The history of the USS Irex SS-482:
July 1962–July 1964, under Captain Portnoy

On 9 July 1962, Cmdr. Howard R. Portnoy, the Executive Office of the Tench, relieved Captain Apthorp. Bruce Schiff offers a brief description of Captain Portnoy. Sometime in 1962 Charles Middleton III relieved Bob Groeder as XO. The COB was Pat O'Malley.

In early August 1962, there was a two-week visit to Bermuda. On 22 August 1962, while engaged in local operations, the boat celebrated her 8000th dive. There were reserve cruises to New York. Boston, and Sub School training services for several weeks.

The Irex was at sea at the time of the Cuban missile crisis. Vince Flaherty reports that:

The missile crisis was something else. We were at sea for 53 straight days, most all of which was under water. Our crew was fantastic, we had a great chemistry and developed an awesome team. As you know, usually when we went to sea for an extended trip, we always knew when we would return. We had no idea when we would be returning when we deployed during the missile crisis. For that reason, as time went on, the crew did get a little testy. The only time during my tour I witnessed that.

Bruce Schick again regales us with sea stories concerning this run to the North Sea.

The Irex finally returned to New London in November 1962 for the holidays. Early in January 1963, she was engaged for six weeks in SPRINGBOARD 63 operations until March, which included visits to San Juan, St. Thomas, and St. Croix, V.I. After SPRINGBOARD, she returned to New London for Sub School duties.

In 1963, the COB was EMC Williams.

The Irex left for a regular overhaul in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, and arrived there on 26 April 1963 for an overhaul. Her previous visit to the shipyard had been in 1960. After twenty-two weeks, the work was completed, and she returned in September 1963 for training cruises out of New London.

The Irex also participated in SUBASWEX 1-64, and at the end of which she visited Bermuda.

John Smith was XO during part of 1964. At some period around 1964 the COB's name was Finney.

Then in January 1964 the Irex participated in SUBASWEX. On her return from the exercise she visited Bermuda. Glenn Faus, who had just come aboard, reports that in Bermuda he swam in 10,000 feet of water. Apparently there was an excess of crew because he had to hot bunk, finding a spot to sleep wherever he could. To add to the hardships, the shower stalls were used to store potatoes and onions, and there was little fresh water to spare for showers in any case. While on the Irex, he was promoted from ICFA to ICFN, which is from E-2 to E-3. He performed the usual duties of a newcomer: helm, planesman, lookout and mess-cook. He finally qualified for subs in July.

In June 1964, a training cruise to Bermuda with Navy reservists. It is said that it was on the return trip to New London from Bermuda, on June 19 (this dive could well have taken place during an operational readiness inspection on either 19 May or August), the Irex made her 9000th dive There was the traditional cake ceremony in the crew's mess. The crew members who had served longest aboard were at the diving stations. The diving officer was Cmdr S. T. Bussey, Commander of Submarine Division 81, who was on the boat's original commissioning crew and participated in her initial dive in 1945.

It was sometime between June and October that the Irex was scheduled to go into the marine railway south of Pier 1 for repairs. The chain parted and the Irex along with the railway slid back into the river. The railway was out of commission at least for a long time and so the boat had to have the bottom work done in a standard floating drydock. We have two accounts of this incident, one by Chief Hannon and another by Ken Robarge.

Captain Portnoy was relieved by Douglas Murray in August of 1964.