Although this site is about
the USS SHARK SS(N)591, and my service aboard the SHARK, I
offer this brief introduction about previous SHARKs, as they have
been a significant part of Naval history throughout the 19th and 20th
Centuries.
Sources claim that there have been seven (USS) SHARKs, as submarines
there are only 4 although one (S-26) may have been a Shark hopeful.
The first USS SHARK
was a two-masted 198-ton schooner and was launched on May 17, 1821, one of
an "Alligator" class, with Lt. Mathew C. Perry commanding (later to be known
as Commodore Perry and associated with the opening of Japan). In 1822 the
Shark was ordered to Key West (now Florida, but then known as Caya
Hueste en Norte del America
from the Spanish position in Havana, Cuba) to determine its adequacy as a
United States installation. Lt. Perry was so convinced that he claimed Key
West for the United States in spite of both Spanish and English claims.
Shark patrolled the Caribbean, the West Indies, and the coasts of Africa
monitoring the slave trade of that era. She was ordered into the Pacific in
1839 and was the first warship to pass through the Straits of Magellan east
to west. She briefly returned to the Atlantic in 1842, then returned to the
Pacific. By 1846 she was dispatched to the Columbia River in northern Oregon
in the event the border dispute between the United States and Canada became
hostile. After 10 men deserted her in August, 1846, she was shipwrecked off
of the northern coast of Oregon on September 10th. Three of her cannons
washed ashore attached to part of her decking at Arch Cape. One of her
cannons, as well as several other artifacts, are on display at the Oregon
resort town of Cannon Bay. Click [HERE 1821]
for photo(s), links and more history (largely supplied by the Cannon Bay
Historical Society).
The second Shark
may have been an 87-Ton schooner built in Portsmouth. Copper-clad over oak
in Mystic, CT, in November 1960, and delivered to Galveston, TX, by her
Captian and owner G. Patterson. After the War between the States broke out
she was captured by the USS South Carolina, Commander Alden, while running
supplies and ammunition for the Confederacy. Once captured she was
dispatched to New York or Boston for service in the Union.[HERE
1861] for additional text.
There are some vague references as a Shark participating in the
blockade of New Orleans during the War Bewteen the States; but this may be
confused by the USS Carolina's taking a Shark of British registry
during the War of 1812; although there is a reference to a Shark
being sunk in 1865 with 17 souls lost.
A Mr. Burr Osborn, having sailed on the preceding
Shark, may have sailed on a subsequent Shark as he described it
as "... a 300-ton schooner with three masts ..." in 1913; but at this time
he was 87 years old and his memory may have been flawed. This "2nd" Shark
evades my research. (Research on-going, and wanting for The Dictionary of
American Naval Fighting Ships Volume 6.)
The third USS SHARK (SS-8),
the first submarine, had her keel laid in 1901 and was an A-boat of the
Adder Class serving in various capacities until she was de-commissioned
(finally) in 1922. For a photo(s), info, and linking to other interesting
sites click [HERE SS-8].
The fourth USS SHARK (SP-534), was originally a pleasure craft built in
1909 and named the Ildico IV then subsequenly the Shark. She
was purchased by the Navy in 1917 and commissioned as the USS Shark
(SP-534). She patrolled the coast of New England during World War I then
decommissioned in 1919. For a photo(s)and info [HERE SP-534].
The crew of the S-26
(SS-131), a submarine, apparently assumed the name Shark in
approximately 1925-1928. There is no record, however, that the Navy ever
commissioned S-26 as a USS Shark. S-26 was lost on
January 24, 1942, with the loss of 46 officers and men when it was sunk
after an accidental ramming by the USS PC-460 in the Gulf of Panama, 14
miles west of San Jose Light. She reportedly dived shortly after the ramming
and failed to surface in diveable water off of the Panamanian coast. For a
photo(s), info, and linking to other interesting sites click
[HERE SS-131].
The fifth USS SHARK (SS-174), a submarine, was commissioned in 1936 and
was a P-3 Type Submarine of the Porpoise Class (although some erroneous
reports has her as a Shark Class). She went innocently into World War II
surrendering all of her crew of 58 on what is believed to be February 11,
1942, after being attacked three times East of Menado in The Celebes. For a
photo(s), info, and linking to other interesting sites click
[HERE SS-174].
During World War II Naval construction of submarines, just as all military construction
and manufacture, reached a feverish pitch. A complete list of those submarines,
and those lost, can be found at
[HERE WW-II SUBS]
The above paragraph is offered to explain why the next (the sixth) SHARK
was USS SHARK II (SS-314). It was as a Fleet Boat of the Balao Class,
commissioned in 1944. It was second SHARK to be lost in WW-II to the perils
of the enemy with a compliment of 87, on what is believed to be October 24,
1944, when it was sunk in the waters midway between Hainan and Bashi
Channel; 20° 41N; 118° 27E. For a photo(s), info, and linking to other
interesting sites click [HERE SS-314]. USS Lagarto depicted here for USS Shark-II.
After World War II
ended the United States went through a burgeoning period of prosperity and
advancement, yet ever mindful that a nuclear holocaust was possible. While
many fleet boats were converted to GUPPY-2As (Greater Underwater Propulsion
Power) there no is record of a Shark being so re-fitted. But in 1955 Rear
Admiral Himan J. Rickover convinced the political entities that nuclear
power had it’s place on submarines, both as a propulsion media and a
deterrent force with nuclear armaments. The result was the launch of the
USS NAUTILUS (SS(N)-571) in 1957 --- a caption to Jules Verne’s written
dream of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The Nautilus lacked certain
operational advantages. Consequently various contracts were let to configure
several designs of nuclear submarines.
On board the USS SHARK
(SSN591) there was a plaque stating that (SSN591) was named after the "
Tiger Shark". Unfortunately there are no official records of a "Tiger
Shark," even though there are often references to both a "Tiger Shark", and
even a "Thresher Shark", but to submarine sailors of the 1960's there will
never be any confusion about the Shark (SSN591) and the Thresher (SSN593)
that sunk during sea trials off of the coasts of New England with all souls
aboard. I have found, however, an interesting personal diary entry of Harry
Chymczuck in France, 1952, that claims a "USS Tiger Shark tied up to
O'Hare in 1952;" but without pennant number, or anything else, I have to
dismiss this claim as nothing but youthful exuberance, or the cloaking of
Naval assets for interests of National Security.
The seventh USS SharkSSN-591,
a nuclear submarine, was built at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock
Co., Newport News, VA, and commissioned on February 9, 1961. It originally
sailed into the Carribean then into the Mediterranean as the first nuclear
submarine to be so deployed. After a trip to Bermuda she was sent to the
North Atlantic after calling at Portsmouth, England. After an availability
period she was again deployed to the North Atlantic after calling calling at
Faslane, Scotland. She went into her first overhaul in 1964. After which she
partiipated in antisubmarine warfare exercises, receiving the Navy Unit
Commendation.
Continuing antisubmarine warfare operations, spending
time in Holy Loch, Scotland, then received her second Navy Unit
Commendation. She was the first nuclear ship to visit Canada at Halifax,
Nova Scotia, and operated there with the Royal Canadian Navy. After a
refueling she participated in local, special and training operations along
the East Coast. She was assigned to the 6th Fleet in 1972 and there operated
with the Atlantic Fleet. She was decommissioned in 1989 and was disposed of
through SRP at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in 1996.
[HERE SSN-591].
The first USS SHARK
was a two-masted 198-ton schooner and was launched on May 17, 1821, one of
an "Alligator" class, with Lt. Mathew C. Perry commanding (later to be known
as Commodore Perry and associated with the opening of Japan). In 1822 the
Shark was ordered to Key West (now Florida, but then known as Caya
Hueste en Norte del America
from the Spanish position in Havana, Cuba) to determine its adequacy as a
United States installation. Lt. Perry was so convinced that he claimed Key
West for the United States in spite of both Spanish and English claims.
Shark patrolled the Caribbean, the West Indies, and the coasts of Africa
monitoring the slave trade of that era. She was ordered into the Pacific in
1839 and was the first warship to pass through the Straits of Magellan east
to west. She briefly returned to the Atlantic in 1842, then returned to the
Pacific. By 1846 she was dispatched to the Columbia River in northern Oregon
in the event the border dispute between the United States and Canada became
hostile. After 10 men deserted her in August, 1846, she was shipwrecked off
of the northern coast of Oregon on September 10th. Three of her cannons
washed ashore attached to part of her decking at Arch Cape. One of her
cannons, as well as several other artifacts, are on display at the Oregon
resort town of Cannon Bay. Click 
There are some vague references as a Shark participating in the
blockade of New Orleans during the War Bewteen the States; but this may be
confused by the USS Carolina's taking a Shark of British registry
during the War of 1812; although there is a reference to a Shark
being sunk in 1865 with 17 souls lost.
The third USS SHARK (SS-8),
the first submarine, had her keel laid in 1901 and was an A-boat of the
Adder Class serving in various capacities until she was de-commissioned
(finally) in 1922. For a photo(s), info, and linking to other interesting
sites click 
The fourth USS SHARK (SP-534), was originally a pleasure craft built in
1909 and named the Ildico IV then subsequenly the Shark. She
was purchased by the Navy in 1917 and commissioned as the USS Shark
(SP-534). She patrolled the coast of New England during World War I then
decommissioned in 1919. For a photo(s)and info 
The crew of the S-26
(SS-131), a submarine, apparently assumed the name Shark in
approximately 1925-1928. There is no record, however, that the Navy ever
commissioned S-26 as a USS Shark. S-26 was lost on
January 24, 1942, with the loss of 46 officers and men when it was sunk
after an accidental ramming by the USS PC-460 in the Gulf of Panama, 14
miles west of San Jose Light. She reportedly dived shortly after the ramming
and failed to surface in diveable water off of the Panamanian coast. For a
photo(s), info, and linking to other interesting sites click 
The fifth USS SHARK (SS-174), a submarine, was commissioned in 1936 and
was a P-3 Type Submarine of the Porpoise Class (although some erroneous
reports has her as a Shark Class). She went innocently into World War II
surrendering all of her crew of 58 on what is believed to be February 11,
1942, after being attacked three times East of Menado in The Celebes. For a
photo(s), info, and linking to other interesting sites click 
During World War II Naval construction of submarines, just as all military construction
and manufacture, reached a feverish pitch. A complete list of those submarines,
and those lost, can be found at 
The above paragraph is offered to explain why the next (the sixth) SHARK
was USS SHARK II (SS-314). It was as a Fleet Boat of the Balao Class,
commissioned in 1944. It was second SHARK to be lost in WW-II to the perils
of the enemy with a compliment of 87, on what is believed to be October 24,
1944, when it was sunk in the waters midway between Hainan and Bashi
Channel; 20° 41N; 118° 27E. For a photo(s), info, and linking to other
interesting sites click 
After World War II
ended the United States went through a burgeoning period of prosperity and
advancement, yet ever mindful that a nuclear holocaust was possible. While
many fleet boats were converted to GUPPY-2As (Greater Underwater Propulsion
Power) there no is record of a Shark being so re-fitted. But in 1955 Rear
Admiral Himan J. Rickover convinced the political entities that nuclear
power had it’s place on submarines, both as a propulsion media and a
deterrent force with nuclear armaments. The result was the launch of the
USS NAUTILUS (SS(N)-571) in 1957 --- a caption to Jules Verne’s written
dream of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The Nautilus lacked certain
operational advantages. Consequently various contracts were let to configure
several designs of nuclear submarines.
On board the USS SHARK
(SSN591) there was a plaque stating that (SSN591) was named after the "
Tiger Shark". Unfortunately there are no official records of a "Tiger
Shark," even though there are often references to both a "Tiger Shark", and
even a "Thresher Shark", but to submarine sailors of the 1960's there will
never be any confusion about the Shark (SSN591) and the Thresher (SSN593)
that sunk during sea trials off of the coasts of New England with all souls
aboard. I have found, however, an interesting personal diary entry of Harry
Chymczuck in France, 1952, that claims a "USS Tiger Shark tied up to
O'Hare in 1952;" but without pennant number, or anything else, I have to
dismiss this claim as nothing but youthful exuberance, or the cloaking of
Naval assets for interests of National Security.
The seventh USS SharkSSN-591,
a nuclear submarine, was built at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock
Co., Newport News, VA, and commissioned on February 9, 1961. It originally
sailed into the Carribean then into the Mediterranean as the first nuclear
submarine to be so deployed. After a trip to Bermuda she was sent to the
North Atlantic after calling at Portsmouth, England. After an availability
period she was again deployed to the North Atlantic after calling calling at
Faslane, Scotland. She went into her first overhaul in 1964. After which she
partiipated in antisubmarine warfare exercises, receiving the Navy Unit
Commendation.