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| 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 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 pic(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 pic(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 pic(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 pic(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
pic(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 pic(s), info, and linking to other
interesting sites click [HERE SS-314]. |
 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]. |
