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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski
Radio Call Sign: November - Charlie - Zulu - Foxtrot

Billfish (SSN-676)

Sturgeon Class Attack Submarine: Laid down, 20 September 1968, at the Electric Boat Division, of General Dynamics, Groton, CT.; Launched, 1 May 1970; Commissioned, USS Billfish (SSN-676), 12 March 1971; Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1999; Final Disposition, disposed of through the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 26 April 2000.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 3,640 t., Submerged: 4,640 t.; Length 292' 3"; Beam 31' 8"; Draft 28' 8"; Speed, Surfaced 15 kts, Submerged 25 kts; Depth limit 1,300'; Complement 108; Armament, four 21" torpedo tubes amidships aft of bow, MK 48 Torpedoes, UUM-44A SUBROC, UGM-84A/C Harpoon, MK 57 deep water mines, 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 S5W nuclear reactor, two steam turbines, one propeller, 15,000 shp.
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Submerged submarines267kBillfish (SSN-676) is launched with a cermonial wet kiss of champagne across her bow by her sponsor, Mrs Earle G. Wheeler, wife of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 1 May 1970. Photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Submerged submarines432kThe champagne from Billfish's (SSN-676) launching drips down her sponsor on to her sponsor, Mrs. Earle G. Wheeler as she and her family watch the boat starting her slide down the shipway after her christening.Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Billfish49kEntering the waters of the Thames River stern first, the Billfish (SSN-676) is launched at the Electric Boat Division, of General Dynamics, Groton, CT., 1 May 1970.Courtesy of Electric Boat.
Submerged submarines93kLaunch cachet of the Billfish (SSN-676).USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Submerged submarines1.73kFifeteen photo Commissioning PDF for the Billfish (SSN-676). Photo courtesy of Edward Haberberger via Mike Smolinski.
Submerged submarines1.72kTwelve photo Welcome Aboard PDF the Billfish (SSN-676). Photo courtesy of Edward Haberberger via Mike Smolinski.
Billfish11kCaptain Richard M. "Mac" Hughes placed Billfish (SSN-676), in commission in Groton, CT, and conducted operations for two years. Captain Hughes also had command of the submarine tender Fulton (AS-11), the Nuclear Power Training Unit, Idaho Falls, ID, and Submarine Refit and Training Group, La Maddelena, Italy. USN photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
Billfish30kBillfish (SSN-676), underway, probably during her sea trials off the coast of New England, 1970.Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of the Cobia SS-245.
Submerged submarines1.30kBillfish (SSN-676) on 16 December 1970.USN photo # NPC 1146748 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Billfish140kBillfish (SSN-676) at the Queen's Silver Jubilee Review, June 1977. Photo also shows California (CGN-36), and the either HMS Tiger or HMS Blake, a County Class guided missile destroyer and RMAS Waterfowl. USN photo submitted by Robert Hurst.
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.
Billfish110kA technician checks the diesel backup engine aboard the nuclear-powered attack submarine Billfish (SSN-676), 1 Jul 1981. Official USN photo # DN-ST-88-07347, by Fred Maroon, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
Billfish64k An aerial port view of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Billfish (SSN-676), underway, 1 January 1984. Official USN photo courtesy of Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr.
Billfish461kPosing for a photograph next to the sail of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Billfish (SSN-676) are from left to right: Lieutenant (LT) W. Hillardes, F. Sullivan, B. Lynn, Lieutenant Commander (LTC) Hering, Vice Admiral (VADM) Daniel L. Cooper, commander, Submarine Force, US Atlantic Fleet; Dr. S. Wills, Vice Admiral (VADM) James R. Hogg, director, Naval Warfare, Office of the CHIEF of Naval Operations, and Captain (CAPT) G. Dorman. The Billfish surfaced through the icepack during Exercise ICEX '87, 01/01/1987 Billfish (SSN-676) 16 December 1970.Image # DN-SC-88-04005 courtesy of the National Archives via Bill Gonyo.
Billfish113kCrewmen from the nuclear-powered attack submarine Billfish (SSN-676) chop a hole through ice covering the bow of the ship while it is surfaced at the North Pole. The sail-mounted diving planes are in the vertical position for breaking through the ice on 30 March 1987. Official USN photo # DN-ST-87-06187, by PH1 Chuck Mussi, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
Billfish156kThe sail of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Billfish (SSN-676) protudes from the ice while the ship is surfaced at the North Pole. The sail-mounted diving planes are in the vertical position for breaking through the ice on 30 March 1987. Official USN photo # DN-ST-87-06189, by PH 1 Mussi, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
Billfish28kBillfish (SSN-676), above the Arctic Circle, 2 April 1987.USN photo courtesy of the US Navy Arctic Submarine Laboratory.
North Pole83kU.S. and British sailors explore the Arctic ice cap while conducting the first U.S./British coordinated surfacing at the North Pole. The ships are, left to right: the nuclear-powered attack submarines Sea Devil (SSN-664), HMS Superb(S-109) and the Billfish (SSN-676), 18 May 1987. Text i.d. via John Hummel.
Official USN photo # DN-ST-87-09889, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
Sea Devil89 U.S. and British sailors explore the Arctic ice cap while conducting the first U.S./British coordinated surfacing at the North Pole. The ships are, left to right: the nuclear-powered attack submarine Sea Devil (SSN-664), the fleet submarine HMS Superb (S-109) , and the nuclear-powered attack submarine Billfish (SSN-676), 18 May 1987. Official USN photo # DN-ST-87-09888, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
Billfish123kBillfish (SSN-676) in warm water.Photo courtesy of Richard Miller, BMCS, USNR RET.
Billfish368kThe nuclear-powered attack submarine Billfish (SSN-676) is silhouetted against the water while taking part in the joint U.S./French naval exercise Dasix Lafayette, 10 June 1992. Official USN photo # DN-ST-92-09467, by PH3 Howard M. Arnold, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
Billfish761kMembers of a U.S. Navy Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) team prepare to dive from the deck of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Billfish (SSN-676) during combat rescue training, part of the joint U.S./French naval exercise Dasix Lafayette, 10 June 1992. Official USN photo # DN-ST-92-09468, by PH3 Howard M. Arnold, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
Billfish215kA crewman inspects the pylons securing the deep submergence rescue vehicle Avalon (DSRV-2) to the deck of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Billfish (SSN-676). Both are scheduled to participate in the NATO deep sea rescue exercise Sorbet Royal '92 on 2 September 1992. Official USN photo # DN-SC-93-00495, by PH3 Douglas L. Badders, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
Avalon 749k Crewmen inspect the deep submergence rescue vehicle Avalon (DSRV-2) secured to the deck of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Billfish (SSN-676) on 1 September 1992. Both are scheduled to participate in the NATO deep sea rescue exercise Sorbet Royal '92. Official USN photo # DN-SC-93-00499 by PH3 Douglas L. Badders, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
Billfish58kBillfish (SSN-676), bow view at Groton CT, 1997. Courtesy of Lester Palifka.
Billfish25kCommemorative postal cover marking issued on the occasion of Billfish's (SSN-676) participation in Icex 1998, 17 September 1998. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Billfish88kBillfish (SSN-676), during Special Warfare Ops. SEAL team launching inflatable boats, date and place unknown.USN photo courtesy of the Federation of American Scientists.
Billfish77kBillfish (SSN-676), during Special Warfare Ops. SEAL team launching inflatable boats, date and place unknown.USN photo courtesy of the Federation of American Scientists.
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. Hughes, Richard McBurney, USN (USNA 1955)12.03.1971 - 04.04.1973 First Date in Commission
02CDR. Butterworth III, Frank Willoughby, USN (USNA 1958) :RADM04.04.1973 - 19.04.1976
03CDR. Volgenau, Douglas, USN (USNA 1959) :RADM19.04.1976 - 20.04.1979
04CAPT. Okeson, James Clifford, USN20.04.1979 - 11.04.1984
05CDR. Jones, Francis Terrell, USN11.04.1984 - 25.06.1987
06CDR. Luhan, John Bernard, USN25.06.1987 - 13.02.1988
07CDR. Jackson, George William, USN13.02.1988 - 06.04.1988
08CDR. Glover, Ronald Burton, USN06.04.1988 - 17.04.1991
09CDR. Graham, James Frank, USN (USNA 1974)17.04.1991 - 09.07.1993
10CDR. Rifkin, David Evan, USN09.07.1993 - 11.08.1995
11CDR. Haskin, Mark Herman, USN11.08.1995 - 18.03.1998
12CDR. Stevens, James Gerard, USN18.03.1998 - 01.07.1999 Last Date in Commission
Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
There is no DANFS History currently available for Billfish (SSN-676) at the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site, the main archive for the DANFS Online Project.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Billfish SSN 676
FAS--SSN-637 Sturgeon class
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