| Navy | The US Navy |
| Type | Submarine rescue vessel |
| Class | Chanticleer |
| Pennant | ASR 8 |
| Built by | Moore Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Co. (Oakland, California, U.S.A.) |
| Ordered | 30 Dec 1940 |
| Laid down | 30 Sep 1941 |
| Launched | 28 May 1942 |
| Commissioned | 22 Jan 1943 |
| End service | |
| History | Stricken on 15 September 1977 |
Commands listed for USS Coucal (ASR 8)
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| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Lt.Cdr. David H Byerly, USNR | 22 Jan 1943 | ??? (1) |
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Notable events involving Coucal include:
6 Nov 1944
During 6 and 7 November 1944, HMS Sea Rover (Lt. J.P. Angell, RN), conducted exercises off Fremantle. First gunnery exercises were carried out on a target that was being towed by HMAS Alfie Cam. These were followed by attack exercises during which USS Coucal (Lt.Cdr. D.H. Byerly, USNR) served as target.
In the evening radar tracking exercises were carried out during which HMAS Warrnambool (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) E.J.B. Wight, RAN) served as target. On completion of these exercises HMS Sea Rover returned to Fremantle where she arrived early the next day. (2)
22 Nov 1944
During 22 and 23 November 1944, HMS Sirdar (Lt. J.A. Spender, RN), conducted exercises off Fremantle. These included night exercises. These included practice attacks on USS Coucal (Lt.Cdr. D.H. Byerly, USNR). During the night convoy attack exercises were carried out with USS Coucal, HMAS Bunbury (Lt. J.F. Bleckman, RANR(S)), HMAS Inverell (Lt. A.I. Chapman, RANR(S)) and HMAS Warrnambool (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) E.J.B. Wight, RAN) pretending to be a convoy. (3)
1 Dec 1944
During 1 and 2 December 1944, HMS Storm (T/A/Lt.Cdr. E.P. Young, DSO, DSC, RNVR), conducted exercises off Fremantle with USS Coucal (Lt.Cdr. D.H. Byerly, USNR). These included night exercises.
Sources
- http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c14/coucal.htm
- ADM 173/18679
- ADM 173/18790
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.