From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

A bustard of India.

(ASR - 9: dp. 1,780; l. 251'4"; b. 42'; dr. 14'3"; s. 16 k.; cpl. 102; a. 2 3"; cl. Chanticleer) Florikan (ASR-9) was launched 14 June 1942 by Moore Drydock Co., Oakland, Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. L. Sahm; and commissioned 5 April 1943, Lieutenant N. K. Banks, USNR, in command.

From 3 to 20 July 1943, Florikan aided in the training of submarines at Pearl Harbor, acting as target, screening, escort, and torpedo recovery vessel. She served on similar duty at Midway between 24 July and 2 September, then sailed for Kiska, Alaska, arriving 7 September. For a month, she carried out diving operations on Japanese submarine I-7, which had been grounded by her crew south of Kiska Harbor. Their attempts to scuttle the submarine had been incomplete, the after half remaining intact in a hundred feet of water. Seven divers entered the hulk, recovering important documents and personal papers of value in intelligence work.

Florikan returned to duty at Midway from 9 October 1943 to 12 November, then served at Pearl Harbor from 16 November to 11 June 1944. With Majuro activated as a forward base for submarines, Florikan trained submarines there from 18 June to 31 January 1945, then returned to duty at Pearl Harbor through the close of the war.

Assigned to home port at San Diego, Florikan first arrived there 12 September 1945, and through the next 15 years, trained submarine rescue personnel there, took part in fleet exercises and training operations, and brought her specialized services to the Far East in a tour of duty with the 7th Fleet each year save 1952, 1954, 1956, and 1958. On her 1960 deployment, she escorted a Vietnamese ship across the Pacific when outward bound.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)