USS HALFBEAK (SS-352)
''dp. 1526 (surf.), 2391 (subm.); l. 311'8"; b. 27'; dr. 15'3" (mean); s. 20.25 k. (surf.), 8.75 k. (subm.); td. 400'; a. 1-5"/25; 6- 21" tt. fwd., 4-'21" tt. aft..; cpl. 6 officers - 60 enlisted men; cl. BALAO''
''Keel laid by the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT, 6 July 1944; Launched 19 February 1946; Sponsored by Mrs. William D. Craig; Commissioned 22 July 1946; Cdr. Evan T. Shepard in command; Decommissioned and struck from the Navy List 1 July 1971 and sold for scrapping 1 July 1972.''
''At the time of commissioning, USS HALFBEAK (SS-352) was a "Fleet Boat" -- the type made famous in the Pacific during WWII. The mission of the Submarine Force changed from one of anti-shipping to one of Anti-Submarine Warfare in the late 1940's, and HALFBEAK was modified to accomplish this mission. An overhaul in 1949 gave HALFBEAK a snorkel, increased battery capacity and external streamlining for greater underwater speed and endurance. Small modifications were made in each succeeding overhaul until 1964 when her overhaul modernized and refined her ASW capabilities. An addition in 1964 was a large sail made of fiberglass.''
''Although HALFBEAK had always been homeported in New London, Connecticut, she made several major deployments after commissioning. A post-commissioning shakedown cruise took her to the West Indies and South America as a member of Submarine Squadron EIGHT.''
''HALFBEAK was assigned to the Submarine Research and Development Group after her first conversion, and was sent on an extended cruise to European waters on a sonar evaluation project.''
''HALFBEAK was transferred to Submarine Squadron TEN in 1954 and shortly thereafter was deployed to the Mediterranean as a unit of the U.S. Sixth Fleet. September of 1956 found HALFBEAK crossing the Atlantic for a goodwill tour to Western Europe and the Middle East. This trip was interrupted by the Suez Crisis and HALFBEAK was called upon to operate with U.S. Forces in the Mediterranean until January 1957. The employment of the next few years involved NATO exercises and a scientific information gathering trip to the far North for the International Geophysical Year.''
''From 1960 to 1964 HALFBEAK was employed in NATO exercises and ice familiarization exercises on her extended deployments. In 1965 she completed another overhaul period, followed by extended deployments to the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas in 1966. In summer 1967 HALFBEAK was reassinged to Submarine Squadron EIGHT.''
''HALFBEAK was awarded the Battle Efficiency "E" for 1966 and 1967 and held the "E" for Submarine Division 102 for 1968. The submarine was decommissioned and struck from the Navy List 1 July 1971 and sold for scrapping 1 July 1972.''
