HMCS GRILSE (SS-71), which was in Canadian service from 11th of May, 1961 to the 2nd of October, 1969, had a long and varied career lasting over 26 years. She began life as USS BURRFISH and completed six war patrols in the Pacific theatre during World War Two. After the war, USS BURRFISH was transferred to reserve status and remained there until 1949, when she was converted for radar picket duties. She served in this capacity for 7 years before being placed back into reserve status.
HMCS GRILSE (SS-71), which was in Canadian service from 11th of May, 1961 to the 2nd of October, 1969, had a long and varied career lasting over 26 years. She began life as USS BURRFISH and completed six war patrols in the Pacific theatre during World War Two. After the war, USS BURRFISH was transferred to reserve status and remained there until 1949, when she was converted for radar picket duties. She served in this capacity for 7 years before being placed back into reserve status.
The Canadian government, recognizing the navy's need to have a submarine with which to practice anti-submarine warfare, arranged for the lease of the ex-USS BURRFISH. BURRFISH was given an overhaul at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and brought back to 'fleet boat' status with a few Canadian modifications. GRILSE was transferred to Esquimalt, British Columbia, via the Panama Canal and spent 374 days at sea in the 16 months preceding her first docking.
For the next several years, HMCS GRILSE worked heavily with the USN in the San Francisco and Pearl Harbor op areas. In 1966, she again passed through the Panama Canal, this time to participate in anti-submarine exercises in the Caribbean. She worked extensively with both surface and air units, giving their sonar operators valuable contact time.
In September 1969, after eight years of hard running, HMCS GRILSE headed out under tow to be transferred back to the USN at Mare Island. In an ironic twist, however, the engine on the Canadian naval tug St. Anthony broke down - and GRILSE, with her skeleton crew running one of her diesel engines, ended up towing the humiliated tug back to Esquimalt. It was only to be a brief reprieve, however, and she eventually left under her own power and arrived at Mare Island on the 26th of September. After a brief ceremony, USS BURRFISH was once again a unit of the United States Navy. But not for long.
A few weeks later, USS BURRFISH was painted and rigged as a radio-controlled target for a trial of the new Mk 46 torpedo, then just entering service. An SH-3 helicopter hit her with a single fish and she sank to the bottom in 1600 feet of water in position 32° 53' N latitude, 118° 36' W longitude.
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