USS Volador ( SS - 490 ) USS " Volador " ( SS - 490 ) , a , was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the volador . The contract to build her was awarded to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery , Maine , and her keel was laid down on 15 June 1945 , but work on her construction was discontinued in January 1946 . Her unfinished hulk remained on the ways until August 1947 when construction resumed , now including GUPPY II enhancements to the basic " Tench " design . " Volador " was launched on 21 May 1948 sponsored by Mrs . Dudley W . Morton , and commissioned on 1 October 1948 , with Commander H . A . Thompson in command . Operational history . West Coast . " Volador " completed her builder ' s trials on 20 January 1949 , left Portsmouth three days later , and stopped at Newport , Rhode Island , and New London , Connecticut , before sailing for the Gulf of Mexico on 5 February . " Volador " arrived at New Orleans , Louisiana , on 11 February and proceeded to the West Coast , via Galveston , Texas , and the Panama Canal , and arrived at San Diego , California , on 11 March . The submarine conducted local operations along the California coast between San Diego , California , and San Francisco , California , until she departed San Diego on 13 October , bound for Hawaii . She arrived at Pearl Harbor on 7 November but returned to San Diego on 18 November and spent the remainder of 1949 as well as most of the following year on the West Coast , conducting various training exercises . During that period , she also visited Portland , Oregon , Vancouver , Washington , and Pearl Harbor . In June 1950 , " Volador " embarked reserves at Treasure Island , California , and proceeded on a two - week reserve cruise to Hawaii . En route , the Korean War broke out , and the submarine spent two months training in Hawaiian waters before returning to San Diego for operations on the West Coast that lasted into the summer of 1951 . Korean War . The submarine departed San Diego , California , on 21 July , bound , via Pearl Harbor , for Japan and arrived at Yokosuka on 15 August 1951 . On 18 August , " Volador " got underway from Yokosuka for a period of special operations . Her orders directed the submarine to conduct an undetected reconnaissance patrol in the area of Hokkaidō , Japan , for a four - week period , in order to keep Commander , Naval Forces Far East , informed of any Soviet or People ' s Republic of China ' s seaborne and airborne activity in that area . Throughout her patrol , the submarine identified and photographed numerous radar contacts and made rendezvous with submarines and to exchange patrol reports and other valuable information . On 16 September , " Volador " held ceremonies commemorating her 1000th dive . After a 24 - hour engineering run in Tsugaru Strait , she ended her patrol and arrived in Yokosuka on 22 September . From 11 to 15 November , " Volador " conducted ASW operations with destroyer s , , and in the Atami area . From 16 November to 9 December , " Volador " participated in hunter / killer operations en route to Okinawa from Japan in company with Task Group ( TG ) 96 . 7 . The submarine visited Buckner Bay , Okinawa , before heading home via Pearl Harbor . " Volador " returned to San Diego , California , in January 1952 and conducted local operations until early summer . She then spent three months in the Juan de Fuca Strait and the Puget Sound area before entering the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in October . During the five - month overhaul which followed , a new battery and an Askania automatic depth control system were installed . Upon her return to San Diego , " Volador " provided services to ASW surface units , aircraft , and the Fleet Sonar School and participated in type training , Exercise " Pacphibex " , and hunter / killer exercises . She departed San Diego on 7 August 1953 and arrived at Pearl Harbor on 15 August , received briefings by members of the Commander in Chief , Pacific Fleet , and the Commander , Submarines , Pacific staffs on 17 and 18 August and tested experimental sonar equipment at sea on 20 August . Special operations . On 22 August 1953 , " Volador " began a period of special operations , departing Pearl Harbor for an Alaskan training cruise which kept her in northern waters until October 1953 . Her patrol station was northeast of the St . Lawrence Bay , and , on 1 September , she made rendezvous with submarine off the southwest cape , St . Lawrence Island ; the following day , she snorkeled to an area off Brook Bank , then proceeded to the Bering Strait area . " Volador " conducted a shipping reconnaissance patrol until the night of 27 September 1953 when she made rendezvous with and was relieved by submarine . " Volador " arrived at Pearl Harbor on 7 October 1953 . During her second patrol , she contacted a total of 63 ships and identified and photographed the majority of them . Western Pacific . Returning to San Diego , California , " Volador " rendered services and conducted type training there until May 1954 , when she entered the Mare Island Naval Shipyard for overhaul . The yard work was completed in October 1954 and " Volador " returned to San Diego for local operations . Departing San Diego on 3 January 1955 for her second tour of duty in the Western Pacific ( WestPac ) , " Volador " proceeded to Yokosuka , Japan , via Pearl Harbor . Upon arrival at Yokosuka on 26 January 1955 , she conducted type training and furnished ASW services to a destroyer division and elements of the Japan Maritime Self - Defense Force until 1 March 1955 . She then completed two weeks of routine upkeep on 13 March , prior to departure for another period of special operations on 14 March . " Volador " transited Tsugaru Strait and , on 19 March commenced a submerged patrol on the lane between Vladivostok and La Perouse Strait which lasted until 8 April . She then commenced a transit of Tsugaru Strait and set a course back to Yokosuka where she moored on 11 April 1955 . After the completion of this patrol , " Volador " was commended for excellent photography , correct identification of contacts , and accurate reporting of identifying characteristics regarding the 33 ships contacted . West Coast . Visiting Subic Bay , Hong Kong , and Pearl Harbor while en route , " Volador " returned to San Diego , California , on 1 July . The submarine operated along the West Coast for the next two years . In August 1957 , " Volador " commenced another Far East deployment . She arrived at Pearl Harbor on 3 August and departed three days later for a 30 - day patrol off Petropavlovsk , Kamchatka . Her mission was to gather intelligence information . Due to motor casualties nine days after arrival on station , she departed the Petropavlovsk area on 25 August and arrived at Yokosuka five days later . During this patrol " Volador " contacted 13 merchant ships and eight warships . On 8 November 1957 , the submarine arrived at Subic Bay for a scheduled upkeep and departed on 17 November for Yokosuka . " Volador " arrived at Yokosuka on 26 November ; and , from 11 December through 4 January 1958 , she conducted a special reconnaissance patrol in the Sea of Okhotsk . During this 17 - day undetected special patrol , she completed her photographic mission in spite of severe ice and blizzard conditions . Returning to Japan , " Volador " departed Yokosuka on 9 January for Pearl Harbor . She arrived at Hawaii on 19 January and departed two days later for San Diego , arriving on 28 January 1958 . " Volador " remained at San Diego until 3 October , when she departed for Vancouver , Washington . Twenty guests of the Vancouver Navy League were embarked at Longview , Washington , for a ship ' s visit and disembarked upon arrival at Vancouver . " Volador " was welcomed by a gathering of about 500 citizens , plus the local high school band , and was presented a plaque in a simple ceremony on board . She departed Vancouver on 5 October and visited Seattle , Washington , and Port Angeles , Washington , through the month of October . " Volador " visited Victoria , British Columbia , from 31 October through 3 November . Canadian frigate HMCS " Antigonish " was the host ship , and wardroom officers were entertained on board and in the homes of the host ' s officers . The submarine patrolled the areas of Esquimalt , Washington , Port Angeles , Washington , Tacoma , Washington , and Seattle , Washington until 22 November when she began her return trip to San Diego , California , arriving on 26 November . " Volador " operated in the San Diego - San Francisco area until 5 May 1959 when she entered the San Francisco Naval Shipyard at Hunters Point for overhaul . Completing overhaul in October 1959 , the submarine returned to San Diego , California , for local operations until leaving for WestPac in late December . While thus deployed , " Volador " participated in many operations including amphibious Exercise " Blue Star " and SEATO Exercise " Sea Lion . " Upon returning to San Diego , she participated in various local operations during the next 20 months . Conversion . " Volador " spent the early months of 1962 in local operations in the San Diego area until she conducted a reserve cruise from 4 to 11 April . Upon her return , she was placed in commission , in reserve , while undergoing FRAM Mk 1 conversion to a GUPPY III configuration at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard . The submarine was saved from possible total destruction due to a spectacular pier fire at the shipyard on 9 and 10 November 1962 by the duty section led by the duty officer and the executive officer . In September 1962 , " Volador " was returned to active service . The conversion was completed in February 1963 . A hull section was installed in addition to a large amount of new electronic , fire control , and sonar equipment , making " Volador " one of the most modern diesel - electric submarines in the Fleet . After trials in Puget Sound , she returned to San Diego in April 1963 to take part in local operations . Vietnam era . The submarine departed San Diego in September 1963 for another WestPac deployment . Near the conclusion of her tour , " Volador " conducted a special assignment which resulted in her receiving a commendation from the Commander , Submarine Force , United States Pacific Fleet , for " a mission of great value to the government of the United States . " After returning to San Diego , she was assigned to local and Pacific coast operations . In late 1964 , " Volador " again distinguished herself by sending the submarine hulk ex - to the bottom after firing one homing torpedo in a weapons system evaluation test , making her the only submarine in the Navy to claim two peace - time " kills " . Commander , Submarine Force , United States Pacific Fleet , awarded the " E " for overall performance " and for being adjudged the outstanding submarine in Submarine Squadron 5 in fleet intra - type competition for fiscal year 1965 . " " Volador " resumed operations on 3 January 1966 after a short period of holiday routine in San Diego alongside the submarine tender . The greater part of January was spent conducting weapons system accuracy trials at the Dabob Bay and Carr Inlet facilities in the Puget Sound area . " Volador " returned to San Diego on 3 February and conducted a week of refresher training commencing on 10 February . Following this , she began a three - week upkeep period during which she successfully underwent an administrative inspection and a nuclear weapons acceptance inspection . On 7 March 1966 , " Volador " left port for a week of type training in the local operating areas during which time sound trials were conducted to investigate the problem of noisy propellers . She got underway on 4 April for a four - day restricted availability at the San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard where new propellers were installed . The remainder of April and the period until 11 May were spent in the San Diego area conducting various tests and preparing for deployment to WestPac . The submarine departed San Diego on 12 May and , after a four - day stopover in Pearl Harbor , reported to Commander , Seventh Fleet , for operational control on 3 June and arrived at Yokosuka , Japan , on 6 June 1966 . Following an eight - day upkeep period for voyage repairs , " Volador " departed Yokosuka on 14 June to provide ASW services to ships and aircraft of the Japan Maritime Self - Defense Force . Throughout the summer , she continued to conduct exercises and provide services which were made more meaningful by the mutual exchange of officers . The submarine operated in the areas of Yokosuka and Iwakuni , Japan , and Buckner Bay , Okinawa . " Volador " was in upkeep status at Yokosuka from 15 to 23 September . She got underway for Hong Kong on 26 September , after which she stopped at Kaohsiung and Midway Island and arrived at Pearl Harbor on 6 November . She departed two days later for San Diego . " Volador " arrived at her home port on 19 November and spent the remainder of 1966 in holiday leave and upkeep status . She was nominated for the Captain Edward F . Ney Memorial Award for the most outstanding general mess for 1966 . On 1 July 1966 , " Volador " was awarded the Squadron 5 award for fire control and weapons excellence . Operations resumed on 15 January 1967 after a period of holiday routine alongside the Submarine Facility , Ballast Point , San Diego . The first half of 1967 was spent participating in various exercises , undergoing upkeep and repairs , and qualifying for a nuclear weapons technical proficiency inspection , a material inspection , and an operational readiness inspection . " Volador " then departed San Diego on 24 July en route to Auckland , New Zealand . She made a two - day stop at Pago Pago , American Samoa , and arrived at Auckland on 15 August . The submarine participated in LONGEX 67 , then departed for Subic Bay and arrived there on 10 September for five days of upkeep and voyage repairs . She participated in Exercise " Gillnet " , visited Buckner Bay , Okinawa , and arrived at Yokosuka , Japan , on 26 September . The remainder of the year was spent conducting various operations out of Yokosuka . USS " Pueblo " incident . On 1 January 1968 , " Volador " was en route to Hong Kong for a port visit . She arrived back at Yokosuka , Japan , on 24 January to learn that her deployment was being indefinitely extended because of mobilization response to the capture of " environmental research ship " by the North Koreans . " Volador " departed for sea on 31 January and returned 31 days later . The submarine left Japan and made a two - day stopover at Pearl Harbor before arriving in San Diego on 29 March . The period until 26 June was spent in post - deployment upkeep and local operations . On 27 June , " Volador " departed for a regular shipyard overhaul in the San Francisco Naval Shipyard at Hunters Point at which time a Mk 48 fire control system was installed . Post - overhaul trials were conducted in the San Francisco , California , operating area on 20 and 22 December , and the submarine finished the year at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard , Vallejo , California . Throughout January and February 1969 , " Volador " held sound and weapons trials in the Puget Sound area . The next two months were spent in upkeep and training before heading to the Pacific northwest for a quality assurance system test of the Mk 48 Astor torpedo . After the firings , while en route to home waters , a stop was made at Monterey , California , on 20 May and 21 May to provide familiarization cruises for students of the Naval Postgraduate School , local members of the Navy League , and city leaders . The trip was an outstanding success and received wide dissemination through the local press media . The submarine returned to San Diego , California , and commenced an upkeep period and a final workup for deployment . " Volador " departed San Diego on 28 July 1969 for Yokosuka , Japan , via Pearl Harbor . During the Christmas holidays , " Volador " visited Bangkok , Thailand , enjoying the exotic sights and the Thai people and providing a week of services to the Royal Thai Navy . Leaving Bangkok on 26 December , the ship headed for Hong Kong and was en route as the year ended . " Volador " left Hong Kong for two weeks of operations and liberty in Yokosuka , Japan , before returning to San Diego , California , on 12 February 1970 . The next month was a period of upkeep and rest for the crew . The following three months were filled with numerous exercises and drills to retrain the crew and to prepare for interfleet transfer to the East Coast . " Volador " departed San Diego on 7 August for transit to the East Coast via the Panama Canal . She arrived at her new home port of Charleston , South Carolina , and spent the remainder of 1970 there . Mediterranean Sea . During the first few months of 1971 , " Volador " conducted exercises and drills and underwent upkeep in preparation for deployment to the Mediterranean Sea . On 19 April , she arrived at Rota , Spain , and commenced participation in Exercise " Dawn Patrol 71 " with several NATO units on 23 April . Upon completion of this exercise on 12 May , " Volador " visited Piraeus , Greece ; Augusta Bay , Sicily ; Palma , Majorca ; Villefranche , France ; Gibraltar ; Naples , Italy ; and Málaga , Spain ; and returned to Rota on 19 July for turnover . " Volador " departed for Charleston , South Carolina , on 21 July after spending three months in the Mediterranean Sea . On 1 August , she was diverted from her homeward transit to render assistance to the tanker M / T " Lacon " , a Liberian vessel which was on fire . " Volador " arrived at Charleston on 5 August and began a period of leave and upkeep until 20 September when she entered the Charleston Naval Shipyard , commencing a regular overhaul and battery renewal . Transfer to Italy . On 18 August 1972 , " Volador " was transferred to Italy . She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 5 December 1977 . " Volador " and were transferred and commissioned into the Italian Navy at the same time . Some civilian sources disagree as which of them became " Primo Longobardo " ( S - 501 ) and which became " Gianfranco Gazzana Priaroggia " ( S - 502 ) . The United States Department of the Navy ' s Naval Historical Center maintains that " Pickerel " became " Primo Longobordo " and " Volador " became " Gianfranco Gazzana Priaroggia " . " Gianfranco Gazzana Priaroggia " was stricken in 1981 .