"griffin" arrived brisbane 15 april 1942 to tend submarine squadron 5. early in the war, the united states developed a major submarine base in australia; and submarines tended by "griffin" struck hard at japanese shipping while surface forces strengthened themselves for the first pacific offensives. during this period "griffin" also repaired merchant ships at a time of great need. the tender departed brisbane for the fiji islands 11 november 1942 and 1 december 1942 sailed to bora bora to escort submarine division 53 to the panama canal zone. arriving balboa 7 january 1943, "griffin" continued north to oakland, california, arriving 20 january 1943.