINGTON (DD-843), USS THOMAS JEFFERSON (SSBN-618), USS SUNBIRD (ASR-15), USS REDFIN (SS-272) AND USS ROCKVILLE ( PCR-851) at an interval of 1500 yards. 

At 1715 all ships “Manned the Rail.”  At 1750 USS WARRINGTON fired a 21 Gun Salute to commemorate USS THRESHER. 

The weather was cold and all hands were topside for a long period of time.  After the ceremony was over, all hands were given a portion of “Grog”, compliments of the CO. 

On April 16^th REDFIN continued conducting Search and Rescue operations using bottom sounding equipment. 

On April 17^th at 1340 a small boat from USS HISSEM (DE-400) came alongside.  On the 18^th REDFIN came alongside HISSEM at 1147 for a high line transfer. 

On April 20^th Erich Cramer, LTjg and Henry Sellers, QMC(SS) were transferred to HISSEM by way of a small boat at 1445 and were returned to REDFIN by small boat at 1812. 

On April 21^st at 1355 she made a light line transfer with USS GARY (DER-326).  At 1357 REDFIN was released to return to Norfolk.  She arriver at Norfolk on April23rd at 0925 and moored port side to USS Sea Leopard (SS-483) in a nest of four submarines at Berth 222, Pier 22, Destroyer Submarine Piers, U.S. Naval Station, Norfolk, VA.

On May 16^th REDFIN got underway at 0707 for Annapolis and arrived and moored at 1653 starboard side to Farragut Field Sea Wall, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD.  On the 18^th USS X-1 moored to her port side. 

On May 20, at 0646 she got underway for VA Cape Op Area and returned to Norfolk on May 24^th at 0800 REDFIN and moored port side to USS Sea Leopard (SS-483), Berth 224, Pier 22, Destroyer/Submarine Piers, U.S. Naval Station, Norfolk, VA.

On June 28, 1963 in accordance with ComSubLant Message 252014Z, REDFIN was reclassified AGSS. 

On July 2^nd at 0910 REDFIN got underway for Wilmington, North Carolina and arrived on July 3^rd at 1326 and moored starboard side to North Carolina State Docks, Berth 2, Wilmington, NC.  Getting underway for Norfolk on July 7^th at 0807 and arriving July 8 at 1610 and moored port side to USS Sea Lion in a nest of two submarines at Berth 224, Pier 22, Destroyer/Submarine Piers.

On August 12^th at 0807 REDFDIN got underway to rendezvous with research vessel State Star and USS Willis A. (Augustus) Lee (DL-4).  REDFIN operated with them until August 24^th when she got underway independently enroute Bermuda.  She arrived at 0703 and anchored at U.S. Naval Station, Port Royal, Bermuda, B.W.I. 

After operating in area Foxtrot she got underway for Norfolk on August 28^th and arrived August 29^th at 0747 and moored port side to Pier 22, Berth 224, Destroyer Submarine Piers. 

On September 3 at 0828 she was underway in Elizabeth River Channel and at 0928 moored starboard side to Berth 11 and Berth 12, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA. 

On September 6^th she was placed in Dry Dock. On September 7-28 she was resting on keel blocks in Dry Dock #3, NNSY, Portsmouth, VA, stern to stern with USS Carp (SS-338). 

On September 30^th she got underway at 0814 and at 1807 she moored port side to USS Runner (SS-476) in a nest of two submarines at Berth 224, Pier 22, Destroyer Submarine Piers, U.S. Naval Station, Norfolk, VA. 

On October 6^th 1159 she was underway to Cape Canaveral, FL and on October 8^th at 1255 she moored port side to Berth 3, Navy Pier, Port Canaveral, FL. 

Between October 6^th and November 3^rd REDFIN operated in the areas of Cape Canaveral and Port Everglades, FL. 

On November 3^rd at 1744 she got underway from Cape Canaveral, FL to Norfolk and arrived on November 5^th at 1421 and moored port side to USS Cutlass (SS-478) in a nest of two submarines at Berth 222, Pier 22, Destroyer Submarine Piers, U.S. Naval Station, Norfolk, VA. 

On November 22, 1963 at 1515, REDFIN half masted the colors upon receipt of notification of the death of the President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. 

On December 10^th at 1601 she was underway to VA Capes Op Area 16 conducting tracking exercises and conducting S-2-T Rehearsal Run with USS Nathan Hale (SSBN-623). 

On December 17^th she departed the area and arrived at 0838 and moored port side to USS Torsk (SS-423) at Berth 224, Pier 22, Destroyer Submarine Piers, U.S. Naval Station, Norfolk, VA in a nest of three submarines, from inboard out, USS Requin (SS-481), USS Torsk (SS-423), and REDFIN. 

REDFIN was moored in Norfolk for the remainder of the year.