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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Pintado (SSN-672)

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Mike - Zulu

Sturgeon Class Attack Submarine: Laid down, 27 October 1967, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 16 August 1969; Commissioned, USS Pintado (SSN-672), 11 September 1971; Decommissioned, and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 26 February 1998; Final Disposition, disposed of through the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 27 October 1998.

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.

Size	Image Description	Source
1.70k	RADM J. H. McQuilkin, USN, Shipyard Commander at the podium during the keel laying ceremonies for Pintado (SSN-672) at Mare Island on 28 October 1967.	USN photo # 80371-10-67, contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
106k	Clipping from the "Vallejo Times-Herald" 28 October 1967, issue showing the keel laying ceremonies of the Pintado (SSN-672) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 27 October 1967.	USN photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
60k	Clipping from the "Vallejo Times-Herald" 28 October 1967 issue showing the keel laying ceremonies of the Pintado (SSN-672) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 27 October 1967.	USN photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
81k	Clipping from the shipyard newspaper "Tieline" 3 November 1967 issue showing RADM J. H. McQuilkin, USN, Shipyard Commander authenticating the keel of the Pintado (SSN-672) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 27 October 1967.	USN photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
115k	This is a clipping from the 21 March 1969 issue of the shipyard's newspaper the "Tieline". It show the sign used on the building ways to identified the Pintado (SSN-672). Left to right: Foreman Rigger Ray Northern, Shipwright Einar Asted (kneeling) and Rigger Harold Rutherford.	USN photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
982k	Former crew members of the Pintado (SS-387) gather at the launching of the Pintado (SSN-672) at Mare Island on 16 August 1969. Front Row: Fred Powers, ADM B. A. Clarey (Vice CNO), CDR Paul B. Grozen (PCO of *Pintado*); 2nd row Capt. S. J. Robinson, Ray Hill, Gerald Mitchell & C. G. Mendenhall; 3rd row LCDR Eric Bailey, Douglas T. Morris, Edwin W. Frese, Harold Alman & Ray Emerson.	USN photo # 939X27-8-69 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
83k	The official launching party for the Pintado (SSN-672) is shown at the Mare Island on 16 August 1969. Left to right: Standing: W. M. Clark, Triggerman; Capt J. H. Thornton, USN Deputy Commander for Industrial Operations, Mare Island; RADM Sonenshein, USN Commander, Naval Ship Systems Command; ADM Bernard A. Clarey, USN, Vice Chief of Naval Operations; RADM N. Frankenberger, USN, Shipyard Commander; RADM Walter L. Small, JR., USN, Commander, Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet; Capt H. R. Adrianse, USN, Production Officer; CDR Paul B. Grozen, USN, PCO, *Pintado*, Seated: Mrs. Thornton; Mrs. Spencer Reitz, Matron of Honor; Mrs. Clarey, Sponsor; Mrs. Frankenberger; Mrs. Adrianse; Mrs. Clark.	USN photo # 93942-8-69, contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
74k	Mrs. Bernard A. Clarey (left) was the Sponsor for the launching of the Pintado (SSN-672) at Mare Island on 16 August 1969. Mrs. Spencer Reitz acted at the Matron of Honor.	USN photo # 93945-8-69, contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
47k	ADM Bernard A. Clarey, USN, Vice Chief of Naval Operations (left) was guest speaker at the launching of the Pintado (SSN-672) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 16 August 1969. He was also the first commanding officer the the World War II era submarine Pintado (SS-387). Mrs. Bernard A. Clarey (center) serviced as Sponsor for the new *Pintado*. RADM N. Frankenberger, USN, (right) was Commander of Mare Island at the time.	USN photo # 93946-8-69, contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
88k	Mrs. Bernard A. Clarey christens the Pintado (SSN-672) at Mare Island on 16 August 1969. RADM N. Frankenberger, USN, Commander, Mare Island Naval Shipyard (left) and Capt H. R. Adrianse, USN, Production Officer (center) look on.	USN photo # 93950-8-69, contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
278k	Pintado (SSN-672) is made ready for her launching at Mare Island Naval Shipyard (Note at this time Mare Island was part of San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard with included Hunters Point division in San Francisco) on 16 August 1969. Note the *Pintado's* insignia is different from the one she will be commissioned with in 1971. In the background, the shipyard's dredge *YM-35* is making the channel ready for the launch.	USN photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
203k	Pintado (SSN-672) is about to be launched at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 16 August 1969.	USN photo # 93951-8-69, contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
177k	Pintado (SSN-672) is at the end of the ways at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 16 August 1969.	USN photo # 93955-8-69, contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
161k	Pintado (SSN-672) is waterborne for the first time at her launching at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 16 August 1969.	USN photo # 93956-8-69, contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
82k	Broadside view of the Pintado (SSN-672) after her launching at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 16 August 1969.	USN photo # 93957-8-69, contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
36k	Commemorative post mark of the launching of the Pintado (SSN-672), 16 August 1969.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
772k	Pintado (SSN-672) at her out fitting berth at Mare Island on 16 August 1969 after her launching.	USN photo # 939X28-8-69 TH courtesy of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
1.14k	Two views of Pintado (SSN-672) on the surface during her trials on 25 August 1971.	USN photo # 105911-8-71 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
1.16k	Pintado (SSN-672) on the surface during heading out to sea towards the Golden Gate Bridge during her trials on 25 August 1971.	USN photo # 105918-8-71 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
1.10k	CDR William J. Holland (CO) and LCDR J. F. Caldwell (XO) view the cake at the reception for the commissioning of thePintado (SSN-672) on 11 September 1971.	USN photo # 939X28-8-69 TH courtesy of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
87k	The crowd at the commissioning ceremony of the Pintado (SSN-672) at Mare Island on 11 September 1971. The tip of *Pintado's* fairwater plane is just visible to the left. The Drum (SSN-677) can be seen in the background.	USN photo # 106231-9-71, contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
88k	3 page PDF Launch Program for Pintado (SSN-672).	USN photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
686k	12 page PDF of the Pintado's (SSN-672) Commissioning Program.	USN photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
172k	Pintado (SSN-672) off the South end of Mare Island in September 1971.	USN photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
113k	A clipping from the 24 September 1971 issue of Mare Island Naval Shipyard's newspaper the "Grapevine" showing boards detailing the short history of the Pintado (SSN-672) and the honors won by its predecessor, the Pintado (SS-387).	USN photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
73k	A clipping from the 24 September 1971 issue of Mare Island Naval Shipyard's newspaper the "Grapevine" showing honors being rendering to ADM Bernard A. Clarey, Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet (left), guest speaker at the commissioning. Capt W. C. Barnes, Shipyard Commander is on the right.	USN photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
99k	A clipping from the 24 September 1971 issue of Mare Island Naval Shipyard's newspaper the "Grapevine" showing CDR William J. Holland Jr., USN assuming command of Pintado (SSN-672) from RADM Edward W. Cooke, USN, ComSubFlot One.	USN photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
90k	A clipping from the 24 September 1971 issue of Mare Island Naval Shipyard's newspaper the "Grapevine" showing ADM Clarey's flag being broken aboard the Pintado (SSN-672) during her commissioning ceremony at Mare Island on 11 September 1971.	USN photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
87k	News clipping from the "Vallejo Times-Herald" Sunday edition of 14 November 1971 showing Pintado's (SSN-672) arrival at San Diego after her trip from Mare Island.	USN photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
252k	The front page of the "Vallejo Times-Herald" of 4 July 1975 covering the collision of Pintado (SSN-672) with "armed Russian ballistic missile submarine" a year earlier. The picture show the dented steel sonar dome while she was in dry dock in Guam.	USN photo contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
43k	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.
145k	Submerged submarines in tandem.	USN photo courtesy of Robert Hall.
554k	An aerial port beam view of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Pintado (SSN-672) underway while conducting submarine operations off the coast of San Diego on 28 March 1977. Mounted near the stern is the deep submergence rescue vehicle Mystic (DSRV-1), which can provide world-wide, rapid-deployment, all-weather capability for the rescue of survivors of a disabled submarine.	USN photo # DN-SC-86-00167, by PH1 A. Legare, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
67k	Two members of Pintado's (SSN-672) crew, October 1975.	USN photo courtesy of Bob Shouse.
253k	Pintado (SSN-672) dockside on 20 January 1978.	Photo courtesy of Chris Howell via Gary Priolo.
45k	Pintado's (SSN-672) crew heading to the Arctic in October 1978.	Photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck VanDerhoff. USN photo courtesy of Bob Shouse.
62k	Commemorative cake for Pintado's (SSN-672) rendezvous to the Arctic in 22 October 1978 with the Coast Guard.	Photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck VanDerhoff. USN photo courtesy of Bob Shouse.
33k	Pintado (SSN-672) at the Arctic in 22 October 1978.	Photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck VanDerhoff. USN photo courtesy of Bob Shouse.
73k	The Pintado (SSN-672) at sea with a "Battle E" on her sail, circa 1978.	USN photo # 229312, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
37k	Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of the Pintado (SSN-672) Polar expedition, October ober 1978.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
20k	Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of the Pintado's (SSN-672) 10th commissioning anniversary, 11 September 1981.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
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)
787k	Pintado (SSN-672) with DSRV attached sometime before August 1989.	USN photo # 235636-10-89 courtesy of Jim Stats and submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
581k	The Pintado (SSN-672) makes a point in the Arctic ice sometime before August 1989.	USN photo # 235637-10-89 courtesy of Jim Stats and submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
822k	The sun and the American flag shine upon the Pintado (SSN-672) in the Arctic ice sometime before August 1989.	USN photo # 235638-10-89 courtesy of Jim Stats and submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
797k	The Pintado (SSN-672) in the Arctic ice sometime before August 1989.	USN photo # 242279-8-89 courtesy of Jim Stats and submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
697k	Green abounds the Pintado (SSN-672) as she travels down stream sometime before August 1989.	USN photo # 242278-8-89 courtesy of Jim Stats and submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
73k	Pintado (SSN-672) passing Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, 1995.	Photo by ET2/SS Robert "Bobby" Havicon, courtesy of Federation of American Scientists (fas.org).
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

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Holland Jr., William Jeremiah, USN (USNA 1955) :RADM	11.09.1971 - 20.07.1973 First Date in Commission
02	CDR. Reynolds, James Guy, USN (USNA 1959) :VADM	20.07.1973 - 28.04.1977
03	CDR. McDonald Jr., John Joseph (Jack), USN (USNA 1963)	28.04.1977 - 10.01.1981
04	CDR. LaBrecque, Robert Joseph, USN	10.01.1981 - 30.07.1984
05	CAPT. Vidosic, Richard Paul, USN (USNA 1966)	30.07.1984 - 28.08.1987
06	CDR. Talipsky, Richard William, USN	28.08.1987 - 22.06.1989
07	CDR. Thompson, Thomas Allen, USN (USNA 1973)	22.06.1989 - 08.05.1992
08	CDR. Graff, Gary Lynn, USN	08.05.1992 - 11.04.1995
09	CDR. Gonzalez Jr., Alfred Hector, USN	11.04.1995 - 26.02.1998 Last Date in Commission


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler

View the Pintado (SSN-672)
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

FAS--SSN-637 Sturgeon class

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