 |
| U.S.S. SHARK SS(N)591 |
| Class: |
Skipjack, SSN-585; Test Depth 700 feet. |
| Displacement: |
3,070 tons (surfaced); 3,500 tons (submerged) |
| Dimensions: |
Length 251.8 feet, Beam 38.1 feet, Draft 30 feet |
| Speed: |
15 knots (surfaced); 29 knots (submerged) |
| Armament: |
6 Forward 21-inch Torpedo Tubes. |
| Keel laid: |
Feb. 24, 1958, Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. |
| Launched: |
March 16, 1960, Sponsored by Mrs. Louis Shane, Jr.
(Widow of LCDR Louis Shane, lost Captain of USS SHARK I SS-174.) |
| Commissioned: |
Feb. 9, 1961, Commanded by LCDR John F. Fagan, Jr. |
| Complement: |
Normally; 9 Officers, 76 Enlisted Men. |
|
The seventh USS Shark was
originally powered by a S5W pressurized, water-cooled nuclear reactor; twin steam
turbines; to a single shaft and propeller developing 15,000 shp. It is noteworthy that
some of the original equipment for the USS Shark got advanced into the FBM (Fleet
Ballistic Missile) Program and went onto the USS Robert E. Lee (SSB(N)601) while
some of original equipment for the USS Robert E. Lee went into the USS Shark.
Shark's Patch/Insignia was one of the last allowed by the U.S. Navy; after this
time Patches/Insignia were either passive or technological. No mistake, this Shark
was commissioned as an Attack Submarine. Click on the patch for a full size rendering and
its original history from Lyle Baird, YNC(SS). |
|
This Public Relations drawing is from the Commissioning Booklet (Courtesy Ray Arntson).
The Sailing List from 1959 until 1996 (at least those that can be
found) is linked at SHARK 59-96.
|
John Steinbeck wrote in his book "The Log of The
Sea of Cortez," “… there is no humor about submarines …”, yet
nothing could be less true --- it is the humor that it keeps the 100 or so sailors working
together and keeping them alive, albeit sometimes the humor is quite rough.
1961
 |
- CDR. J. W. Fagan, Commanding.
- Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. SHARK
Commissioned, February 9, 1961 (Shark Day).
- The Florida East Coast for Shark's intial
"Shake-Down" Cruise.
- USS Orion's (AS-18) first Nuclear
Service as Shark comes alomgside.
- Shark's First Mediterranean Cruise and the first Nuc
into the Mediterranean, Aug. to Nov. 1961.
- Toulon, France.where
Le Grande Charlie
was welcomed aboard.
- Side trip to
Zermatt, Switzerland, 1961, Photo
(
 B.Trosper)
- La Spezia, Portovenere, Italy.
Tip-toeing around the prevalient Communist Party.
Pizza not what was expected. Side-walk cafe mischief.
-
Velletta, Malta. Surrounded by 'bum boats', 'Dice' Murray loads up on shawls for Brenda.
- Piraeus, Greece,
the Sea Port for Athens.
Avoiding the Shore Patrol (Shark Sea Story,
B.Trosper)
- Athens, Greece Shark's
one day cruise for
King Paul, Queen Fredricka and the Royal family(ies)
|
1962
|
- CDR. J. W. Fagan, Commanding.
- Norfolk, VA, Return to Norfolk and
Patrol Duties.
- Bermuda, UK, No cars there, Jan. 1962.
- Portsmouth, England, En
route to patrol, Mar. to May, 1962.
- CDR. Zeb D. Alford relieves CDR. John W. Fagan as Commanding Officer, June 1962.
- Petticoat Cruise, 1962, Photo
( R. Arntson)
- The Arctic Circle,
passing by the Fjords of Norway,
and into the freezing North Atlantic above
Murmansk.
(Receiving the Royal Order of the Blue Nose). Routine Patrol, Aug. to Oct., 1962.
- Cuban Missile Crisis.
A deserted Norfolk, Oct. 1962. ("The Missiles of October")
|
1963
|
- CDR. Z. D. Alford, Commanding.
- Norfolk, VA,
Return to Norfolk SubRon 6 and Patrol Duties.
- Paris Match
Reporters and Photographers come aboard for magazine lay-out. Early, 1963.
- The Thresher is lost
Immense sadness and our prayers, April 10, 1963, for 129 lost souls to Eternal Patrol.
- The
Paris Match Magazine copies arrive.
- SUBFALLEX, Aug. to Oct., 1963.
Faslane, Scotland,
An en-route Port-of-Call. (HMNB Clyde wasn't commissioned until 1967.)
Helensburgh, Scotland Where we thought we were.
- CDR. John Donlon relieves CDR. Zeb D. Alford as Commending Officer, October.
- Kennedy Assassinated, Nov. 23, 1963.
- I depart Shark
for assignment to S5G in Idaho Falls, ID. The Shark continues on.
|
1964
|
|
|
1965
|
|
|
1966
|
|
|
1967
|
|
|
1968
|
|
|
1969
|
|
|
1970
|
|
|
1971
|
|
|
1972
|
- CDR. David Self, Commanding.
- Deployed to 6th Fleet, Mediterranean, June 72 to Nov. 72.
- CDR. J. Van Metre relieves CDR. David Self as Commanding Officer,
July 72, in the Mediterranean.
|
1973
|
|
|
1974
|
|
|
1975
|
- CDR. J. Van Metre, Commanding.
- Ignalls Shipyard, Pascagoula, MS,
Reactor Refueling.
|
1976
|
- CDR. J. Van Metre, Commanding.
- Ignalls Shipyard, Pascagoula, MS,
Reactor Refueling.
|
1977
|
- CDR. J. Van Metre, Commanding.
- Ignalls Shipyard, Pascagoula, MS, Reactor Refueling and Overhaul completed.
- CDR J. A. Marshall relieves CDR J. Van Metre as Commanding Officer,
June 1977, in New London.
|
1978
|
- CDR. J. A. Marshall, Commanding.
- Shake Down Cruise.
- Shark Reassigned to New London Submarine Base.
- Participated in UNITAS, Exercises with So. American Navies.
- La Maddelena, Italy.
(
J. Grabarczyk)
|
1979
|
- CDR. J. A. Marshall, Commanding.
- CDR. Harold Anderson relieves CDR. J. A. Marshall as Commanding Officer.
- Mediterranean Exercises
|
1980
|
|
|
1981
|
|
|
1982
|
|
|
1983
|
- CDR. Harold Anderson, Commanding.
- Transit, Mare Island to New London, Connecticut (Homeport). May - Jun, 1983.
- CDR. Gearge W. Jackson relieves CDR. Harold Anderson as Commanding Officer.
- Fleet Exercises, August, 1983.
|
1984
|
- CDR. Gearge W. Jackson, Commanding.
|
1985
|
- CDR. Gearge W. Jackson, Commanding.
|
1986
|
- CDR. Gearge W. Jackson, Commanding.
- CDR. Russell Carr relieves CDR. Gearge W. Jackson as Commanding Officer.
- Mediterranean Cruise, Pure water from USS Bainbridge.
|
1987
|
- CDR. Russell Carr, Commanding.
|
1988
|
- CDR. Russell Carr, Commanding.
- Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
|
1989
|
- CDR. Russell Carr, Commanding.
- Decommissioned September 15, 1989, Mare Island Naval Shipyard,
Vallejo, California.
- CDR. William Large relieves CDR. Russell Carr as Commanding Officer.
Dismemberment of the Shark begins for her ultimate 'Recycling'
at Puget Sound.
|
1990 - 1994
|
- Struck From the Navy List July 11, 1990.
- Beginning in 1990, "... the reactor was defueled, all major
systems were deactivated, the battery and all classified equipment was removed. ...
all fluid systems drained and purged with nitrogen, all hull valves flanged over,
to be made ready for towing to Puget Sound." (Courtesy Donald L. Johnson)
"... the Shark was dead stick towed to Puget Sound."
(Courtesy Sean Bednarz).
|
1995
|
- Shark entered the SRP (Submarine Recycling Program) at Puget
Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, on October 1, 1995.
|
1996
|
- Shark was finally disposed of on June 28, 1996. The picture
below courtesy Ray Arntson, circa 1996. The Shark is the fourth from the right.
Click on the image for a close-up view.
|
| |
