- USS Batfish (SSN-681)
USS "Batfish" (SSN-681), a "Sturgeon"-class
submarine , was the second ship of theUnited States Navy to be named for thebatfish , any of several fishes: a pediculate fish of theWest Indies , theflying gurnard of the Atlantic, or aCalifornia stingray .The contract to build "Batfish" was awarded to the
Electric Boat Division ofGeneral Dynamics Corporation inGroton, Connecticut on25 June 1968 and her keel was laid down on9 February 1970 . She was launched on9 October 1971 sponsored by Mrs. Arthur R. Gralla, and commissioned on1 September 1972 , with Commander Richard E. Enkeboll in command.On
22 January 1973 "Batfish" ran hard aground atCharleston, South Carolina , while proceeding to sea. She was pulled free by tugs and returned to port where the extensive damage to her bottom was repaired.On
2 March 1978 , "Batfish", commanded by Commander Thomas Evans (who retired as a Rear Admiral), leftCharleston, South Carolina , on what would transpire to be a remarkable 77-day patrol known as "Operation Evening Star." On17 March , "Batfish" detected a Navaga-class ballistic missile submarine (NATO reporting name "Yankee I") of theSoviet Navy at the north end of theNorwegian Sea some convert|200|mi|km|-2 above theArctic Circle . She began trailing the Yankee, collecting valuable information on how the Soviets operated. During the next 50 days, the Yankee never detected "Batfish", and "Batfish" lost the Yankee only twice: once was during a bad storm, and once when a fishing fleet passed overhead. Both times the Soviet boat was quickly reacquired.The Soviets remained unaware that their boat had been followed until Warrant Officer
John Anthony Walker sold them the information. (Walker pleaded guilty toespionage in 1985.)Batfish was
homeport ed in Charleston, S.C. until September 1994 when she moved to Groton, Conn. for the remainder of her operational life."Batfish" was decommissioned on
17 March 1999 and stricken from theNaval Vessel Register on17 March 1999 . Ex-"Batfish" entered the Nuclear PoweredShip and Submarine Recycling Program inBremerton, Washington , and on22 November 2002 ceased to exist.References
Based on data from the
Naval Vessel Register and theAssociated Press story [http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=batfish02&date=20010302 "Voyage of the "Batfish": 50 days tailing Soviet sub"] by Pauline Jelinek, from2 March 2001 "Seattle Times ".Deployments
*February 1992 – August 1992: Mediterranean
*March 1995 – September 1995: MediterraneanExternal links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b3/batfish-ii.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Batfish"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08681.htm navsource.org: USS "Batfish"]
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=227378237 myspace page for USS "Batfish"]
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