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. 1960 [ Click for Full Size Image ] March 16, 1960, the Shark is Launched at Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Virginia, and is sponsored by Mrs. Louis Shane, Jr. Widow of LCDR Louis Shane, lost Captain of USS SHARK-I SS-174, breaking the champagne over the Shark's bow. [ Click for Full Size Image ] 1961 [ Click for Full Size Image ] February 9, 1961, the Shark is Commissioned at Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. On the far right Commanding Officer CDR. John F. Fagan can be seen; and Vice Admiral Grenfell slightly behind the Shipyard President. [ Click for Full Size Image ] 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 initial "Shake-Down" Cruise. Naval Base Mayport, FL. Fort Lauderdale, FL. Key West, Florida. The Wild Wild Key West. More than 140 years since the first USS Shark Commanded by Lt. Perry as he claimed Key West for the United States in 1822. See also the Shark of 1821. USS Orion's (AS-18) first Nuclear Service as Shark comes alongside. Shark's First Mediterranean Cruise and the first Nuke 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 prevalent 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 Frederick  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 i>CDR. Donlon, Commanding. Norfolk, VA, Return to Norfolk SubRon 6 and Patrol Duties. Anti-Sub Ops, April to May 1964. SUBSPRINGEX, May to June 1964. Charleston, SC, Shipyard Overhaul, June 1964 to June 1965. 1965 CDR. John Donlon Commanding. Oxygen System Damage, Returned to Charleston, July, 1965. Type Training, Anti-Sub Norfolk, Oct. 65 to Jan. 66. 1966 CDR. John Donlon Commanding. Type Training, Trials Caribbean, Feb. 66. Type Training, Trials Caribbean, July 66. Type Training, Trials Caribbean, Oct. 66. 1967 CDR. John Donlon Commanding. North Atlantic. Jan. to Mar. 1967. Holy Loch, Scotland. 2ND Navy Unit Commendation, April 1967 (for 1966 Operations). Halifax, Nova Scotia. 1st Nuke to Canada, Ops with the Royal Canadian Navy. Reactor Refueling, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, June 67 to Mar. 68. CDR. David Self relieves CDR. John Donlon as Commanding Officer. 1968 CDR. David Self, Commanding. Local and Special Ops, Mar. 68 to Dec. 69. 1969 CDR. David Self, Commanding. Local and Special Ops, Mar. 68 to Dec. 69. 1970 CDR. David Self, Commanding. In Dry Dock, Norfolk, Jan. 70 to Aug. 71. < 1971 CDR. David Self, Commanding. Refresher Training and Trials, East Coast, Aug. 71 to May 72. 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 CDR. J. Van Metre, Commanding. Operated with Atlantic Fleet, Out of Norfolk, Jan. 73 to Aug. 74. Lisbon, Portugal, First Nuclear Submarine ever there, 1973. 1974 CDR. J. Van Metre, Commanding. Operated with Atlantic Fleet, Out of Norfolk, until Aug. 74. Ignalls Shipyard, Pascagoula, MS, Reactor Refueling. 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. Participated in UNITAS, Exercises with So. American Navies. 1978 CDR. J. A. Marshall, Commanding. Shake Down Cruise. Shark Reassigned to New London Submarine Base. Mediterranean Exercises La Maddelena, Italy. Photo (J. Grabarczyk) 1979 CDR. J. A. Marshall, Commanding. CDR. Harold Anderson relieves CDR. J. A. Marshall as Commanding Officer. Mediterranean Exercises (until early 1980) Cartegna, Murcia, Spain. Lisbon, Portugal, Main Street , City Square (J. Grabarczyk) 1980 CDR. Harold Anderson, Commanding. Exercises with the Royal Canadian Navy Rocky Halifax (J. Grabarczyk) St. Croix, Virgin Islands. North Atlantic Exercises, August 1980 for 3½ months and Holy Loch, Scotland for retrofits. 1981 CDR. Harold Anderson, Commanding. Mediterranean Exercises, February - May 1981. La Maddelena, Italy. Athens, Greece. Cocoa Beach, Florida. Cartagegena, Columbia. Panama Canal Transit to Mare Island Naval Shipyard, September - October, 1981. Guiding the Shark , The Working Mule (J. Grabarczyk) San Diego Tour, California. U.S. Naval Submarine Base, Point Loma. Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California 1982 CDR. Harold Anderson, Commanding. Overhaul, October 1982, Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California 1983 CDR. Harold Anderson, Commanding. Transit, Mare Island to New London, Connecticut (Homeport). May - Jun, 1983. San Diego, California. Panama City, Panama. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. CDR. George W. Jackson relieves CDR. Harold Anderson as Commanding Officer. Fleet Exercises, August, 1983. St. Croix, Virgin Islands. Roosevelt roads, Puerto Rico. 1984 CDR. George W. Jackson, Commanding. Mediterranean Cruise, 1984. Departure from Toulon, France, Photos (S. Halquist) 1985 CDR. George W. Jackson, Commanding. 1986 CDR. George W. Jackson, Commanding. CDR. Russell Carr relieves CDR. George 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. [ CLICK FOR CLOSE UP OF USS SHARK AT PIERS FOR DISPOSAL IN BREMERTON, WASHINGTON. ] Struck From the Navy List July 11, 1990.     Text Photos Links Nuclear Submarine USS SHARK SS(N) 591 DISCOVERY MATERIALS Reference Material Text Photos Links   Operational Descriptions Reference Material Text   The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Vol 6 pp468 Reference Material Text Photos Links   Mostly pictorial achieves Reference Material Text   Naval Vessel Registry Reference Material Text   Fleet Archive List Notes, some terms used about submarines Of Interest Material Text   Building the First FBMs (Fleet Ballistic Missile Subs) Of Interest Material Text   Postal Covers, shows a change of the Shark's patch Other Contributions Text Photos Links  Ray Arntson, John Grabarczyk Other Contributions Text  Donald L. Johnson, Sean Bednarz, LT Eric J. Carper   Please Submit Any Contributions, Photos, Additions, Corrections or Broken Links Encountered on this site. 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