- 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 thepintado , a largemackerel -like fish, whose elongated spots suggested theSpanish language word meaning "painted." The contract to build her was awarded toMare Island Naval Shipyard on29 December 1965 and her keel was laid down on27 October 1967 . She was launched on16 August 1969 sponsored by Mrs.Bernard A. Clarey , and commissioned on11 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 theHarpoon 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 theKamchatka 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 toGuam where she entered drydock for repairs lasting seven weeks. The collision smashed much of "Pintado"’ssonar 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 on6 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 on10 October 1978 . In September 1979 "Pintado" deployed to theIndian Ocean and supported Carrier Battle Groups Alpha and Bravo during the early weeks of theIranian hostage crisis . "Pintado" returned to San Diego in February 1980. "Pintado" again deployed to the western Pacific from February to August 1981 earning aNavy Unit Commendation . In June 1982, "Pintado" enteredPearl 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 theArctic Ocean , operating under the polar ice from September to November 1984 in company with
"Gurnard" (SSN-662).On12 November 1984 "Pintado" and "Gurnard" became the third pair of submarines to surface together at theNorth 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 on16 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 toPearl 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 on4 September 1992 and returned toPearl Harbor in November after circumnavigatingNorth America and steaming over 20,000 miles.In July 1993, "Pintado" made a six month
UNITAS deployment in company with several surface units, circumnavigating theSouth American continent while visiting numerous ports and working extensively in exercises with variousSouth America n 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 andSouth Korea .Decommissioning
"Pintado" was decommissioned on
1 October 1997 and stricken from theNaval Vessel Register on26 February 1998 . Ex-"Pintado" entered the Nuclear PoweredShip and Submarine Recycling Program inBremerton, Washington , on1 October 1997 and on27 October 1998 ceased to exist.References
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