USS Batfish (SSN-681)

USS "Batfish" (SSN-681), a "Sturgeon"-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the batfish, any of several fishes: a pediculate fish of the West Indies, the flying gurnard of the Atlantic, or a California stingray.

The contract to build "Batfish" was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 25 June 1968 and her keel was laid down on 9 February 1970. She was launched on 9 October 1971 sponsored by Mrs. Arthur R. Gralla, and commissioned on 1 September 1972, with Commander Richard E. Enkeboll in command.

On 22 January 1973 "Batfish" ran hard aground at Charleston, 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), left Charleston, South Carolina, on what would transpire to be a remarkable 77-day patrol known as "Operation Evening Star." On 17 March, "Batfish" detected a Navaga-class ballistic missile submarine (NATO reporting name "Yankee I") of the Soviet Navy at the north end of the Norwegian Sea some convert|200|mi|km|-2 above the Arctic 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 to espionage in 1985.)

Batfish was homeported 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 the Naval Vessel Register on 17 March 1999. Ex-"Batfish" entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, and on 22 November 2002 ceased to exist.

References

Based on data from the Naval Vessel Register and the Associated 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, from 2 March 2001 "Seattle Times".

Deployments

*February 1992 – August 1992: Mediterranean
*March 1995 – September 1995: Mediterranean

External 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"]