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Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658)
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| Click On Image For Full Size | Size | Image Description | Source | |
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 | 90k | Gen. Mariano G. Vallejo, born 7 July 1808 at Monterey, Calif, entered the Monterey Presidial Academy in 1823. Appointed Secretary to the Governor of California in 1825, he later served as Commander of the Presidio at San Francisco, and in 1836 was appointed Commandante General and Director of Colonization of the Northern Frontier, the highest military command in northern California. That appointment terminated during the Bear Flag Revolt, General Vallejo, in spite of substantial losses suffered as a result of that revolution, chose to remain in his home State and support separation from Mexico and annexation by the United States. An influential member of the State's Constitutional Convention, he was elected a member of the first State Senate (1850). He continued to devote his energies to the development of California for the remainder of his life. General Vallejo died at Sonoma, Calif., 12 January 1890. | Photo courtesy of University of California Digital Library & submitted by Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 90k | Photos of flags hanging above the first hull section of Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) prior to her keel laying ceremonies at Mare Island on 7 July 1964. | USN photo # 64197-7-64, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 90k | The honorary keel layer for the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) are shown during her keel laying at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 7 July 1964. Pictured left to right are: RADM E. J. Fahy, Shipyard Commander; Philip A. Green, Deputy Chief Design Engineer; Oren A Kern, Outside Machine Shop Head; John C. Murphy, Industrial Relations Office; and R. P. Stroganoff, Chief Combat System Engineer. | USN photo # 64160-7-64, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 139k | President Lyndon B. Johnson put his brand on the keel of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) electronically from his office in Washington, DC on 7 July 1964. He addressed the crowd gather at the keel laying via telephone. | USN photo # 64162-7-64, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 364k | The initials of President Johnson on the keel of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) are inspected by Rep. Henry B. Gonzales, D-Tex, Main Speaker; Rep. Edward R. Roybal, D-Los Angeles; and RADM Edward J. Fahy, Shipyard Commander on 7 July 1964 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. | USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 98k | Congressman Henry B. Gonzales of San Antonio, Texas affixes his signature to the keel of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at her keel laying at Mare Island on 7 July 1964. | USN photo # 64194-7-64, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 141k | RADM Edward J. Fahy, Shipyard Commander, affixes his signature to the keel of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at her keel laying at Mare Island on 7 July 1964. Congressman Edward R. Roybal of Los Angeles (left) and Congressman Henry B. Gonzales of San Antonio, Texas (right) look on. | USN photo # 64164-7-64, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 232k | The scene at the keel laying of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on & July 1964. The hull section (background) used for the keel laying ceremony is seen through a missile compartment section of the hull (foreground). | USN photo # 64195-7-64, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 54k | Postal cover for the keel laying of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at Mare Island on 7 July 1964. The Vallejo Family crest is shown on the left. | USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 744k | Front cover of the 4 page PDF keel laying program ceremony for the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658), 7 July 1964. | USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 3.90k | 8 Page PDF from the Grapevine of scenes concerning the keel laying program ceremony for the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658), 7 July 1964. | USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 398k | The Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) is shown under construction at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in 1 July 1965. The missile silos are clearly visible. | USN photo # 68810-7-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 254k | Early October 1965. Photo of a group of Mariano G. Vallejo's (SSBN-658) plank owners taken at Mare Island prior to her launching. | USN photo # 70172-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 505k | The Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) is shown under construction at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in October of 1965. | USN photo # 70014-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 197k | Cover of the launching program of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) on 23 October 1965. | Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave. | |
 | 261k | The crew of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) are assembled topside during the launching of the submarine at Mare Island on 23 October 1965. | USN photo # 70339-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 290k | RADM E. B. Fluckey (COMSUBPAC) speaks during the launching ceremonies of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at Mare Island on 23 October 1965. | USN photo # 70340-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 121k | Miss Patricia O. V. McGettigan (left) was the sponsor and Senora Guadalupe Marron de Pardo (right) was the Matron of Honor for the launching of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at Mare Naval Shipyard in October of 1965. Miss McGettigan from San Francisco is the great great granddaughter of General Vallejo. Senora Guadalupe Marron de Pardo from Guadalajara, Mexico was the great granddaughter of General Vallejo. | USN photo # 70407-10-63, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 66k | Miss Patricia O. V. McGettigan was the sponsor for the launching of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at Mare Naval Shipyard on 10/23/1965. | USN photo # 70408-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 76k | Photo of primary participants at the launching the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at Mare Naval Shipyard in October of 1965. Left to right: Congressman L. Mendel Rivers, Chairman House, Armed Services Committee and guest speaker; Miss Patricia O. V. McGettigan, Sponsor; and RADM Edward J. Fahy, Commander, Mare Island Naval Shipyard. | USN photo # 70405-10-63, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 509k | VIPs at the launching of Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at Mare Island on 23 October 1965. | USN photo # 70404-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 390k | Bow shot of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) the morning of her launching at Mare Island on 23 October 1965. | USN photo # 70280-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 446k | Stern shot of Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) the morning of her launching at Mare Island on 23 October 1965. | USN photo # 70281-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 427k | Miss Patricia O. V. McGettigan christens the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) as the Shipyard Commander, RADM Edward J. Fahy looks on at Mare Island on 23 October 1965. | USN photo # 70305-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 427k | As the crew stands at attention on her deck, Miss Patricia O. V. McGettigan christens the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) the morning of her launching at Mare Island on 23 October 1965. | USN photo # 70304-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 496k | The Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) is about to be christened at Mare Naval Shipyard in October of 1965. | USN photo # 70411-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 526k | The Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) is half way down the ways during her launching at Mare Naval Shipyard in October of 1965. | USN photo # 70306-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 576k | Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) entering the water at her launching at Mare Island on 23 October 1965. | Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum photo # 70308C-10-65 TH, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 1.00k | Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at the end of ways during her launching at Mare Island on 23 October 1965. | USN photo # 70307-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 536k | The Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) is at the end of the ways during her launching at Mare Naval Shipyard in October of 1965. | USN photo # 70308-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 345k | The Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) is seen at the end of the building ways during her launching at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 23 October 1965. | USN photo # 704121-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 1.10k | Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) waterborne for the first time with the US Air Force providing a fly over during her launching at Mare Island on 23 October 1965. | USN photo # 70309-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 185k | The Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) is honored by a flight of F-102 Delta Daggers during her launching at Mare Naval Shipyard in October of 1965. The lead plane of that flight of three was flown by Ramon Medina, (Capt. at the time). They were assigned to the 82nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, from Travis AFB, CA. | USN photo # 70413-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Text i.d courtesy of Marlon Medina. | |
 | 1.00k | Six tugs with the just launched Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) in the Mare Island Channel on 23 October 1965. Tugs are left top to bottom: Satanta (YTM-270), YTL-434, Cahokia (YTM-135); Right top to bottom Lelaka (YTB-514), Sea Mule & Dekaury (YTB-178). | USN photo # 70310-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 0865851 |
259k | Capt. John (Jack) K. Nunneley as Commander of Mare Island Naval Support Activity. Photo is dated 31 March 1977. Note he was the first Commanding Officer of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658). | USN photo courtesy of Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 1.00k | Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) being moved to dry dock after launching at Mare Island on 23 October 1965. | USN photo # 70311-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 605k | Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) is in dry dock #3 at Mare Island on 23 October 1965 to drop her launching cradle. | USN photo # 70337-10-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 88k | Commemorative post mark on the occasion of Mariano G. Vallejo's (SSBN-658) launching, 23 October 1965. | Courtesy of Jim Richardson. | |
 | 914k | Commemorative Medals issued by the Exchange Club in Vallejo for the launching of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at Mare Island on 23 October 1965 & accompanying 4 page PDF. | Photo courtesy of Steve & Linda Blanchard. | |
| Sea Trials - Commissioning | ||||
 | 116k | Forward port quarter view of Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) departing San Francisco Bay on 15 May 1966 on her builders trials. | USN photo # 051566-01, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 125k | Bow on view of Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) departing San Francisco Bay on 15 May 1966 on her builders trials with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. | USN photo # 051566-03, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 164k | Capt. George L. Street (Commander Sub Group San Francisco and Ex CO of Tirante (SS-420) present a letter of commendation of LCDR Botshon (PXO of Vallejo's (SSBN-658) Gold Crew) at Mare Island on 14 June 1966. | Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 176k | RADM J. H. McQuilkin (Shipyard Commander) receives salutes form left CDR John K. Nunneley (PCO Gold) and right CDR Douglas B Guthe (PCO Blue) at awards ceremonies for the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at Mare Island on 14 June 1966. | Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 1.27k | This eleven PDF pamphlet appears to have been given to visitors during the various events leading up to the submarine's commissioning. | Photo courtesy of Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 107k | Newspaper clipping from the 16 September 1966 edition of the Vallejo Times-Herald showing the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) in dry dock #3 at Mare Island sometime between 27 August and 15 September 1966. | USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 70k | A clipping from the 18 November 1966 edition of the shipyard newspaper showing the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at the outfitting dock. | USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 310k | Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) on sea trials in early December 1966. | USN photo # 75551-12-66, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 197k | The crew of Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) during the commissioning ceremonies of the boat at Mare Island on 16 December 1966. | USN photo # 75692-12-66, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 337k | View of the crews mess aboard Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at Mare Island in December 1966. | USN photo # 75818-12-66, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 289k | View of the crews mess aboard Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at Mare Island in December 1966. | USN photo # 75819-12-66, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 1.60k | The crowd at the commissioning of Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at Mare Island on 16 December 1966. | U.S. Navy # 75674-12-66 photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 58k | First day cover for the commissioning of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658), 16 December 1966. | Courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 89k | A clipping from the 23 December 1966 editon of the shipyard newspaper covering the commissioning of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658). | USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 83k | Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) off Mare Island sometime in December 1966. | USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 99k | Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) departs Mare Island sometime in December 1966. | USN photo # 75579-12-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 69k | Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) off the California coast sometime in December 1966. | USN photo # 75594-12-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 289k | Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) at Mare Island under going post shake-down repairs in June 1967. | USN photo # 78147-6-67, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 109k | The nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) possibly sometime after her commissioning. | USN photo courtesy of Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr. | |
| Service - Decommissioning | ||||
 | 1.02k | Eleven page Welcome Aboard Program for the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658), circa 1973. | USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
 | 627k | Ten page COC 1973 Gold Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) | Photo courtesy of Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 73k | An official Hawaiian welcome (this is supposed to be a family site) awaits the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) as she arrives dockside in this probably circa 1970's photo. | USN photo courtesy of pelicanharborsubvets.com. | |
 | 32k | A C-4 Posideon missile clears the water during demonstration and shakedown launch from the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) in mid - 1976. | USN photo courtesy of Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr. | |
 | 460k | A UGM-96 Trident missile clears the water during the 20th demonstration and shakedown launch from the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658), 9 October 1984. This is the 45th flight of the Trident missile. | USN photo # DF-SC-85-12090 by JOSN Oscar Sosa, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 836k | The fleet ballistic missile submarine Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) is brought into Kings Bay after completing the Navy's 2,500th deterrent patrol on 1 October 1987. | USN photo # DN-ST-88-00240 by JO2 Jodelle Blankenship, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 334k | Crew members stand at parade rest aboard the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) while participating in a ceremony commemorating the completion of the 2,500th deterrent patrol by fleet ballistic missile submarines of the US Navy. The 2,500th patrol was completed by the Mariano G. Vallejo. The fleet ballistic missile submarine Canopus (AS-34) is in the background. | Official USN photo # DN-SN-87-05951 by PH3 Joan Zop, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 510k | The nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) is assisted into a dock by the large harbor tugs Okmulgee (YTB-765) and Tomahawk (YTB-789) at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, 4 April 1987. The Mariano G. Vallejo has just completed the 2,500th deterrent patrol by a fleet ballistic missile submarine of the United States Navy. Another submarine is moored alongside the fleet ballistic missile submarine tender Canopus (AS-34) is in the background. | USN photo # DN-SN-87-05959 by PH3 Vise, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 131k | Side boys salute as Vice Admiral (VADM) Bruce Demars, deputy chief of naval operations, Submarine Warfare, boards the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Mariano G. Vallejo to attend a ceremony commemorating the completion of the 2,500th deterrent patrol by fleet ballistic missile submarines of the US Navy. | USN photo # DN-SN-87-05955, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. & submitted by Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 460k | A port bow view of the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine Mariano G. Vallejo (SSN-658) in San Francisco Bay, underway on 1 February 1991. | USN photo # DN-ST-91-05233 by PH1 Wilson, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 131k | The Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658), is seen departing Mare Island on 13 September 1994 after her final port call of her career. She visited Mare Island from 4 September to 13 September 94. She is departing for inactivation at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. | USN photo # 268183, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 1.35k | Nineteen page PDF Program for the 1994 Inactivation of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658). | Photo courtesy of Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 26k | Commemorative post mark issued on the occasion of Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634), Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658), Simon Bolivar (SSBN-641), and Hammerhead (SSN-663), at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, entering Dry Dock No. 4 for scrapping 8 November 1994. | Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory). | |
 | 806k | Seven page Decommissioning Program for the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658), March 1995. | USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
 | 87k | Commemorative postal cover marking the 100 anniversary of the submarine service on 11 Aprill 2000, picturing the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) and listing all the Mare Island Navy Yard, CA. built nuclear ballistic submarines. |
Courtesy of The Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum and submitted by Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 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), Mariano G. Vallejo (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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 | 88k | The sail of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) returns to Mare Island on 19 October 1995 aboard YSD-256. The sail will go on display at the museum on the shipyard. | USN photo # 276955-10-95, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 132k | The sail of the Mariano G. Vallejo (SSN-658) resting on the dock at the former U. S. Naval Shipyard, Mare Island (CA) on 9 June 2009. Sub tower needs new home Mare Island-made Mariano G. Vallejo faces orders to relocate By Sarah Rohrs Posted: 11/14/2009 01:30:10 AM PST Ken Zadwick, president of the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation, points out a remnant of the Mariano G. Vallejo, a nuclear submarine that was made on Mare Island. It took a fleet of government officials to get portions of the Mariano G. Vallejo submarine returned to Vallejo, and now a historic foundation may need to find it a new home. The Mariano G. Vallejo nuclear submarine's conning tower, or sail, is on the Mare Island waterfront near dry docks 1 and 2. Development firm Lennar Mare Island has told the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation the tower must be moved so the area can undergo environmental clean-up next month, firm spokesman Jason Keadjian said. The conning tower is black and painted with the number 658. It is a 40-foot-long segment with tiny windows that emerged first when the submarine rose out of the water. Foundation president Ken Zadwick said the tower should remain on the Mare Island waterfront as a testament to the shipyard. "It needs to be seen by the public from across the river," Zadwick said. "This is like the Statue of Liberty for us. It's the only thing we have that represents the 513 ships built on Mare Island." Zadwick said he found a local business willing to move the tower to a Mare Island waterfront spot near the Art Ship, but LMI informed him, in a November 9 letter, that spot would be unsuitable. The city has been working with Lennar Mare Island and the historic park foundation for several months trying to identify a spot for the 132,000-pound tower, Assistant City Manager Craig Whittom said. Both the city and LMI said the land where the tower sits is now owned by LMI, but would be transferred to the city following environmental clean-up. "It's fairly simple. The tower needs to be moved to allow for environmental remediation," Whittom said. Some options are the foundation's Mare Island Museum property or Alden Park near Captain's Row on Walnut Avenue, Whittom said. Keadjian said waterfront options were explored, but none were found. He stressed the firm is deferring to the city's interest to have the conning tower moved to Alden Park or the museum property. However, Zadwick said moving the tower is not a matter of great urgency. He appealed to the City Council for help this week. He added he is hoping he can work with the city to find a waterfront spot. If the tower must be moved immediately, Zadwick said it might be possible to put it in the Mare Island Strait temporarily. The tower is now sitting on wooden planks, and has been painted with a rust-inhibitor, he said. It is within a fenced-off area and can be seen looking while across the Mare Island Strait from the Ferry Building. Saved from the salvage yard at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the tower has been on the Mare Island waterfront since 1995. It was transported on the USS Sperry on its way to the Benicia's Mothball Fleet in the Suisun Bay, Zadwick said. The tower made its way to Mare Island via a barge and then was put on a train car where it was delivered to its present spot, he said. To try to save the Mariano G. Vallejo, Zadwick, former Vallejo Mayor Tony Intintoli, and federal officials lobbied the Navy. At one point, the military agreed to sell entire submarine for $10 million, Zadwick said. Later, Naval officials agreed to make portions of the submarine available, which included the tower, plus the control panel, periscope and anchor chain now stored at the Mare Island Museum. Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum executive director Jim Kern said the conning tower "is significant because it's the only remaining part of the Mariano G. Vallejo, among the most famous ships built on Mare Island." "It needs to be somewhere where it's on public view for the greatest number of people," Kern added. | Photo courtesy of Capt. Jack C. Goldthorpe, USCG (Retired). | |
 0865821 | 179k | Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) seen with 20/20 vision in March of that year. | Photo by Lee Ann Baker. | |
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