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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski
Radio Call Sign: November -Bravo - Echo- Sierra

Narwhal (SSN-671)

Narwhal Class Attack Submarine: Laid down, 17 January 1966, at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT.; Launched, 9 September 1967; Commissioned, USS Narwhal (SSN-671), 12 July 1969; Decommissioned in 1999; Final Disposition: scheduled dismantlement.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 5027 t., Submerged: 5,378 t.; Length 314'; Beam 33'; Draft 31'; Speed, Surfaced 15 kts, Submerged 20+ kts; Test depth limit 1,300'; Complement 141; Armament, four 21" torpedo tubes amidships aft of bow, MK 48 Torpedoes, UUM-44A SUBROC, UGM-84A/C Harpoon, MK 57 deep water mines, Tomahawk missiles, MK 60 CAPTOR mines; Combat Sensors, Radar, BPS-14/15 surface search, Sonars, BQQ-5 multi-function bow mounted, BQR-7 passive in submarines with BQQ-2, BQS-12 active 7, TB-16 or TB-23 towed array, EW Systems, WLQ-4(V), WLR-4(V), WLR-9; Propulsion System, one S5G nuclear reactor, single, enormous, directly-coupled main turbine & one-of-a-kind direct-drive, one propeller, 17,000 shp. Specs provided in part by LT Richard Dubnansky, Robert F. Marble TMCS(SS) USN (Retired)& CAPT William A. Matson, USN (Retired)

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For Full Size		SizeImage DescriptionContributed By
Narwhal222kCommemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of Narwhal's (SSN-671) keel laying on 17 January 1966.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Narwhal410kConstruction & finishing touches before the Narwhal (SSN-671) is launched, 9 September 1967.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Narwhal487kWork goes on aboard Narwhal (SSN-671) shortly before launching.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Narwhal487kPainting by numbers.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Narwhal250kMrs. Glynn R. Donaho, sponsor of the Narwhal (SSN-671), christens her at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT.,9 September 1967. Behind her to the left is John O. Pastore, United States Senator from Rhode Island, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover is 3rd on the left.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Narwhal645kMrs. Glynn R. Donaho, sponsor of the Narwhal (SSN-671), christens her at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT.,9 September 1967. Admiral Hyman G. Rickover is at her immediate left.Courtesy of nssdc.us.
Narwhal163kNarwhal's (SSN-671) leading ladies.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Narwhal423k The Narwhal (SSN-671) slides down the launching ways at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT., 9 September 1967. USN photo.
Narwhal1.04kBow view of the Narwhal (SSN-671) as she slides down the launching ways at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT., 9 September 1967. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Narwhal163kCommemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of Narwhal's (SSN-671) launching on 9 September 1967.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Narwhal84kThe Narwhal (SSN-671) during Electric Boat builder's trials photograph, taken in Long Island Sound, 1969. USN photo courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Photo & text i.d. courtesy of Bill Lambing.
Narwhal163kCommemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of Narwhal's (SSN-671) commissioning on 12 July 1969.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Narwhal1.32kTwenty five page Welcome Aboard PDF for the Narwhal (SSN-671).USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Narwhal65kNarwhal (SSN-671), underway taken near commissioning near New London, Connecticut. Official USN photo courtesy of Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr.
Photo i.d. courtesy of Peter E. Walberg.
Narwhal287kNarwhal (SSN-671) coming into tie up at the pier in Frederiksted St. Croix, summer '69.Photo courtesy of Peter E. Walberg.
Narwhal305kNarwhal (SSN-671) coming into tie up at the pier in Frederiksted St. Croix, summer '69.
Very little room for error on the deck area of the boat without rails.		Photo courtesy of Peter E. Walberg.
Narwhal381kNarwhal (SSN-671) & the Queen Elizabeth at Pensacola, FL., summer '69. Photo courtesy of Peter E. Walberg.
Narwhal295kEl Morro castle from the Narwhal (SSN-671), summer '69. Photo courtesy of Peter E. Walberg.
Narwhal400kNarwhal (SSN-671) coming up the Thames River in New London on dependent's cruise, probably summer '70.Photo courtesy of Peter E. Walberg.
Sturgeon Class43k Oil on canvas painting by the artist Jim Christley entitled "Trailing".
During the Cold War the US Naval Submarine Force was tasked with keeping tabs on Soviet Naval movements in particular, the Soviet Submarine Force. Submarines of the Sturgeon Class were well suited to this task and often trailed Soviet submarines for days reporting on their movements and recording noise signatures. In this image, such a trailing has turned into a close aboard encounter as a Soviet Viktor III Class has turned to port to check his baffles (to listen to see if anyone is immediately astern). A trailing Sturgeon has stopped his screw and gone quiet. Extending far behind the US submarine is its towed array sonar which assists in giving a clear picture of the ocean’s acoustics. 		Photo & text courtesy of subart.net.
Submerged submarines145kSubmerged submarines in tandem.USN photo courtesy of Robert Hall.
Narwhal446kInside sonar dome of the Narwhal (SSN-671).USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Narwhal21kCommemorative postal cover marking the Narwhal's (SSN-671) visit to Port Everglades, Florida, June 1975.Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Narwhal 119k Narwhal (SSN-671) partially submerged in Charleston harbor just after Hurricane Hugo on 22 September 1989. They were not able to put to sea, but realized they were in danger of becoming damaged by contact with the pier, so they fired up the diesel and went a ways out into the harbor and dove. Photo courtesy of Tracey Johnstone.
Narwhal59kNight time photo of the Narwhal (SSN-671), Charleston, SC. circa 1990.Photographed and copyrighted by Terry Baumgartner, courtesy of goatlocker.org.
Narwhal225kA port bow view of the submarine tender L. Y. Spear (AS-36) tied up on the north side of one of the Destroyer & Submarine (D&S) piers at Norfolk, VA., 8 October 1994. The nuclear-powered attack submarine Narwhal (SSN-671) is tied up inboard on the south side of the pier with a Sturgeon-class nuclear-powered attack submarine outboard. Note the large raised hump added to the Narwhal's stern. USN photo # DN-SC-95-01406, by Don S. Montgomery, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
Who Am I?174k An aerial view, looking west, of a section of the naval base showing two of the destroyer and submarine (D&S) piers located on the south end of the installation. A submarine tender and several nuclear-powered attack submarines are tied up, 22 January 1995.
The submarine in the right hand corner is most likely the Narwhal (SSN-671). She has a general 637 hull and sail structure but the hull is longer. Her fat line array stowage tube is on the starboard side versus the port as on a 637. While 685 was also a stretched 637 hull, her fat line tube was still on the port side; only Narwhal and the 688's have it on the stbd side. It also appears this was during the period when she had the thin line array "hump" on her stern. 		USN photo # DN-ST-95-01441, by Robert J. Sitar, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
Photo i.d. courtesy of Phil Tuckey.
Narwhal686k A starboard quarter view of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Narwhal (SSN-671) tied up at NAS Norfolk, Pier 22, Berth 4 on 19 August 1995. The hump at the stern of the Narwhal is a special sonar unit to assist a DSRV. USN photo # DN-SC-92-06256 by Don S. Montgomery, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
Narwhal434k The Chilean Navy Thomspon (Type 209) class(TYPE 1300) (SSK) submarine anchored at Coquimbo, Chile, 3 October 1996. The U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine Narwhal (SSN-671) is anchored in the background. Both subs are participating in Phase 5 exercises of Operation Unitas 37-96. USN photo # DNSD0-109816 by LT.JG Joe Clark, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
Narwhal126kNarwhal (SSN-671), at sea, possibly during October 1996 during joint exercise Operation Unitas 37-96 in Paraguay. Federation of American Scientists (fas.org)
Narwhal19kCommemorative postal cover marking the Narwhal's (SSN-671) decommissioning ceremony, 15 January 1999.Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Narwhal33kCommemorative postal cover marking the Narwhal's (SSN-671) decommissioning, 31 January 2000.Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Narwhal1.78kTwenty five page Inactivation Ceremony PDF for the Narwhal (SSN-671).USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
SSN-671 & 67766kex Long Beach (CGN-9) and some friends - namely ex Narwhal (SSN-671), ex Drum (SSN-677), and beyond ex Midway (CV-41). Shot taken January of 2003 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard just a few months prior to the ex Midway's move to San Diego. Also in the mix are some Spruance Class destroyers and the ex Ranger (CV-61) on the far side but out of sight here.Courtesy of Larry Lee.
Drum285kDuring a vacation trip August 2008 to the Seattle area I was able to get over to Port Orchard and get a shot of the ex Drum (SSN-677). It is next to the ex Narwhal (SSN-671) and Drum appears to be the last 637 Class "left standing". The efforts by the Mare Island Historic Park Commission to save the Drum have fallen through due to funding shortfalls and lack of local Gov't support. It is expected that the "recycling" of Drum will take place this winter. Courtesy of Rick Wetmore.
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
Narwhal59k Cover story of the magazine Undersea, dealing with the Winter 2009 update of the Narwhal (SSN-671).Photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
Commanding Officers
01CDR. Matson II, Willis Arthur, USN (USNA 1950)12.07.1969 - 05.04.1971 First Date in Commission
02CDR. Kellogg III, Edward Samuel, USN (USNA 1954)09.07.1971 - 05.04.1975
03CDR. Colley, Michael Christian, USN (USNA 1960) :VADM05.04.1975 - 27.08.1977
04CDR. Olson, Donald Milton, USN27.08.1977 - 30.01.1982
05CDR. Sullivan, Jerry Michael, USN (USNA 1965)30.01.1982 - 19.01.1985
06CDR. Fages, Malcolm Irving, USN :VADM19.01.1985 - 24.10.1987
07CDR. Whitford, Daniel Lee, USN (USNA 1971)24.10.1987 - 04.05.1990
08CDR. Graupmann, Gary James, USN (USNA 1974)04.05.1990 - 20.11.1992
09CDR. Lincoln Jr., Horatio Alonzo (Ray), USN20.11.1992 - 08.09.1995
10CDR. Davidson, Jerry Scott, USN08.09.1995 - 12.12.1997
11CDR. Bock, Mark Winston, USN12.12.1997 - 01.07.1999 Last Date in Commission
Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
View the Narwhal (SS-671)
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
SSN-671 Narwhal - Federation of American Scientists
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