USS Argonaut (SS-475)

The USS Argonaut (SS-475) was a Tench-class submarine of the United States Navy. She was the second ship of the Navy to be named for the Argonaut, a mythological Greek hero.

Argonaut (SS-475) was laid down on 18 April 1944 by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine; launched on 1 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Effie M. Hackett; and commissioned on 15 January 1945, with Commander John S. Schmidt in command.

Following shakedown and training, Argonaut departed New London, Connecticut, on 15 April 1945, and proceeded to the Pacific. Arriving at Pearl Harbor in May, she conducted further training before commencing her first war patrol. This patrol, conducted in the Sea of Japan from late June to mid-August 1945, saw the Argonaut engaged in lifeguard duty and reconnaissance during the final weeks of World War II.

After the war, Argonaut participated in various exercises and training operations. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, she operated extensively in the Atlantic and Caribbean, including deployments to European waters. She underwent several overhauls and modernizations during her service life to maintain her operational readiness.

In 1955, Argonaut was converted to a Regulus missile submarine. Her designation was changed to SS-475 (SSM) to reflect this new capability. As a guided missile submarine, she participated in the testing and development of the Regulus missile program.

Argonaut was decommissioned on 1 December 1966, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 30 June 1967. She was sold for scrapping in 1968.

While the USS Argonaut (SS-475) did not achieve the fame of some other submarines in World War II, she played a vital role in the postwar era, especially in the development of submarine-launched missile technology. Her service highlights the transition of the U.S. Navy submarine force from traditional torpedo-based warfare to the nuclear age.