NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch on left contributed by Bob Shouse, others by Mike Smolinski.
Plunger (SSN-595)
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| Click On Image For Full Size | Size | Image Description | Contributed By | |
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 | 50k | Platform plan of Thresher (SSN-593) class submarines. | PDF courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 179k | Submarine 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. | |
 | 187k | Nuclear 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 |
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791k | This picture appeared in the commissioning program of the Plunger (SSN-595). The photo's caption reads; "Shipyard Commander RADM L. V. Honsinger (right) officially lays Plunger's keel as previous Plunger (SS-179) Commanding Officer's Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz (center) and RADM G. L. Russell (left, Commandant, 12th Naval District) look on. Plunger was the 500th ship constructed at the shipyard. | USN photo # 47250-3-60 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 201k | This photo shows the christening of the Scamp (SSN-588) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 8 October 1960. The first hull section of Plunger (SSN-595) can be seen on the building ways to the left on the Scamp. | USN photo # MSA 49204-10-60, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 300k | Starboard side view of Scamp (SSN-588) ready for launching with speaker at the microphone at Mare Island on 8 October 1960. Keel of the Plunger (SSN-595) is to the left. | USN photo # NY9 49179-10-60, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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913k | Section # 2 for Plunger (SSN-595) is shown being placed on the ways by YD-33 at Mare Island on 17 October 1960. | USN photo # 49239-10-60, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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810k | Section # 3 for Plunger (SSN-595) is shown being placed on the ways by YD-33 at Mare Island on 20 October 1960. | USN photo # 49316-10-60, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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1.30k | Sections #2 and #3 for Plunger (SSN-595) are shown mated together on the ways at Mare Island on 20 October 1960. | USN photo # 49316-10-60, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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170k | Section #3 (aft bulkhead section) of the Plunger (SSN-595) is lifted onto the building ways on 20 October 1960 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. The after sections of the ship were transported to the ways and put in place by the shipyard's 150 ton floating crane. | USN photo # NY9-49317-10-60, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
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1.20k | Section # 1 for Plunger (SSN-595) is shown on the ways by at Mare Island on 26 October 1960. | USN photo # 49377-10-60, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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1.00k | Section # 4 for Plunger (SSN-595) is shown on the ways by at Mare Island on 15 November 1960. | USN photo # 49629-11-60, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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856k | Sections # 4 and # 5 for Plunger (SSN-595) are shown mated together on the ways at Mare Island on 17 November 1960. | USN photo # 49631-11-60, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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778k | Sections # 6, # 7 & # 8 for Plunger (SSN-595) are shown being placed on the ways at Mare Island on 12 December 1960. | USN photo # 49865-12-60, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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1.10k | Sections # 13 for Plunger (SSN-595) is shown arriving at the ways at Mare Island on 21 December 1960. | USN photo # 49886-12-60, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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1.00k | Sections # 10 for Plunger (SSN-595) is shown being placed on the ways at Mare Island on 29 December 1960. | USN photo # 49935-12-60, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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1.20k | Section # 14 for Plunger (SSN-595) arriving at the ways at Mare Island on 4 January 1961. | USN photo # 49995-1-61, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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206k | Section # 14 of the Plunger (SSN-595) is shown on trailer used to transport the section from the southern hull fabrication area to the building ways on 5 January 1961 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. | USN photo # NY9-49997-1-61, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
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973k | Section # 11 for Plunger (SSN-595) is shown being ready for placement on the ways at Mare Island on 16 January 1961. | USN photo # 50108-1-61, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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1.20k | Section # 15 for Plunger (SSN-595) is shown being placed on the ways at Mare Island on Mare Island on 19 January 1961. | USN photo # 50146-1-61, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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1.10k | Section # 16 for Plunger (SSN-595) is shown being placed on the ways at Mare Island on Mare Island on 26 January 1961. | USN photo # 50258-1-61, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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1.50k | Progress view looking toward the stern of Plunger (SSN-595) on the ways at Mare Island on 6 July 1961. YD-172 is in the background still in her old US Army BD-6068 paint job. | USN photo # NY9-51960-7-61, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
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1.50k | Progress view looking toward the bow of Plunger (SSN-595) on the ways at Mare Island on 6 July 1961. | USN photo # NY9-51961-7-61, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
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1.10k | Mrs. Clinton P. Anderson christens the Plunger (SSN-595) at Mare Island on 9 December 1961. Capt P. F. Straub is in the background. | USN photo # 53356-12-61 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker. | |
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801k | CDR Will M. Adams Jr. (CO) and LCDR A. J. M. Atkins (XO) pictured with Californians of the crew of the Plunger (SSN-595) at Mare Island on 8 December 1961. Left to Right: 1st row CDR Will M. Adams Jr. (CO) & LCDR A. J. M. Atkins (XO); 2nd row, LT R. L. Kelsey (Navigator) & LT William A. Lynch (Ops); 3rd row, MM2 Harold L. Bartke (Concord); YN3 Floyd Fry (Oroville); EM2 Robert E. Lawrence (Vallejo); ETC Robert J. Caylor (Colma); ET2 Robert V. Cavin (San Mateo,); YN2 Kenneth W. Genn (Turlock); EMC Stuart E. Shipman (Chico) & EMC Fred M. Caballero (Sacramento). | USN photo courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker. | |
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76k | The crew of the Plunger (SSN-595) stand at attention around the boat's sail on the building ways at Mare Island Naval Shipyard just prior to launching on 9 December 1961. | USN photo # NY9-53381-12-61 courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large. | |
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795k | The Plunger (SSN-595) & general scene on the building ways at Mare Island Naval Shipyard just prior to launching on 9 December 1961. The Woodrow Wilson (SSBN-624) is under constructionon the ways to the left. | Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave. | |
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141k | Elevated stern view of the Plunger (SSN-595) on the building ways at Mare Island Naval Shipyard just prior to launching on 9 December 1961. | USN photo # NY9-53338-12-61 courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large. | |
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2.06k | Plunger (SSN-595) about to start her slide seaward. | USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
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122k | The officers & crew of the Plunger (SSN-595) stand at attention as the boat is waterborne on 9 December 1961. | USN photo # NY9-533359-12-61 courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large. | |
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2.90k | Plunger (SSN-595) at the end of the way at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA., 9 December 1961. | USN photo # 53362-12-61, courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum. Photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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835k | The Plunger (SSN-595) is in the middle of the Mare Island Channel after her launching at Mare Island. YTL 434 is in the background. | USN photo # 53364-12-61 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker. | |
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2.85k | Mrs. Clinton P. Anderson, sponsor of Plunger (SSN-595) on the right and RADM L. V. Honsinger, Commander, Mare Island Naval Shipyard at reception after the Plunger's launching at Mare Island Officer Club 9 December 1961. | Photo from files of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
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1.60k | The official and VIPs for the launching of the Plunger (SSN-595) at Mare Island on 9 December 1961. | USN photo # 53365-12-61, courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum. Photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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104k | A thrashing Plunger (SSN-595) is tethered pierside at her outfitting berth at Mare Island. | USN photo # NY9-533359-12-61 courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large. | |
 | 241k | Forward plan view of Permit (SSN-594) at her outfitting berth at Mare Island on 15 January 1962. The Plunger (SSN-595) is aft of Permit. | USN photo # 53561-1-62, contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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173k | Plunger (SSN-595) at sea 9/1962 during her trials after construction at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. The Plunger is noted as the 500th ship built by the shipyard. Note: Area above sail was touched-up to erase the ship's masts. This photo was used on the cover on her commissioning program. | USN photo # 56803, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
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1.10k | Commissioning ceremonies for the Plunger (SSN-595) in Mare Island's dry dock #3 on 21 November 1962. | USN photo # 57040-11-62, courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker. | |
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751k | RADM E. E. Yeoman (Commandant 12th Naval District) presents the log book of the past three Plungers to CDR Will Adams (Commanding Officer) during commissioning ceremonies of Plunger (SSN-595) at Mare Island. | USN photo # 57041-11-62, courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 1.50k | Six page PDF of the Plunger's (SSN-595) Commissioning Program, 21 November 1962. | USN photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker. | |
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101k | Plunger (SSN-595) glides past Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard on 12 January 1963. This was her first deployment after commissioning at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 21 November 1962. | USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
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170k | The Plunger (SSN-595), underway off the coast of Oahu Hawaii, during her shakedown cruise to Pearl Harbor 15 January 1963. | USN official photo # 1067832, by PHCS Carlisle, courtesy of David Buell. | |
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106k | Plunger (SSN-595) off the coast of Hawaii during her first fleet deployment in 1963. | USN photo courtesy of Robert Hurst. | |
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1.01k | Plunger (SSN-595) off the coast of Hawaii during her first fleet deployment in 1963. | USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
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147k | CDR Will M Adams, USN, Commanding Officer of the Plunger (SSN-595) is seen crossing the brow on 13 Sep 1963. Plunger was at Mare Island from 13 September 1963 to 8 February 1964 for a restrictive availability. | USN photo # 60503, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
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39k | The Plunger (SSN-595), tied-up alongside the Scamp (SSN-588) with the Permit (SSN-594) behind, c1964, probably at Pearl Harbor. The submarine tender Sperry (AS-12) is tied-up on the other side of the jetty. | USN photo courtesy of Robert Hurst. | |
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192k | Four Thresher Class boats exercise on 20 May 1968: Plunger (SSN-595), Barb (SSN-596), Guardfish (SSN-612) & Flasher (SSN-613). |
USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
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345k | Four Thresher Class boats exercise on 20 May 1968 in color: Plunger (SSN-595), Barb (SSN-596), Guardfish (SSN-612) & Flasher (SSN-613). |
USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
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284k | CDR A. L. Wilderman, Commanding Officer of Plunger (SSN-595), receives the Meritorious Unit Commendation award from CDR A. A. Young (SUBPAC representative at Mare Island) at Mare Island on 1 December 1971. | USN photo courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker. | |
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1.50k | Retirement ceremonies for QMC Merle Vaughn (left) and MMCS Eugene Hayes (Center) following CDR A. L. Wilderman, commanding officer Plunger (SSN-595) at Mare Island in July 1973. | USN photo courtesy of the Valllejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker. | |
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706k | CDR Alvin L. Wilderman lost at sea off San Francisco from Plunger (SSN-595) while the submarine was conducting sea trails after her overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 30 November 1973. At the time, seas were running 12 feet and higher and winds were in excess of 50 mph. | USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
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40k | Bow on view of the Plunger (SSN-595) underway, probably off the coast of Hawaii, 1973. | USN photo courtesy of tripod.com. | |
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510k | A port bow view of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Plunger (SSN-595) underway off the Southern California coast, 2 April 1976. | USN photo # DN-SC-85-06050, by PHCS R. L. Lawson, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of Robert Hurst. | |
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477k | CDR R. E. Tuggle, CO Plunger (SSN-595), He took command of the ship from 1 January 1974 to 2 April 1978. | Text i.d. courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler. Photo from the files of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 267k | The large harbor tug YTB-826 nudges the nuclear-powered attack submarine La Jolla (SSN-701) into its berth at San Diego, circa 1983. In the background is the submarine tender Dixon (AS-37). I am pretty sure that 593 class sub pier side is the Plunger (SSN-595). | USN photo # DN-ST-83-10231 by PH2 Randy Hays, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. & submitted by Bill Gonyo. Photo i.d. courtesy of Bob Shouse. | |
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74k | Plunger (SSN-595) entering San Diego, 1985. | USN photo courtesy of Bob Shouse. | |
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751k | US Navy photo presented to Mare Island Submarine Deactivation Team members marking the end of Plunger's (SSN-595) active naval service. | Photo 232800-5-89 from files of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 48k | An Oil on Masonite painting by the artist John Charles Roach, entitled "Ballast Point, San Diego", depicts sub base with subs and tenders at the pier in San Diego during mid 1986.
The tenders were possibly the:
McKee (AS-42) for Subron 7 & Dixon (AS-37) for Subron 3. Among the subs were the: Gudgeon (SS-567): Albacore (AGSS-569): Blueback (SS-581): Permit (SSN-594): Plunger (SSN-595): Pollack (SSN-603) Haddo (SSN-604): Guardfish (SSN-612): Haddock (SSN-621): Sturgeon (SSN-637): Gurnard (SSN-662) : Hawkbill (SSN-666): Pintado (SSN-672): Drum (SSN-677): William H. Bates (SSN-680): La Jolla (SSN-701): Portsmouth (SSN-707) & Salt Lake City (SSN-716). | Ballast Point, San Diego John Charles Roach 1986.5 Oil on Masonite, 1986, courtesy of the USNHC, # 88-163-CR. Text contributed by OMC J. Reid Pallady USNR-RET & QM2(SS)David Johnston (USN, retired) |
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421k | 3 page PDF of the cover of the Deactivation Ceremony of the Plunger (SSN-595), 10 February 1986 & a memory or two. | USN photo courtesy of P. Andrew Karam, PhD, CHP. | |
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82k | Plunger (SSN-595) in Sasebo, 1986. | USN photo courtesy of Bob Shouse. | |
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636k | Ex-Plunger (SSN-595), awaits towing to Puget Sound for scrapping after inactivation at Mare Island in April 1990. Note: Her sonar dome has been removed and there is an emergency diesel aft of her sail. | MINSY # 239208-4-1990 NS, USN photo # 239208, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
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207k | Plunger (SSN-595) berthed at Mare Island after her inactivation in May 1990. | USN photo from the files of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 291k | "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). | |
 | 569k | Sealed 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 |
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185k | Moored submarines awaiting their final fate at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA sometime in 1996: From left to right: Shark (SSN-591), Plunger (SSN-595), Snook (SSN-592) & Patrick Henry (SSBN-599). |
Photograph courtesy of Ray Arntson via btrosper.com. | |
| Commanding Officers | |||
| 01 | CDR. Adams Jr., Will Mont, USN (USNA 1945) | 21.11.1962 - 11.04.1964 First Date in Commission | |
| 02 | CDR. Styer, Robert Turner, USN (USNA 1948-B) | 11.04.1964 - 25.05.1966 | |
| 03 | CDR. Doelling, Robert Duncan, USN (USNA 1953) | 25.05.1966 - 14.08.1968 | |
| 04 | CDR. Thunman, Nils Ronald, USN (USNA 1954) :VADM | 14.08.1968 - 21.07.1971 | |
| 05 | CDR. Wilderman, Alvin Ladon, USN (USNA 1959) | 21.07.1971 - 30.11.1973 | |
| 06 | CDR. Cheaure, Alfred Lothar, USN (USNA 1961) | 30.11.1973 - 05.12.1973 | |
| 07 | CDR. Holland Jr., William Jeremiah, USN (USNA 1955) :RADM | 05.12.1973 - 26.01.1974 | |
| 08 | CDR. Tuggle, Ralph Edward, USN (USNA 1959) | 26.01.1974 - 04.02.1978 | |
| 09 | CDR. Oliver Jr., David Rogers, USN (USNA 1963) :RADM | 04.02.1978 - 14.08.1981 | |
| 10 | CDR. Haley, Mark Christopher, USN (USNA 1967) | 14.08.1981 - 14.02.1985 | |
| 11 | CDR. Gradisnik, Gary Anthony, USN (USNA 1970) | 14.02.1985 - 22.01.1988 | |
| 12 | CDR. Large III, William Robert, USN (USNA 1971) | 22.01.1988 - 02.02.1990 Last Date in Commission | |
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