Vice Admiral Charles Andrews Lockwood
May 6, 1890 - June 7, 1967

Charles Andrews Lockwood was born in Midland, Va., on May 6, 1890. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in the class of 1912.

Following brief cruises in Mississippi and Arkansas, and a short tour as instructor in the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, in September 1914 he reported to the tender Mohican for indoctrination in submarines. By 1 December of that year he had his first submarine command, A-2, followed by B-1.

American entry into World War I found him in command of 1st Submarine Division, Asiatic Fleet. From that time, with the exception of a tour on the Asiatic station where he commanded gunboats Quiros and El Cano on the Yangtze Patrol and the destroyer Smith Thompson, practically all his sea service was in and connected with submarines. In addition to those listed above are added G-1, N-5, UC-97 (ex-German). R-25, S-14, and Bonita.The ex UC-97 was used to evaluate the capabilities of German submarine equipment.

In June 1939 he became Chief of Staff to Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Fleet, in cruiser Richmond. This important service was interrupted in February 1941 when he was sent to London as naval attaché and principal observer for submarines. Following promotion to rear admiral in March 1942 he proceeded to west Australia as Commander, Submarines, Southwest Pacific.

Following the death of Rear Admiral Thomas English in February 1943, Lockwood shifted his flag to Pearl Harbor, assuming direction of Pacific Fleet submarines. During his tour, Lockwood improvised tactics to make the most effective use of submarines and pushed the Navy’s Bureaus of Ships and Ordnance to provide his men with the most effective submarines and torpedoes possible. He oversaw the tests that proved early U.S. torpedo unreliability and prompted the improvements that made them the highly effective weapons they became in 1944 and 1945. The U.S. submarine force's wartime success was achieved with the lowest casualty rate of any combatant submarine service on either side. Lockwood's strong leadership and devotion to his troops won him the nickname "Uncle Charlie" and a promotion to Vice Admiral in late 1943. His wartime awards were the Distinguished Service Medal and two gold stars in lieu of second and third awards, and the Legion of Merit.

After the war Lockwood served as Inspector General of the Navy until his retirement in June 1947.

In retirement at Los Gatos, Calif., he wrote and coauthored best selling books on naval history and submarine operations until his death on June 7, 1967.

Read "American Submariner" article "Charles Lockwood: Architect of Attack"