USS Skipjack (SSN-585)
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| Missing image USSSkipjackSSN-585.jpg USS Skipjack (SSN-585) | |
| Career | 
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|---|---|
| Awarded: | 5 October 1955 |
| Laid down: | 29 May 1956 |
| Launched: | 26 May 1958 |
| Commissioned: | 15 April 1959 |
| Decommissioned: | 19 April 1990 |
| Fate: | submarine recycling |
| Stricken: | 19 April 1990 |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 3075 tons surfaced, 3513 tons submerged |
| Length: | 76.8 meters (252 feet) |
| Beam: | 31 feet 7 inches |
| Draft: | 29 feet 5 inches |
| Speed: | |
| Complement: | 93 officers and men |
| Armament: | six 21-inch torpedo tubes |
| Motto: | Radix Nova Tridentis |
USS Skipjack (SSN-585), the lead ship of her class of nuclear-powered attack submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the skipjack, any of several kinds of fishes that jump above, or play at, the surface of the water. Her keel was laid down on 29 May 1956 by the Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on 26 May 1958 sponsored by Mrs. George H. Mahon, wife of the United States Representative from the 19th District of Texas, and commissioned on 15 April 1959 with Commander W.W. Behrens, Jr., in command.
Skipjack was the prototype which mated nuclear power with an Albacore hull. During her shakedown cruise in August 1959, she became the first nuclear ship to pass through the Straits of Gibraltar and operate in the Mediterranean Sea. Following post-shakedown availability at Groton, Connecticut, the nuclear submarine conducted type training and participated in an advanced Atlantic submarine exercise from May through July 1960, which earned the submarine a Navy Unit Commendation. The remainder of the year was spent in a restricted yard availability and upkeep.
Skipjack commenced her 1961 operations by participating in two weeks of type training followed by anti-submarine warfare exercises through August, visiting Mayport, Florida, before returning to Groton.
In January 1962, Skipjack operated out of Key West, Florida, for two weeks before entering the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire for extensive overhaul, lasting four and one-half months. Following her return to New London, Connecticut, the submarine operated locally prior to departing in October for duty in the Mediterranean Sea with the Sixth Fleet. During this tour, Skipjack participated in various fleet and NATO exercises and visited Toulon, France; and La Spezia and Naples, Italy, before returning to New London.
The year 1963 was occupied in submarine attack operations and ASW exercises, all designed to test the capabilities of the nuclear-powered attack submarine. The highlight of 1964 was two months of duty with NATO forces, participating in exercises "Masterstroke" and "Teamwork" and visiting Le Havre, France, and Portland, England, before returning to New London in October.
After devoting most of 1965 to training exercises, the submarine ended the year by entering the Charleston Naval Shipyard in South Carolina for an overhaul that lasted until 18 October 1966. Skipjack then got underway for sea trials off Charleston, before joining Shark (SSN-591) for four days of type training in the Jacksonville, Florida, area. She then sailed to her new home port, Norfolk, Virginia, before participating in Atlantic Fleet exercises.
Early in February 1967, Skipjack got underway for sonar and weapon tests and then participated in Atlantic submarine exercises from March through June. July and August were spent in restricted availability at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company following which Skipjack took part in FIXWEX G-67, an exercise designed to evaluate fixed wing ASW aircraft against a submarine with Skipjack's characteristics. Following an extended deployment in October and November, the submarine returned to Norfolk to prepare for major operations of that year which she completed on 25 February 1968. The remainder of 1968 was spent in local operations in the Norfolk area.
On 9 April 1969, Skipiack commenced an overhaul in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard which was completed in the fall of 1970. After sea trials in December 1970, Skipjack returned to her regular duties.
Highlights of 1971 were sound trials and weapons system tests at the Atlantic Fleet Range, Puerto Rico, from 25 January through 5 March and NATO exercise "Royal Night" from 15 September to 9 October. On 22 October, Skipjack returned to Norfolk, where she remained through January 1972.
Skipjack spent most of 1972 in tests and type training out of New London and Norfolk and in the Caribbean Sea. The submarine returned to Norfolk late in the year.
- 16 years of history go here.
Skipjack was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 19 April 1990. ex-Skipjack entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, on 17 March 1996 and on 1 September 1998 ceased to exist.
See USS Skipjack for other ships of the same name.
References
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. and from Blind Man's Bluff
| Skipjack-class submarine |
| List of submarines of the United States Navy List of submarine classes of the United States Navy |