USS Penguin ( ASR - 12 ) The third USS " Penguin " ( ASR – 12 ) was a submarine rescue ship in the United States Navy during World War II . She was the lead ship of a class of three vessels ( " Penguin " , , and ) all originally laid down as fleet ocean tugs before being converted to rescue ships before completion . " Penguin " was laid down as " Chetco " ( AT - 99 ) by the Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co . , Charleston , South Carolina , 9 February 1943 ; launched 20 July 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . H . S . Dickinson ; renamed and reclassified USS " Penguin " ( ASR – 12 ) , 23 September 1943 ; and commissioned 29 May 1944 , Lt . Comdr . G . W . Albin , Jr . , in command . North Atlantic operations . " Penguin " , a submarine rescue and salvage vessel reported for duty with SubRon 1 , at New London , Connecticut , 9 June 1944 . Based there after shakedown training , she served as a target and torpedo recovery ship for Allied submarines training in the area ; performed towing assignments ; participated in the planting and sweeping of experimental mine fields ; and conducted salvage operations . Included in the latter were operations on a sunken U - boat near Block Island between April and June 1945 . Shifting to Portsmouth , New Hampshire , for the period 5 July – 7 September , " Penguin " served as a target vessel and a rescue and salvage ship for submarines undergoing sea trials , then returned to New London , and , for the remainder of the year alternated between those two submarine bases . Permanently attached to New London with the new year , 1946 , she remained there until November when she participated in cold weather operations off Newfoundland . Decommissioning . On her return to New London she continued her duties as rescue and salvage ship , target and torpedo recovery vessel , and escort and towing vessel . In June 1947 she joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet , decommissioning , at New London , 4 September . Reactivation for Atlantic operations . " Penguin " , berthed at New London for four and a half years , recommissioned 3 April 1952 . On 28 April , she reported for duty with the Atlantic Fleet ’ s Submarine Forces , and on 23 July , arrived at Key West , her new homeport . For the next nine years , with only occasional interruptions for submarine exercises or salvage operations in the Caribbean , and , in August 1954 , off Newfoundland , she carried out her mission in the Key West area for SubRon 12 . During that period , however , she established a new record for ships of her class by “ rescuing ” , during training operations , personnel from a submarine 349 ’ below the surface , 24 February 1955 . In 1961 , " Penguin " entered another first on her record . On 20 March she departed for Rota , Spain , becoming the first ASR to be deployed to the Sixth Fleet . Since that time she has continued salvage operations , primarily on downed aircraft , and weapons evaluation tests ; provided target and torpedo recovery services ; and performed towing services for the Atlantic Fleet and , in 1963 , 1964 , 1967 and 1969 , for the 6th Fleet . While with the latter she has also served as flagship for that fleet ’ s submarine force . Fortunately , however , into 1970 , she had not been called on to conduct rescue operations for an actual submarine disaster .