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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
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Swordfish (SSN-579)

Skate Class Submarine: Laid down, 25 January 1956, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME.; Launched, 27 August 1957; Commissioned, USS Swordfish (SSN-579), 15 September 1958; Decommissioned, 2 June 1989; Struck from the Naval Register, 17 January 1990; Final Disposition, disposed through NPSSRP (Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 11 September 1995.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 2,570 t., Submerged: 2,861 t.; Length 267' 8"; Beam 25'; Draft 20'; Speed, Surfaced 23 kts, Submerged 18+ kts; Complement 8 Officers, 75 Enlisted; Armament, six 21" torpedo tubes forward, two MK 37 asw aft. Propulsion, Swordfish and Seadragon (SSN-584) were S4W configurations with Reactor Compartment Upper Level, steam turbines, two propellers.

Partial text via Mark Toth.
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Swordfish1.07k Keel Program for the Swordfish (SSN-579), 25 January 1956, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME.PDF courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Swordfish18kCommemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of the Swordfish's (SSN-579) keel laying, 25 January 1956, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Swordfish187k2,570 tons of dried Swordfish (SSN-579) stands on the ways on 27 August 1957, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Swordfish4.48kMrs. Eugene C. Riders christens the Swordfish (SSN-579) in this 14 page Commissioning Program PDF.Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Swordfish1.34kSwordfish (SSN-579) Launching Program, 4 page PDF.Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Swordfish182kSwordfish (SSN-579) breaks for the water with flags & bunting flying 27 August 1957, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Swordfish762kThe Swordfish (SSN-579), the fourth nuclear powered submarine in the US Navy and the first to be built at the Kittery Naval Shipyard, slides gracefully into the Piscataqua River during christening ceremonies in August 1957.Photo by Portland Press Herald via Getty Images, courtesy of gettyimages.com.
Swordfish2.10kBroadside view of the Swordfish (SSN-579) on 12 August 1958.US National Archives photo # 80G-1037413 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Swordfish2.80kBow view of the Swordfish (SSN-579) on 12 August 1958.US National Archives photo # 80G-1037411 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Swordfish719kView of the commissioning ceremonies of the Swordfish (SSN-579) on 15 September 1958 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.USN photo from the files of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Swordfish 547kPDF of Welcome Aboard the Swordfish (SSN-579). USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Swordfish719kSwordfish (SSN-579) off the Atlantic Coast on 10 July 1959.USN photo from the files of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Submarine Silhouettes 1960179kSubmarine Silhouettes of 1960:
Nautilus (SSN-571), Seawolf (SSN-575), Skate (SSN-578), Skipjack (SS-585), Triton (SSRN-586), Halibut (SSGN-587), Thresher (SSN-593), Tullibee (SSN-597), George Washington (SSBN-598), & Ethan Allen (SSBN-608) classes. 		USN photo submitted by Ron Titus, courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand. Corp.
Nuclear Submarine Profiles187kNuclear Submarine Profiles 1960:
Nautilus (SSN-571),
Seawolf (SSN-575),
Triton (SSRN-586),
Skate (SSN-578) & Skipjack (SS-585) classes,
Halibut (SSGN-587) & Tullibee (SSN-597) classes,
George Washington (SSBN-598) &
Thresher (SSN-593) classes. 		USN photo courtesy of Ron Titus courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand. Corp. Photo i.d. courtesy of David Johnston
Swordfish679kChiang Kai-shek, Chinese General and statesman and President of the Republic of China viewing the American destroyer Hollister (DD-788) through the periscope of the US nuclear submarine Swordfish (SSN-579), the first nuclear powered submarine ever to visit Taiwan. He cruised with the submarine for three hours under the command of Lieutenant Commander Leddick in January 1960. Photo by Keystone/Getty Images, courtesy of gettyimages.com.
Swordfish155kSwordfish (SSN-579) swims in the Pacific, 3 December 1960.USN photo # NPC 1052412, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Swordfish389kThree Skate class submarines churn the Pacific: Swordfish (SSN-579), Sargo (SSN-583) & Seadragon (SSN-584) stand out for a family photo op on 3 December 1960.USN photo # NPC 1052413, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Swordfish220kThe Swordfish (SSN-579) circa 1960/61 as she appeared during a flyover by the contributor. USN photo courtesy of Tom Morris, AX2, Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 8 [HS-8],Bennington CVS-20. Photo i.d. courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Swordfish131kSubmarine Swordfish (SSN-579) equipped with long-range sonar & torpedoes for enemy warfare, November 1961. The photo is upside down despite the Life logo in the top corner! Photographer: John Dominis, courtesy of time.com. via Life. Photo i.d. courtesy of David Johnston
Swordfish743kSwordfish (SSN-579) wardroom and crew mess at the end of her 5 September 1962 overhaul at Mare Island. USN photo # 56472-9-62 courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Swordfish719kHabitability, Crew's lounge on the Swordfish (SSN-579), 5 September 1962. USN photo # 56477-9-62 courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Swordfish124kStarboard side view of the Swordfish (SSN-579), underway in original configuration, circa late 1950's - early 1970's.USN photo courtesy of Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr.
Swordfish119kStarboard side view of the Swordfish (SSN-579), underway in original configuration, circa late 1950's - early 1970's.USN photo.
Swordfish
0857916		657kSwordfish (SSN-579) was commanded by Capt. John T. Rigsbee, USN. from 12 December 1965 to 16 November 1968. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Swordfish73kBow on view of the Swordfish (SSN-579), underway in original configuration, circa late 1950's - early 1970's. Photo signed by D. Jensen, then CO of the boat.USN photo courtesy of Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr.
Swordfish305kSwordfish (SSN-579) dockside at Pearl Harbor, Summer 1972.Photo courtesy of Ben Brooks.
Swordfish220kSwordfish (SSN-579) at Lahaina, Maui, Summer 1972.Photo courtesy of Ben Brooks.
Swordfish155k Swordfish (SSN-579) in a blue ocean.USN photo # NPC 1052412, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Swordfish95k1978 photo of Swordfish (SSN-579) at pier S-3 aft of the Rad Con barge. The San Francisco (SSN-711) is moored behind her. Courtesy of Mark R Toth, RC Div '76-'80.
Darter, Flasher & Swordfish364kSwordfish (SSN-579), Flasher (SSN-613) & Darter (SS-576) alongside at Subic Bay Naval Station, February, 1986. It was pretty unusual to see three boats moored abreast in those days, much less three distinct generations of submarine design. Photo by David Johnston (USN, retired) .
Darter, Flasher & Swordfish62kSwordfish (SSN-579), Flasher (SSN-613) & Darter (SS-576) alongside at Subic Bay Naval Station, June, 1986. Photo by David Johnston (USN, retired) .
Swordfish26kSwordfish (SSN-579) commemorative decommissioning day post card, 1989. Courtesy of Richard Leonhardt.
PSNSY 683k An aerial view of a section of the Ship Intermediate Maintenance Facility at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on 17 May 1993.
One submarine tender and 16 decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines are shown including the Seawolf (SSN-575); six George Washington, and Lafayette class SSBN's (with their missile sections cut out) plus several Skate, Skipjack, Permit and Sturgeon class SSN's. All are awaiting scrapping.
Bottom row, from left to right Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), Skipjack (SS-585), Snook (SSN-592), Henry Clay (SSBN-625), Lapon (SSN-661), Dace (SSN-607), Skate (SSN-578), Swordfish (SSN-579), Sargo (SSN-583), Seadragon (SSN-584).
Across the pier are Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618), and not in view, Patrick Henry (SSBN-599), George Washington (SSBN-598), Barb (SSN-596) & Sea Devil (SSN-664). 		Official USN photo # DN-ST-95-01863, by Calvin Larsen, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. Photo i.d. courtesy of David Johnston.
PSNSY291k"Sign of the times." March 1994 photo of Nuclear submarines at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard waiting in line for scrapping.
Top row left to right are Ethan Allen (SSBN-608), Seawolf (SSN-575), Plunger (SSN-595), Shark (SSN-591), Nathanael Greene (SSBN-636), Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN-685) alongside Sperry (AS-12), with Triton (SSRN-586) across the pier from the Sperry .
Bottom row, from left to right Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), Skipjack (SS-585), Snook (SSN-592), Henry Clay (SSBN-625), Lapon (SSN-661), Dace (SSN-607), Skate (SSN-578), Swordfish (SSN-579), Sargo (SSN-583), Seadragon (SSN-584).
Across the pier are Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618), and not in view, Patrick Henry (SSBN-599), George Washington (SSBN-598), Barb (SSN-596) & Sea Devil (SSN-664).
There are so many submarines at PSNSY that the yard is running out of pier space. 		Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Reactor Compartments83kTrench 94, Hanford Site, Washington, 1994. Hull sections containing defueled reactor compartments of decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines are put in disposal trenches. Once full, the trench will be filled with dirt and buried. The compartments are expected to retain their integrity for more than 600 years. USN photo submitted by Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Spent Fuel569kSealed reactor compartments are shipped by barge out of Puget Sound Naval Base down the coast and along the Columbia River to the port of Benton. There the radioactively-contaminated hull sections are transferred to special multiwheeled high-load trailers for transport to the Hanford Reservation in Washington State. Pictured below is the burial ground for spent fuel of the following 77 nuclear reactor submarines as of March 2003:
Patrick Henry (SSBN-599),
Snook (SSN-592),
George Washington (SSBN-598),
Scamp (SSN-588),
Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601),
Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618),
Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600),
Dace (SSN-607),
John Adams (SSBN-620),
Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602),
Barb (SSN-596),
Ethan Allen (SSBN-608),
Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610),
Pollack (SSN-603),
Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN-685),
James Monroe (SSBN-622),
Skipjack (SS-585),
Nathan Hale (SSBN-623),
Plunger (SSN-595),
Shark (SSN-591),
Lafayette (SSBN-616),
Sam Houston (SSBN-609),
Jack (SSN-605),
Haddo (SSN-604),
Tinosa (SSN-606),
Guardfish (SSN-612),
Permit (SSN-594),
Queenfish (SSN-651),
Ulysses S. Grant (SSBN-631),
John Marshall (SSBN-611),
George C. Marshall (SSBN-654),
Flasher (SSN-613),
Guitarro (SSN-665),
Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617),
George Washington Carver (SSBN-656),
Tecumseh (SSBN-628),
Halibut (SSGN-587),
Will Rogers (SSBN-659),
Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655),
Daniel Boone (SSBN-629),
Greenling (SSN-614),
John C. Calhoun (SSBN-630),
Casimir Pulaski (SSBN-633),
Skate (SSN-578),
Sargo (SSN-583),
Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657),
Sturgeon (SSN-637),
Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640),
Swordfish (SSN-579),
Seadragon (SSN-584),
Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634),
Simon Bolivar (SSBN-641),
Hammerhead (SSN-663),
Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) ,
Tullibee (SSN-597),
Lewis & Clark (SSBN-644),
Pargo (SSN-650),
Seahorse (SSN-669),
Gurnard (SSN-662),
Flying Fish (SSN-673),
Gato (SSN-615),
Puffer (SSN-652),
Seawolf (SSN-575),
Baton Rouge (SSN-689),
Bergall (SSN-667),
Whale (SSN-638),
Henry Clay (SSBN-625),
James Madison (SSBN-627),
Finback (SSN-670),
Spadefish (SSN-668),
Sunfish (SSN-649),
George Bancroft (SSBN-643),
Grayling (SSN-646),
Pintado (SSN-672),
Tunny (SSN-682),
Archerfish (SSN-678),
& Woodrow Wilson (SSBN-624).
As time passes & more boats are retired from service and their reactors are brought here, so the numbers rise. In this photo dated November 2009, 98 nuclear submarines and six nuclear cruisers have been recycled. For an up to date view, click here		USN photo submitted by Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Insert link courtesy of wikimedia.org
Commanding Officers
01CDR. Cramer Jr., Shannon Davenport, USN (USNA 1944) :VADM15.09.1958 - 10.02.1960 First Date in Commission
02CDR. Leddick, Roth Sumner, USN (USNA 1947)10.02.1960 - 18.11.1961
03CDR. Carlisle, Charles Stuart (Chuck), USN (USNA 1947)18.11.1961 - 20.04.1963
04CDR. Adams Jr., Francis McKee, USN (USNA 1949)20.04.1963 - 17.12.1965
05CDR. Rigsbee, John Taylor, USN (USNA 1949)17.12.1965 - 16.11.1968
06CDR. Bilyeu, Roland Clarke (Buster), USN (USNA 1954)16.11.1968 - 15.01.1972
07CDR. Kramer Jr., Rex Willard, USN15.01.1972 - 27.12.1974
08CDR. Cheaure, Alfred Lothar, USN (USNA 1961)27.12.1974 - 20.04.1978
09CDR. Walther, Arthur Ernest, USN (USNA 1963)20.04.1978 - 24.10.1980
10CDR. Fuge, Douglas Paul, USN (USNA 1964)24.10.1980 - 15.08.1984
11CDR. Jensen, Gary Dean, USN (USNA 1968)15.08.1984 - 21.11.1987
12CDR. McHugh, Michael Lyn, USN (USNA 1968)21.11.1987 - 02.06.1989 Last Day in Commission
Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
View the Swordfish (SSN-579)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Swordfish (SSN-579)
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