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From January to April the USS SARGO conducted local operations and upkeep in the Pearl Harbor area. This included extensive training in preparation for deployment to the Western Pacific. In April the USS SARGO deployed on an extended cruise to the Western Pacific and returned to Pearl Harbor in June.

CHANGE OF COMMAND

On 26 Jun 1985 LCDR George M. Vahsen relieved CDR Robert M. Douglass as Commanding Officer.

Courtesy Robert Douglass		Courtesy Robert Douglass
LCDR George Vahsen (at podium) relieving CDR Robert Douglass (standing) as Commanding Officer.		CDR Robert Douglass receiving a painting of the Sargo as he leaves command. Presenting the painting (from left) Executive Officer LCDR Steve Ramos, Chief of the Boat Ray Kuhn ( who had fallen down a hatch and broken his leg), and from the Squadron CDR Hugh Murpherie, and the Command Chaplain.

Courtesy Robert Douglass		Courtesy Robert Douglass
Invitation to the Change of Command Ceremony.		The Program for the Change of Command.

Courtesy Robert Douglass

RADM Williams presenting the Legion of Merit to CDR Douglass for his performance during his command of the USS SARGO.

Courtesy Robert Douglass		Commander R. M. Douglass Receives the Legion of Merit Commander Robert M. Douglass, Commanding Officer of USS James K. Polk (SSBN 645) Gold Crew, received the Legion of Merit for exceptional meritorious service in ceremonies at the headquarters of the Deputy Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Conn., June 20, 1966. Presented on behalf of the President of the United States by Rear Admiral Joseph W. Williams, Jr., Deputy Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and signed by the Secretary of the Navy, the award citation reads as follows: "For exceptional meritorious service as Commanding Officer, USS Sargo (SSN 583), during the three related missions conducted during the period 17 July 1963 to 19 Jun 1965, USS Sargo conducted independent operations during this period resulting in achievements of great value and lasting significance to the Government of the United States. Through his outstanding leadership, professional skill, and inspiring devotion to duty, Commander Douglass contributed in large measure to the success of these operations and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." USS Sargo was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for this same period. Commander Douglass, a native of Anoka, became skipper of USS James K. Polk April 16, 1966, when the ship was commissioned. He was a member of the commissioning crew of USS Patrick Henry (SSBN 599) in 1959. Commander Douglass is married to former Marilyn Smith of Ankora. The live with their two children at 14 Beach Road, Groton Long Beach, Conn. He is the son of Col. and Mrs. Robert M. Douglass. 1503 Second avenue Sough, was graduated from Anoka high school in 1944, and from U.S. Naval Academy. Present at the ceremonies were two former executive officers of the USS Sargo: Lieutenant Commander Steve L. Ramos, Executive Officer of the precommissioning detail of the USS Will Rogers (SSBN 659), was presented a Navy Commendation Medal for service aboard USS Sargo by Rear Admiral Williams. Lieutenant Commander David S. Cruden, Executive Officer of USS George Bancroft Blue Crew previously had been awarded a Letter of Commendation by the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Copy of Legion of Merit Award

Courtesy Mrs. George M. Vahsen

CAPT George M. Vahsen

After deploying in late June, USS SARGO spent July and August in the Eastern Pacific. In August USS SARGO participated in an Operational Readiness exercise conducted by ASW Group THREE. USS SARGO spent September through November conducting local operations. These operations included extensive training in preparation for deployment in the Western Pacific.

Courtesy Larry Tomsich

Left - EN2(SS) Larry "Tommy" Tomsich and Right - TMC(SS) Don Reisenhoover.

On October 13th the USS BARB (SSN 595) and USS SARGO (SSN 583) collided while maneuvering at about 300 feet and about 50 miles off of Oahu. Both ships sustained minor damage.

UPI TELEPHOTO

HONOP101401-10/14/65 HONOLULU: Navy photo of USS Sargo conning tower after USS Barb slammed into it underwater 10-13 about 15 miles off of Oahu.

The following article from a local newspaper reported on the collision:

NUCLEAR SUB COLLISION UNDERWATER HONOLULU (AP) - Two U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarines collided underwater Wednesday night but both made it back to port six hours later. The superstructure of one was damaged. The submarines, Sargo and Barb, each carried about 95 crewmen and a submarine division commander. No injuries were reported. Apparently the bow of one sub knifed into the other's conning tower in the collision 15 miles west of Oahu Island's Barbers' Point. But the Navy wasn't saying which did what. Nor would it allow photographs of the damage. A Navy spokesman said sonar equipment was operating on both submarines. They were taking part in submerged training. The Navy wouldn't say what the sub depths were at the time of the collision. Navy divers went down early Thursday at Pearl Harbor submarine base for an over-all check. The Navy assured U.S. Sen. Daniel Inoye, D-Hawaii, in Washington there was "no danger of nuclear radiation." It was the second Navy mishap in the Pacific within a week. Last week, planes off the aircraft carrier Ticonderoga bombed the inhabited island of Niihau, mistaking it for unihabited Kaula Rock during night bombing exercises. The Sargo was the first nuclear sub to receive a complete overhaul, including it nuclear reactor, at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The Barb is a newer model with the same name as the famed World War II submarine which was skippered by Rear Adm. B. E. Fluckey, now Pacific Submarine Force commander.

Courtesy Larry "Tommy" Tomsich

Original Newspaper Article

Jerry Rupp EM2(SS) (1964 – 1965) recalls the collision:

“We were on the way back to Pearl when we received a message to penetrate an ongoing ASW exercise and remain undetected. It was raining like cats and dogs at the time, which made it difficult for the sonar men, as well as being limited in what could be seen through the scope. I was off watch at the time and was hanging around the control room. We were running at periscope depth. I remember the OD looking through the scope, and saying something like "Oh my God, there's a sub on the surface dead ahead of us". The Captain jumped up, took one look through the scope, said "I have the con.........all ahead full.......full dive both planes".....then he lowered the scope. We started down at quite an angle, everyone being very quiet and just listening. The first thing I recall is what sounded like the hull scraping against a buoy cable. Then, all at once, there was this terrible sound of metal being ripped apart and we rolled over on our side at dang near 90 degrees. I was hanging on the railing around the conning tower to keep from falling down, with my eyes riveted on the digital depth gauge, which was spinning like crazy. The old man sounded the collision alarm and made an announcement. Then he got on the UQC and told everyone to get out of our way, that we were coming up. We were still going down when they emergency blew the ballast tanks. Our decent slowed.......the old girl started shuddering, and finally, from around test depth, she started up.....and I mean up we went a hellin'. "Luckily, we didn't hit anything on the way or when we reached the surface. When we finally did surface, they tried to open the trunk hatch to the bridge, but it wouldn't budge. They opened the drain valve, and water was gushing out, so they closed it. The Captain decided to try and go through the torpedo room hatch, and asked for volunteers to accompany the previous OD topside to assess damages. I couldn't volunteer fast enough, wanting to get my butt up in some fresh air. The OD, myself and a couple other guys who I don't remember their names went topside through the torpedo room hatch. The collision occurred just behind the hatch, where it took out the entire superstructure, then bounced up and caught the front of the sail. It sheared off the trunk bridge hatch, filling the trunk with water, and then took out the whole front half of the sail, back about as far as the induction mast. "They came out from Pearl, covered us up with tarps, closed off the lower base and escorted us in under wraps. It was all hush-hush, and we weren't to talk with anyone about the incident. As it turns out, the sub on the surface was NOT the Barb. As I recall, it was a diesel boat, but don't remember her name. What we didn't know was that the Barb was running along below her. As we were making our decent at about 45 degrees, the Barb runs straight into us, catching us just behind the torpedo room hatch, then bouncing up into the sail. "A pretty exciting time, and I was real happy when I planted my feet on the pier. I recall nursing a few too many cocktails that night.......for medicinal purposes....LOL. Well, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it."

Roger A. Felthous MM2(SS) (1964 – 1967) recalls the collision:

“My bunk was the upper most in the bridal suite in the Forward Torpedo Room (the two across ship bunks). I was off watch and reading a book on the mezzanine for the bunks lying under the non-shielded double screws on a torpedo rack. BARB hit us forward of the sail over the Forward Torpedo Room. I heard and felt the initial crushing of the superstructure above me, which was followed by the scraping sound of the BARB hitting the sail with her screw. When BARB hit the sail, we rocked over. Before the collision I believe we were on an up angle (no sure but I thought we were nearing scope depth. We went into a fast backslide downward. She was sliding and sliding and sliding and slidiiiiing. It was definitely DOWN. At this time I was saying "Oh shit" to myself with thoughts of not returning to port. The emergence blow was initiated and she shuttered for a while. The girl them caught hold and we went up fast. When we finally made it to the surface we bobbed like a fishing cork when you have a bite (but slower). This was probably the greatest sense of relief I have ever felt in my life. “The experience left me with two vivid impressions:

Thank God the Torpedomen knew how to lash down the fish or I would have looked like I had been in a knife fight with my guts hanging out. The ultimate relief feeling of bobbing on the surface.

“Some other points of interest from my own personal knowledge and from other shipmates:

On the down slide the depth gauge read in excess of 600 ft. But that was not a big deal in those days as we routinely transited at 600 ft. The Reactor Operator had the rods out making 125% power. But I was Lead ELT and had made chemistry adjustments for sustained home-bound runs at greater than 100%. The forward superstructure was crushed to the hull and the upper Forward Torpedo Room hatch sheared off. The sail was well bent to the side. (I think the upper Control Room hatch was missing) We returned to port under our own power. We were secure but a little banged up. When we hit the pier and the brow was across, one of the IC-man picked a piece of the BARB's screw out of the sail and crossed the brow declaring "I am disqualifying myself" and I don't think we ever saw him again. So somewhere, there is a piece of the BARB's screw on someone’s mantel.

“The following may or may not be fact but true to the best of my knowledge:

I think the BARB was surfacing (from a neighbor). We were preparing for a run. In those days the waters around HI was divided into sectors and everybody knew who and what was in the sector. BUT if you were preparing for a run you did not have the same restrictions and you could spy on your buddies. So the BARB may or may not have known the SARGO was in the sector. The scuttlebutt was that the BARB was in our baffles and we could not hear her. But that does not explain why she did not hear us. The Inquiry did not lay blame and was the result of "an act of GOD" to the best of my knowledge.”

Following the collision with USS BARB the USS SARGO conducted a restricted availability at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and an upkeep in the Pearl Harbor area. In November 1965, USS SARGO deployed to the Western Pacific. The following pictures, shared by CAPT Ted A. Hamilton (1964 - 1968), were taken on Christmas, 1965 somewhere in the Sea of Japan:

Courtesy Ted A. Hamilton

Clockwise from the Left: Perry Wilkons, Don Olson, George Vahsen (CO), Steve Ramos (XO), and Al Perry sharing either Brandy, Rum, or Bourbon in the Wardroom.

Courtesy Ted A. Hamilton		Courtesy Ted A. Hamilton
George Vahsen (CO) an Steve Ramos (XO) with the crew in Crews Mess.		George Vahsen (CO) in Crews Mess, sampling Egg Nog in the Crews Mess?

Michael “Mike” R. Baker, MMCS(SS) (1965 – 1966) remembers the WESTPAC:

“For what it’s worth, a group of us (mostly married guys) took gifts and spent Christmas, 1965 at an orphanage in Sasebo.”