United States Navy — Submarine
USS Runner (SS-476) — service history
This is the full service history. For the vessel's particulars, photograph and specifications, see the entry.
In the words of the US Navy. The account below is reproduced verbatim from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command — a work of the United States Government, in the public domain, and the only text on this site not written here.
Second World War 1939–1945
1944
The second Runner (SS-476), a diesel-powered attack submarine, was laid down on 10 July 1944 by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, N.H.; launched 17 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. R. H. Bass, the wife of the prospective commanding officer; commissioned 6 February 1945, Comdr. R. H. Bass in command.
1945
After shakedown and preliminary training off the Atlantic coast, she departed New London 5 April 1945, and arrived at Pearl Harbor 21 May 1945, after intensive training at Key West and Balboa. Her first war patrol was off the east coast of Honshu, Japan, where her primary mission was to scout for the presence of defensive minefields guarding the Japanese home islands. On 10 July while on patrol in the Sea of Japan, she intercepted two worthwhile targets, a tanker and a minesweeper. The tanker and her two escorts escaped the spread of torpedoes fired at them, but the minesweeper, W-27 , was splintered by three of Runner's torpedoes. Before departing station, Runner received 16 downed aviators from Gabilan (SS-252) and Aspro (SS-309) for transfer to Guam, where she arrived on 24 July.
Post-war 1946–1949
1946
Her second patrol began a week prior to the Japanese capitulation and by the time Runner arrived on station off the east coast of Honshu, peace had come. Runner , with 10 other U.S. submarines entered Tokyo Bay 31 August and represented the U.S. submarine service at the formal surrender ceremonies. SS-476 and her sister submarines departed Japan on 3 September, arriving Pearl Harbor 12 September. She continued east until reaching New London, Conn., on 6 October. A few weeks later, in company with other vessels of Submarine Squadron 6, Runner proceeded south arriving for duty at Balboa, C.Z., on 14 February 1946. For the next 3 years, Runner was based at Panama and participated in annual fleet exercises in the Caribbean.
1949
In June 1949, she was reassigned to Norfolk, her base for the next 7 years. In the autumn of 1957, Runner participated in North Atlantic NATO exercises, visiting ports in France and England. Homeported in San Juan, P.R., from July 1958 to July 1959, she operated in the Caribbean as a Regulus missile guidance submarine.
Cold War 1954–1963
1959
Returning to Norfolk in July 1959, Runner operated with the fleet along the Atlantic coast for the next 3 years. She deployed to the Mediterranean from January to early May 1962, operating with United States and NATO units. The remainder of 1962 was taken up with local ASW exercises and overhaul.
Vietnam War period 1964–1975
1966
Throughout 1963 and 1964, she engaged in various antisubmarine warfare exercises in the western Atlantic. The summer of 1964 was spent in the Great Lakes, training Naval Reservists. After operating with the fleet in the spring of 1965, she entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for overhaul. In 1966, operations included services for ASW exercises, type training, and participation in Exercise Springboard in the early spring. Runner deployed to the Mediterranean with the 6th Fleet from 8 July to 28 October 1966. School services for future submariners occupied most of 1967.
1968
The year 1968 commenced with Runner providing services for UDT school at Little Creek, Va., and ASW training off the east coast. On 4 April 1968, Runner departed on her last Mediterranean deployment. She returned to Norfolk 31 July, have visited ports in Spain and Portugal, and participating in NATO Exercise Dawn Patrol.
1969
On 25 January 1969, Runner was decommissioned at the Boston Naval Shipyard, and towed to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, where she was redesignated AGSS-476 and served as a Naval Reserve Training vessel until stricken from the Navy list 15 December 1971.
Other photographs
Held for this vessel, and not tied to any part of the account above.
References
Every work this entry draws on. There are no numbered markers in the text above: what we hold is the provenance of the page — this history, this article, these photographs.
- History Runner II (SS-476) Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Naval History and Heritage Command. A work of the United States Government, in the public domain — the only text on this site reproduced verbatim.
- Facts USS Runner (SS-476) Structured facts only — dates, dimensions, armament and fate. No wording is taken from it. Harvested 1 August 2026.
- Photograph SS-476 U.S. Navy — https://www.navsource.net/archives/08/08476.htm , photo https://www.navsource.net/archives/08/0847601.jpg — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
- Photograph USS Runner (SS-476) U.S. Navy — https://www.navsource.net/archives/08/0847603.jpg — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
- Photograph USS Orion (AS-18) with submarines at Norfolk Naval Station in the late 1950s U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 92321 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons