USS Shark (SSN-591)

USS "Shark" (SSN-591), a "Skipjack"-class submarine, was the seventh ship of the United States Navy to be named for the shark, a large predatory fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton, a streamlined body plan, dermal denticles covering the body to protect from parasites, and rows of replaceable teeth in the mouth.

Her keel was laid down on 24 February 1958 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia. She was launched on 16 March 1960 sponsored by Mrs. Louis Shane, Jr., and commissioned on 9 February 1961 with Lieutenant Commander John F. Fagan, Jr., in command.

After preliminary testing and fitting out, "Shark" sailed to the Caribbean Sea in May for her shakedown cruise. The submarine returned to her building yard for post-shakedown repairs and final acceptance by the Navy.

Operational history

1960s

"Shark" sailed for the Mediterranean Sea and duty with the Sixth Fleet on 12 August. This was the first such deployment for a nuclear submarine, and "Shark" was deployed until 14 November 1961. On 29 January 1962, the submarine steamed to Bermuda in the British West Indies, for two weeks of type training. She was next deployed to the North Atlantic from 15 March to 23 May. During this period, "Shark" paid a one-week visit to Portsmouth, England. On 25 August, she departed for another two months in the North Atlantic. On her return trip to Norfolk, Virginia, she underwent an availability period that lasted until 7 January 1963.

"Shark" participated in SUBFALLEX in the North Atlantic from 7 August to 24 October, with a week spent in Faslane, Scotland. The remainder of 1963 was either spent in port, in local operations, or conducting antisubmarine warfare exercises in the Caribbean.

On 22 March 1964, "Shark" departed Norfolk to participate in SUBSPRINGEX and returned on 21 May. On 25 June 1964, she sailed to Charleston, South Carolina, for her first shipyard overhaul which lasted until 7 June 1965. On 7 April 1965, at the shipyard, "Shark" was presented the Navy Unit Commendation for meritorious service from 5 April to 9 May 1964, a period in which she "achieved results of great value and importance to the United States Navy in the field of antisubmarine warfare capabilities."

The submarine put to sea for sea trials on 7 June. One month later, she suffered damage to the forward oxygen system which necessitated additional repairs at Charleston, South Carolina. On 9 October, she passed her sea trials and sailed to Key West, Florida, for two weeks of torpedo tube tests and a wire-guided torpedo development project.

"Shark" returned to Norfolk on 25 October 1965 and conducted type training, individual ship exercises, and antisubmarine warfare exercises until 8 January 1966. The boat then operated in the Caribbean until 7 February. She was there again for further trials in July and October.

"Shark" stood out of Norfolk on 7 January 1967 for the North Atlantic and conducted special operations until 24 March. Two weeks of this period were spent at Holy Loch, Scotland. On 12 April, she was presented her second Navy Unit Commendation for operations in 1966 in which "Shark" contributed significantly to the knowledge of the United States Navy in the field of antisubmarine warfare." "Shark" departed Norfolk on 16 May for Halifax, Nova Scotia, which was the first visit of a nuclear ship to a Canadian port. The submarine operated with Royal Canadian Navy ASW units before returning to her home port.

On 11 June 1967, "Shark" prepared for her first refueling period at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard and did not put to sea again until March 1968. The remainder of 1968 and 1969 was spent performing local or special operations.

1970s

"Shark" was in drydock at Norfolk from 1 January 1970 to 9 August 1971. The remainder of the year and 1972 was spent in refresher training and undergoing various trials along the East Coast, with the exception of a deployment to the Sixth Fleet from 31 May to 19 November 1972.

Decommissioning

"Shark" was deactivated, in commission, on 16 October 1986 and formally decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 September 1990. She entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, on 1 October 1995 and on 28 June 1996 ceased to exist.

See also

See http://www.btrosper.com/ALLSHARK/index.html for additional history and recycling photos at Bremerton, 600+ crew list, Paris Match article about SSN-591; and historical comments, photos and links regarding the six proceeding USS "Shark"s.

References