Click on submarine for expanded view. (Illustration by Gregory Proch).At 0200 hours on June 3, 1972, America's last POW rescue attempt began when Lt. j.g. Mark Lutz guided a Mark 6 swimmer delivery vehicle (SDV) away from the submarine Grayback, submerged just outside the mouth of North Vietnam's Red River. Lutz was to deliver two U.S. Navy SEALs, Lieutenant Melvin Dry and CWO Philip Martin, to a small island approximately 4,000 yards away to await the arrival of two U.S. POWs who were to escape their camp by boat. It was a daring secret mission made possible by the only U.S. Navy submarine capable of covertly delivering Marines or Special Forces to an enemy shore.
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Commissioned in March 1958 as the lead unit of Regulus cruise missile carrying submarines, the advent of Polaris missiles led to Grayback's modification and 1968 re-commissioning as an amphibious personnel transport. It received the designation LPSS-574 (for Submarine, Landing, Personnel). The alterations included lengthening the hull to accommodate two auxiliary fuel tanks forward of the engine room, extending the sail by 10 feet and converting the missile magazines on the bow into a dry deck shelter capable of embarking up to 67 troops and two SDVs. The shelter had a special bulkhead to enable underwater launch and recovery of the troops and SDVs. It also had a decompression chamber installed in the starboard missile hangar location. However, SEALs reported that the shelter's designation as "dry" was at best an exaggeration as it was always damp and humid. Another negative aspect of its design was the air venting, which routed air from the sub's head through the shelters when the submarine snorkeled to re-charge its batteries.
The hull expansion and alterations reduced Grayback's speeds by about 2 knots. Although slow when submerged, it was extremely quiet when operating on batteries. Its comparatively small vertical size made it ideal for operations in the relatively shallow South China Sea and coastal waters off Vietnam.
Most of Grayback's missions during and after Vietnam remain classified. It reportedly conducted its first covert mission of the war in 1971, but the recent release of details about Operation Thunderhead ensures that it will be best known for its key role in that POW rescue attempt, even though it failed. Unexpected currents and poor navigational information precluded Lieutenant Lutz reaching the island before the SDV's batteries ran out. The SEALs had to abandon it and be rescued by helicopter, sinking the SDV before they departed. Lieutenant Dry was killed while trying to return to Grayback by helicopter, and the rescue mission had to be aborted.
Grayback remained active in Asian waters for another 12 years before its aging equipment and a lack of spare parts led to its 1984 decommissioning. It was sunk as a target off Subic Bay, Philippines, on April 13, 1986. However, its activities during and after the Vietnam War convinced the Navy of the need to retain Grayback's capabilities. The development of Detachable Dry Deck shelters began in the 1970s, and the first Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered submarines were modified to carry them in 1987. Grayback may be gone, but its capability to support special operations forces lives on in the design specifications and construction of every U.S. Navy submarine built since the 1990s.
Published in October 2011 Vietnam magazine.
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I served on board Grayback from 1971-73. I remember operation Thunderhead, as well as other special operations we carried out with Seals, Recon, and R.O.K. trops. The crew and officers were the best. If not for our Capt. JD Chamberlain, Lt Dry's death would still be classified as a training exersize, not killed in action during war. I miss the old girl, and my time aboard her. Doug.——-D.B.F.———–
Ditto Doug my best out of four in my twenty seven years the concet will not be the same unless they build it like it.
As a young Marine I was fortunate to have sailed on the Grayback with 66 brother Marines in early 1972. I thank the crew for their most gracious hospitality. I was only on board for a couple of weeks but it was long enough to be convinced that should I remain in the service it would be as a submariner. Doug and Bluemex we probably met while I had the privilege of sharing your home on the seas thanks again ……Bill. Sempre Fi
I was on the grayback for training between 1981 and 1983 we launched our IBS did our mission then hooked up with the other teams and stretched a 120 line and waited for the periscope to catch the line. Man what a ride! It was also the best food I had while in the military. 3rd Recon. Sempre Fi
I served on board the Grayback in the '70s and was the best time of my whole Naval career.
Iwas posted TAD for Raider Training after extending with 7th Comm Bn Oki in early 72, several training programs were opened to non-grunt units to cross train non 0300 mos. personnel. Raider Training and the Army Jump School were highly sought after billets. The training mission on the USS Greyback as part of the training was the highlight of the entire program. If you look closely at the dates you might determine the USS Greyback was preparing for their POW rescue mission in June of 72. Anyone remember they showed the movie "Shaft" while on the exercise?
Lest we forget LPSS 315 USS Sea Lion
Does anyone have any parts or memorabilia from The Grayback?
During the Vietnam War, U.S.S. Grayback was a regular visitor at SRF, Subic Bay, Philippines. We used to work on Her AN/SPN-32 – An/WPN-4 Loran Charlie. A very memorable sub.