USS Pintado (SSN-672)

USS "Pintado" (SSN-672), a "Sturgeon"-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the pintado, a large mackerel-like fish, whose elongated spots suggested the Spanish language word meaning "painted." The contract to build her was awarded to Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 29 December 1965 and her keel was laid down on 27 October 1967. She was launched on 16 August 1969 sponsored by Mrs. Bernard A. Clarey, and commissioned on 11 September 1971, with Commander William Holland, Jr. in command.

Early deployments

"Pintado" commenced her first operational deployment to the United States Seventh Fleet in the western Pacific in late October 1972, returning to San Diego, California, in April 1973. "Pintado" conducted her second operational deployment from March to October 1974. After returning to San Diego, "Pintado" became the first submarine to successfully launch the Harpoon missile.

Collisions with other vessels

In May 1974 "Pintado" collided with a Soviet Yankee class submarine in the approaches to the Petropavlovsk naval base on the Kamchatka peninsula. The Soviet submarine surfaced immediately, but the extent of damage was not known. "Pintado" departed from the area at top underwater speed and proceeded to Guam where she entered drydock for repairs lasting seven weeks. The collision smashed much of "Pintado"’s sonar sphere, a starboard side torpedo hatch was jammed shut and diving plane was moderately damaged.

Following her first overhaul, "Pintado" deployed to the western Pacific in August 1977, returning to San Diego in February 1978.

"Pintado" was operating with South Korean Navy vessels on 6 December 1977 when a surface ship abruptly turned toward her. She executed a crash dive, but sustained damage to the top of her rudder.

Arctic Ocean operations

From September to November 1978 "Pintado" operated under the polar ice, surfacing at the North Pole on 10 October 1978. In September 1979 "Pintado" deployed to the Indian Ocean and supported Carrier Battle Groups Alpha and Bravo during the early weeks of the Iranian hostage crisis. "Pintado" returned to San Diego in February 1980. "Pintado" again deployed to the western Pacific from February to August 1981 earning a Navy Unit Commendation. In June 1982, "Pintado" entered Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for a 16-month regular overhaul during which her combat systems were extensively upgraded. In December 1983 she resumed operations in San Diego. The following year "Pintado" returned to the Arctic Ocean, operating under the polar ice from September to November 1984 in company with
"Gurnard" (SSN-662).On 12 November 1984 "Pintado" and "Gurnard" became the third pair of submarines to surface together at the North Pole.

From July 1985 to January 1986 "Pintado" completed her fifth operational deployment to the United States Seventh Fleet. During this deployment, "Pintado" steamed over 33,000 miles and conducted numerous fast-paced and highly successful operations.

Following her return to San Diego, "Pintado" completed a Selected Restricted Availability and celebrated her 15th anniversary of commissioning. During the fall of 1986, "Pintado" conducted over 50 days of highly successful operations as the COMSUBPAC READY SSN.

"Pintado" surfaced at the North Pole for the third time on 16 June 1987, during arduous Arctic operations extending from May to July 1987, and a two month deployment was completed in June 1988.

Operations from Pearl Harbor

In July 1989 "Pintado" entered Mare Island Naval Shipyard for a regular overhaul. In January 1992, "Pintado" changed homeport to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and became a member of Submarine Squadron One.

From August 1992 through October 1992 "Pintado" conducted her fourth Arctic operation, also marking her 1000th surface and dive on 23 August 1992. She surfaced at the North Pole for an unprecedented fourth time on 4 September 1992 and returned to Pearl Harbor in November after circumnavigating North America and steaming over 20,000 miles.

In July 1993, "Pintado" made a six month UNITAS deployment in company with several surface units, circumnavigating the South American continent while visiting numerous ports and working extensively in exercises with various South American navies.

From January 1996 through July 1996 "Pintado" conducted her sixth and final deployment to the western Pacific. During this deployment "Pintado" conducted operations vital to national security and participated in several exercises with the navies of Japan and South Korea.

Decommissioning

"Pintado" was decommissioned on 1 October 1997 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 26 February 1998. Ex-"Pintado" entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, on 1 October 1997 and on 27 October 1998 ceased to exist.

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