On the 2nd of December, 1968, the submarine USS ARGONAUT (SS 475) began a new chapter in her already long, adventurous life. For the sum of $150,000, she was transferred from the USN to the Canadian Forces and renamed HMCS RAINBOW (SS 75). While RAINBOW may seem an unusual name for a vessel uniformly painted in one colour, it was named after one of the first ships ever to enter service in the Royal Canadian Navy - aaaaalll the way back in 1910.
On the 2nd of December, 1968, the submarine USS ARGONAUT (SS 475) began a new chapter in her already long, adventurous life. For the sum of $150,000, she was transferred from the USN to the Canadian Forces and renamed HMCS RAINBOW (SS 75). While RAINBOW may seem an unusual name for a vessel uniformly painted in one colour, it was named after one of the first ships ever to enter service in the Royal Canadian Navy - aaaaalll the way back in 1910.
USS ARGONAUT was built in the Portsmouth Naval Shipyards, New Hampshire, and commissioned into the USN on the 15th of January, 1945, as a Tench classs submarine. She was based out of Pearl Harbor and completed one war patrol prior to the cessation of hostilities. During a 52-day patrol in the East China Sea, ARGONAUT sank a cargo junk, bombarded a Japanese radio direction finder, and rescued a downed Marine Corps pilot.
After the war ended, ARGONAUT continued service with the United States Atlantic Fleet. She was given the fleet snorkel conversion at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1952, which saw the replacement of her WWII fleet type bridge with a new streamlined sail and snorkel. In the early 1950's, ARGONAUT operated out of New London, Connecticut, as training boat for the submarine school located there. In this capacity, she would dive and surface several times a day to train new submariners in proper operation of this complex vessel.
After her transfer, HMCS RAINBOW spent a high number of days at sea and functioned mainly as a training submarine for the west coast destroyer squadrons and maritime patrol aircraft. Many future Oberon submariners learned their craft on frequent USN/CF exercises.
At 1100 on the 31st of December, 1974, the ship's company formed up on the after deck under the command of LCdr L.W. (Lloyd) Barnes. After prayers by Padre E.P.A. (Edward) Timmons, LCdr. Barnes ordered Petty Officer Second Class Donald McKerracher to lower the Canadian flag. Pipes were sounded, and RAINBOW officially ended her Canadian Service. The flag was presented to LCdr. Barnes as a momento of his command.
After a few days leave, the crew moved on to new duties. Most stayed at Esquimalt, either in surface ships or shore billets. A few were posted to east coast submarines. LCdr. Barnes left almost immediately for Halifax to take command of HMCS OJIBWA on January 7, 1975.
