USS Ray (SSN-653)

USS "Ray" (SSN-653), a "Sturgeon"-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the ray, a fish characterized by a flat body, large pectoral fins, and a whiplike tail. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company on 26 March 1963 and her keel was laid down on 4 January 1965. She was launched on 21 June 1966 sponsored by Mrs. Thomas H. Kuchel, and commissioned on 12 April 1967, with Commander Albert L. Kelln in command.

Homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, "Ray" underwent shakedown training, weapons and sonar testing until 6 October 1967, when she deployed on Atlantic submarine operations until 12 December. In 1968 "Ray" again deployed on submarine operations from 8 April to 10 June and from 13 November to 20 December.

She spent the first five months of 1969 in submarine type training and fleet exercises off the East Coast and in the Caribbean Sea. SSN-653 departed Norfolk on 6 June on a special operation before sailing for Scotland, arriving at Holy Loch on 26 June. She departed Scotland on 31 July, and returned to Norfolk on 12 August. For the remainder of the year, and into 1970, "Ray" trained in the Atlantic with other units of the fleet.

"Ray" spent most of 1970 operating in the Atlantic out of Norfolk. Her operations were concentrated primarily upon training and testing. In December 1970, she entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a 14-month overhaul period. She steamed out of Norfolk on 5 March 1972 and engaged in various tests and exercises, notably two NATO exercises, "Strong Express" and "Escort Deep", during the remainder of 1972. Returning to Norfolk on 12 December, "Ray"’s crewmen were able to spend the holidays in home port. She departed Norfolk in late February 1973 a Mediterranean Sea cruise which lasted until mid-summer, at which time she returned to Norfolk and normal Atlantic operations.

On 20 September 1977, due to a combination of equipment failure and crew inexperience, "Ray" struck a coral mountain while submerged in the Mediterranean Sea. Her sonar equipment was destroyed and the auxiliary diesel engine was knocked off its mounts. Repairs required a year of work at Charleston Naval Shipyard in South Carolina.

12 years later, The USS Ray returned to the Mediterranean Sea. She participated in a six-month Mediterranean cruise as a part of the USS Forrestal CVA-59 battlegroup from October, 1989 to April, 1990. She participated in various exercises and underwater operations which included operating in the Gulf of Sirte inside Libya's 'Line of Death'. The sub pulled into several liberty ports during this cruise, including La Maddalena (Italy), Cannes and Toulon (France), and Gibraltar (British Overseas Territory). She returned to Charleston, SC to undergo routine drydock repairs in the Charleston Naval Shipyard.

"Ray" was decommissioned on 16 March 1993 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 16 March 1993. Ex-"Ray" entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, on 15 March 2002 and on 30 July 2003 ceased to exist.

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