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United States Navy (USN) Submarine Base and Repair Unit
New Farm Wharf and Wool Stores
The New Farm submarine base was the major US Navy facility to be established on Australia’s east coast. It repaired, replenished and degaussed (anti-mine) submarines. It operated from April 1942 to March 1945. In April 1945, the base was allotted to the British Pacific Fleet. A total of 59 submarines and 3 submarine tenders were based, at various times, at the base. Among the famous people to visit the base were US First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (13 September 1943), US Vice Admiral Arthur S. 'Chips' Carpender and comedian Joe E. Brown (i.e. the film Some Like It Hot).
Place information
Location
Place type
Naval/port facility
History
At the Pacific War’s advent in December 1941,US Submarine Squadron 5 was patrolling the Atlantic. It was ordered to the Panama Canal where it met the submarine tender USS Griffith on 5 February 1942. On 28 February, the force was ordered to Brisbane and passed through the canal into the Pacific on 5 March. Griffith and six old (1920s), short-range S-Class submarines (designated Division 53) berthed at New Farm Wharf on 15 April 1942. Joining them that day was a seventh S-boat and the gunboat USS Tulsa. They were reinforced on 20 April by another two S-boats and on 23...
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