Commissioned uss s-7 at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, me; Lt

1920 - PCU S-7 (SS-112) commissioned USS S-7 at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME; Lt.

Comdr. Sherwood Picking commanding.

1930 - PCU NAUTILUS V-6 (SS-168) commissioned Cruiser Submarine USS V-6 (SC-2) at Mare

Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA; Lt. Comdr. Thomas J. Doyle, Jr. commanding.

1931 - USS O-7 (SS-68) decommissioned at Philadelphia, PA; laid up in the Atlantic Reserve

Fleet.

1941 - PCU BLACKFISH (SS-221) keel laid as BLACKFISH at the Electric Boat Company, Groton,

1946 - USS SEARAVEN (SS-196) was sunk as a target vessel in Operation Crossroads nuclear

weapon test ABLE (detonated at an altitude of 520 feet (158 meters)) at Bikini Atoll. She

escaped the tests with only negligible damage.

test ABLE (detonated at an altitude of 520 feet (158 meters)) at Bikini Atoll. She received

only superficial damage.

USS SKATE (SS-305) was sunk as a target vessel in Operation Crossroads nuclear weapon

test ABLE (detonated at an altitude of 520 feet (158 meters))at Bikini Atoll. Although

considerably damaged by the first of the tests, the submarine survived and was towed

back to Pearl Harbor, where she was moored in an isolated berth.

weapon test ABLE (detonated at an altitude of 520 feet (158 meters)) at Bikini Atoll. She

was destroyed in the later nuclear weapon test BAKER on 25 July 1946.

USS DENTUDA (SS-335) was sunk as a target vessel in Operation Crossroads nuclear

weapon test ABLE (detonated at an altitude of 520 feet (158 meters)) at Bikini Atoll. She

underwent both atomic weapons tests with her crew safely away from their submarine,

and returned to Pearl Harbor September 5.

weapon test ABLE (detonated at an altitude of 520 feet (158 meters)) at Bikini Atoll.

PARCHE survived both the air burst and the underwater burst, coming through relatively

undamaged. After decontamination, she proceeded to Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo,

CA.

USS PILOTFISH (SS-386) by directive, PILOTFISH was to be disposed of by use as a target

for an atomic bomb test.

1949 - PCU K-1 (BARRACUDA) keel laid as K-1 (SSK-1) at the Electric Boat Division, General

Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT.

1954 - PCU GRAYBACK (SSG-574) keel laid as GRAYBACK at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo,

CA. RADM F. I. Entwistle, USN, Commander, Mare Island - Vallejo Area, U.S. Naval Base

San Francisco, delivered the principle address at the keel laying ceremony. GRAYBACK

was the last diesel powered submarine built at the yard. Capt. H. M. Thorpe, USN,

Production Officer Mare Island, reported that "the keel is well and truly laid" for

GRAYBACK (SSG-574). The Honorary Keel Layers E. E. Pozzi, Master Painter and A. M.

MacDonald, Master Sheetmetal Worker flanked the captain.

1961 - PCU PERMIT (SSN-594) launched at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.

1964 - USS HENRY CLAY (SSBN-625) ran aground on a shoal in the mouth of the James River and

was pulled free an hour later by two tugs. The submarine was en route from Newport

News, VA, across Hampton Roads to pick up Deputy Secretary of Defense Cyrus Vance in

Norfolk, VA. No damage was reported.

1971 - USS SABALO (SS-302) decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register at San

Diego, CA.

and transferred (sold) to Argentina; renamed Santa Fe.

transferred (sold) to Argentina, under terms of the Security Assistance Program.

Renamed Santiago del Estero (S-22).

USS HALFBEAK (SS-352) decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval

Vessel Register.

Reis (S-337). After transiting the Panama Canal, she underwent an overhaul at the

Philadelphia Navy Yard until January 1972.

USS RONQUIL (SS-396) second decommissioning; struck from the Naval Vessel Register

the same day and transferred to Spain under the Mutual Security Assistance Act.

Commissioned into the Spanish Navy as Isaac Peral (S-32).

USS THORNBACK (SS-418) second decommissioning; transferred (leased) to the Republic

of Turkey. Renamed and renumbered TCG Ulucalireis (S-338).

1972 - USS TRUTTA (SS-421) third decommisssioning; struck from the Naval Vessel Register;

transferred (sale) to the Republic of Turkey and commissioned TCG Cerbe (S-340) at Key

West Naval Station, FL. Trutta received two battle stars for her World War II service.

1973 - Ex-CARP (SS/AGSS/IXSS-338) sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS)

for scrapping.

Ex-PLAICE (SS-390) disposed of through the Security Assistance Program (SAP), sold for

display at the Brazilian Museum of Naval Technology, Santos, Brazil. PLAICE received six

battle stars for World War II service.

Ex-TRIGGER (SS-564) disposed of through the Security Assistance Program (SAP),

transferred to Italy.

1974 - Ex-ATULE (SS/AGSS-403) disposed of through the Security Assistance Program (SAP); sold

to Peru and renamed Pacocha (S 48).

transferred to Peru.

1975 - USS TIRU (SS-416) decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register to be sold

to the Turkish government. An American arms embargo imposed on Turkey as a result of

the Cyprus tensions between Greece and Turkey delayed the sale, however, even though

negotiations and arrangements had been well into the planning stages; those

arrangements never materialized. She was the last commissioned fleet (diesel)

submarine in the U.S. inventory.

1978 - Ex-LIZARDFISH (SS-373) disposed of through the Security Assistance Program (SAP),

transferred to Italy.

1979 - Ex-TIRU (SS-416) planned for conversion to remote control submersible target, listed to

be sold to the Turkish government; neither of these took place and her status was

changed - to be disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise (usually a target).

1989 - In July, a flooding incident aboard USS HOUSTON (SSN-713) resulted in eight

crewmembers being reassigned for psychological reasons.

1999 - Ex-NARWHAL (SSN-671) stricken from the Naval Vessel Register, on donation hold as a

Museum and Memorial.

2003 - the Los Angeles-class submarine USS GREENEVILLE (SSN-772) completed sea testing of

the Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Pearl

Harbor, HI. ASDS is an 65-foot mini-submarine, which rides attached to the deck of the

much larger attack submarine. It has increased range, speed, and capacity over the

current SEAL Delivery Vehicle, an open wet submersible that transports SEALs in scuba

gear, exposing them to the elements for longer periods. The ASDS mini-submarine is

operated by a crew of two and can carry eight SEAL team members.

2005 - Capt. Dennis Murphy, who saw all five of his submarines earn retention excellence

award during his tour commanding Submarine Squadron Seven, relinquished command

to Capt. Barry Bruner. During his two-year tenure, all five submarines earned the U.S.

Pacific Fleet Retention Excellence Award that is given annually to Pacific Fleet commands

that sustain superior levels of retention. The ceremony took place aboard USS TUCSON

(SSN-770) at Pearl Harbor, HI where Murphy previously served as commanding officer

from 1998-2001.

July 2

1914 - PCU M-1 (SS-47) keel laid as M-1 at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA, for

Electric Boat Company, New York, N.Y.

1919 - PCU S-39 (SS-144) launched at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, CA;

sponsored by Miss Clara M. Huber.

1944 - PCU BUGARA (SS-331) launched at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.

1945 - USS O-7 (SS-68) second decommissioning.

1957 - PCU GRAYBACK (SSG-574) launched at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.

1968 - The Norfolk Ledger-Star reported that several months ago a U.S. nuclear-powered attack

submarine collided with a Soviet submarine, causing severe damage to the U.S. vessel

which spent two months in Rota, Spain for repair. The Navy declined to comment on the

story by the paper's military correspondent who quoted a usually reliable source. The

reporter noted that it was known that during recent months Soviet attack submarines

had lain off overseas U.S. Polaris Missile Submarine ports, and that U.S. submarines had

been given "wiping off" missions to prevent the Soviet submarines from following the

Polaris boats. These missions apparently could get quite rough, amounting to what one

officer said was "underwater 'chicken', with U.S. and Soviet submarines set on collision

courses until the 'chicken' turns away". Presumably this was what happened to the

submarines above.

July 3

1801 - Robert Fulton's submarine Nautilus dove to a depth of 25 feet and remained there for

more than an hour.

1913 - PCU H-3 (SS-30) launched at Seattle Construction & Drydock Company, Seattle, WA;

sponsored by Miss Helen MacEwan.

1940 - PCU TAUTOG (SS-199) commissioned USS TAUTOG (SS-199) at the Electric Boat

Company, Groton, CT.

1946 - Ex-STINGRAY (SS-186) struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

1963 - PCU ANDREW JACKSON (SSBN-619) commissioned USS ANDREW JACKSON (SSBN-619) at

Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.

1989 - PCU SCRANTON (SSN-756) launched at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock

Company, Newport News, VA.

1990 - PCU MAINE (SSBN-741) keel laid as MAINE at the Electric Boat Division, General

Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT.

1996 - PCU SEAWOLF (SSN-21) navigated the Thames River on her way from the Naval

Submarine Base, Groton, CT, to Narragansett Bay to conduct initial sea trials. Sea trials

include various tests of the ship's propulsion systems and the first underway

submergence. Representing the Navy's most advanced technology, SEAWOLF was

scheduled to be delivered to the Navy and commissioned that fall.

1997 - USS SEAWOLF (SSN-21) arrived at Port Canaveral, FL. SEAWOLF was submerged for 3

days during her most recent sea trial from the submarine base in Groton, CT.

2001 - USS LOS ANGELES (SSN-688) was pier-side on Changi Naval Base, Singapore, during the

seventh annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2001 exercise.

CARAT was a series of exercises which take place throughout the western Pacific each

summer to increase regional cooperation and promote interoperability between

participating countries. Countries that participated that summer include Indonesia,

Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Brunei.

July 4

1918 - PCU O-7 (SS-68) commissioned USS O-7 at Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, MA;

Lt. Comdr. F. C. Sherman, commanding.

1928 - USS S-6 (SS-111) ran aground for 12 hours on Moosebeck Ledge off Jonesport, ME.

1943 - PCU CERO (SS-225) commissioned USS CERO (SS-225) at the Electric Boat Company,

Groton, CT; Commander D. C. White commanding.

1944 - PCU BLACKFIN (SS-322) commissioned USS BLACKFIN (SS-322) at Electric Boat Company,

Groton, CT.

1944 - USS S-28 (SS-133) lost during ASW exercises off Hawaii; on 3 July 1944, she began

training operations off Oahu with the Coast Guard cutter RELIANCE (WSC-150). The

antisubmarine warfare exercises continued into the evening of July 4th. At 1730, the

day's concluding exercise began. Contact between the two became sporadic and at 1820

the last, brief contact with S-28 was made and lost. All attempts to establish

communications failed. Assistance arrived from Pearl Harbor but a thorough search of

the area failed to locate the submarine. Two days later, a diesel oil slick appeared in the

area where she had been operating but the extreme depth exceeded the range of

available equipment. A Court of Inquiry was unable to determine the cause of the loss of

S-28. Forty-nine brave submariners were lost with S-28 that day. She was the thirty-third

U.S. submarine loss of World War II. S-28 was awarded one battle star for her services in

World War II.

1962 - PCU STONEWALL JACKSON (SSBN-634) keel laid as STONEWALL JACKSON at Mare Island

Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.

1963 - USS SALMON (SS-573) suffered personnel casualties when mercury from a broken

thermometer came into contact with a hot grid, creating toxic mercury vapor. This

resulted in the intoxication of 14 crewmembers.

1939 - PCU TRITON (SS-201) keel laid as TRITON at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME.

1943 - USS S-30 (SS-135) got underway on her 8th war patrol of World War II, which took her

back to the Kurils and into the Sea of Okhotsk.

1996 - the Navy's newest attack submarine, PCU SEAWOLF (SSN-21), completed her initial sea

trials and returned to Electric Boat Division, Groton, CT. The test program included first

underwater submergence, acoustics trials, engineering inspections and at-sea training

for the crew.

2006 - the fast attack submarine USS COLUMBIA (SSN-771) departed Pearl Harbor, HI, in

support of Rim of the Pacific 2006 (RIMPAC) exercises. Eight nations participated in

RIMPAC, the world’s largest biennial maritime exercise. Conducted in the waters off

Hawaii, RIMPAC brings together military forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, Peru,

Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.

July 6

1916 - PCU O-14 (SS-75) keel laid as O-14 at California Shipbuilding Company, Long Beach, CA.

1944 - PCU HALFBEAK (SS-352) keel laid as HALFBEAK at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.

1946 - USS TIRANTE (SS-420) decommissioned at New London, CT; laid up in the Atlantic

Reserve Fleet.

1983 - PCU KEY WEST (SSN-722) keel laid as KEY WEST at Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock

Company, Newport News, VA.

1985 - PCU HONOLULU (SSN-718) commissioned USS HONOLULU (SSN-718) at Newport News

Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA.

1987 - PCU NEBRASKA (SSBN-739) keel laid as NEBRASKA at the Electric Boat Division, General

Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT.

July 7

1925 - USS S-48 (SS-159) decommissioned because funds were lacking for her repair after

grounding.

1936 - PCU PICKEREL (SS-177) launched at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.

1943 - U.S. submarines invaded the Sea of Japan for the first time in WW II. USS PLUNGER (SS-

179), USS PERMIT (SS-178) and USS LAPON (SS-260) entered through La Perouse Strait,

exiting four days later after sinking several ships.

PCU HARDHEAD (SS-365) keel laid as HARDHEAD at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company,

Manitowoc, WI.

1944 - PCU TENCH (SS-417) launched at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.

PCU THORNBACK (SS-418) launched at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.

1952 - USS BLUEGILL (SS-242) was placed out of commission in reserve and underwent

conversion to a Hunter-Killer Submarine.

1964 - PCU MARIANO G. VALLEJO (SSBN-658) keel laid as MARIANO G. VALLEJO at Mare Island

Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.

2004 - the lead ship in the Navy’s newest class of fast-attack submarines, PCU VIRGINIA (SSN-

774), was placed into service. Entry into service marks the stage where the crew moves

aboard the ship in advance of taking it to sea for the first time, and is a significant

milestone in a new ship’s construction. VIRGINIA began sea trials and was scheduled for

commissioning October 23, 2004 at Naval Station Norfolk, VA. Following commissioning,

VIRGINIA was homeported at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, CT.

VIRGINIA is a multi-mission platform with land, sea, and undersea firepower, advanced

sensors, and other special features that will enhance the Submarine Force’s core

competencies of stealth, agility, firepower and endurance. Virginia will bring greater

integrated acoustic and non-acoustic stealth than any SSN at sea or under construction.

As the first post-Cold War designed submarine, the Virginia-class fast attack submarines

(SSN) are designed for battle space dominance across a broad spectrum of regional and

littoral missions, as well as open-ocean, “blue water” missions. VIRGINIA is equipped

with sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements, to

include the Advanced SEAL Delivery System, advanced state-of-the-art submarine

communication and Electronic Support Measures systems with “Plug and Fight”

electronics, advanced sonar sensors for Anti-Submarine Warfare and mine warfare, and

land strike capability (12 Vertical Launch System tubes and four torpedo tubes for 16

Tomahawk missile salvo capability). VIRGINIA is 377 feet long, displaces approximately

7,800 tons, can travel in excess of 25 knots and has a crew of approximately 134 officers

and enlisted members. The next submarines in the Virginia class, which were then under

construction, were PCUs TEXAS (SSN-775), HAWAII (SSN-776), NORTH CAROLINA (SSN-

777), NEW HAMPSHIRE (SSN-778) and NEW MEXICO (SSN-779).

2006 - retired Rear Admiral Corwin Guy Mendenhall Jr., a decorated Navy veteran and author

of two World War II submarine history books, died. He was 89. Admiral Mendenhall was

assigned as a gunnery and torpedo officer on USS SCULPIN (SS-191), which went on to

sink 54,000 tons of Japanese shipping in seven patrols. Later, he was the World War II

commanding officer of USS PINTADO (SS-387) and USS CATFISH (SS-339) after the war.

He was awarded three Silver Stars, a Bronze Star, a Navy Commendation and 13 battle

stars.

July 8

1936 - PCU PLUNGER (SS-179) launched at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.

1942 - PCU BARB (SS-220) commissioned USS BARB (SS-220) at the Electric Boat Company,

Groton, CT.

1943 - PCU BLENNY (SS-324) keel laid as BLENNY at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.

1944 - PCU JALLAO (SS-368) commissioned USS JALLAO (SS-368) at Manitowoc Shipbuilding

Company, Manitowoc, WI.

1945 - PCU TUSK (SS-426) launched at William Cramp and Company Shipbuilding Company,

Philadelphia, PA.

1972 - USS ODAX (SS-484) decommissioned, struck from the Naval Vessel Register and

transferred (sold) under terms of the Security Assistance Program, to Brazil.

1978 - Ex-SEALION (SS/SSP/ASSP/APSS/LPSS-315) was sunk as a target off Newport, RI. SEALION

earned the Presidential Unit Citation and received five battle stars for her World War II

service.

Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT.

2006 - after 20 years of service in the Pacific Northwest, USS ALASKA (SSBN-732) departed

Naval Base Kitsap under command of Cmdr. Jon Fahs for the final time because she was

being relocated to the East Coast to undergo an Engineering Refueling Overhaul in

Norfolk, VA and then report to her new homeport in Kings Bay, GA.

1910 - PCU THRASHER (later G-4) (SS-26) launched at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME.

1918 - PCU N-6 (SS-58) commissioned USS N-6 at Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Bridgeport, CT;

Lt. Comdr. Herbert R. Hein commanding.

1923 - PCU S-25 (SS-130) commissioned USS S-25 (SS-130) at Bethlehem Shipbuilding

Corporation, Quincy, MA; Lt. Comdr. George H. Fort commanding.

1941 - USS FLYING FISH (SS-229) launched at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME.

1959 - PCU BONEFISH (SS-582) commissioned USS BONEFISH (SS-582) at New York Shipbuilding

Corporation, Camden, NJ; Lt. Comdr. Elmer H. Kiehl commanding.

1960 - USS THRESHER (SSN-593) launched at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME.

1961 - USS ROBERT E. LEE (SSBN-601) set a new continuous underwater patrol record of more

than 68 days.

1968 - Ex-MUSKALLUNGE (SS-262) sunk as a target by USS TENCH (SS-417). MUSKALLUNGE

received 5 battle stars for World War II service.

1988 - PCU OKLAHOMA CITY (SSN-723) commissioned USS OKLAHOMA CITY (SSN-723) at

Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA.

1992 - Ex-GUARDFISH (SSN-612) disposition complete by Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine

Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA.

1994 - PCU RHODE ISLAND (SSBN-740) commissioned USS RHODE ISLAND (SSBN-740) at the

Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT.

1918 - USS L-2 (SS-41) was the first U.S. Naval submarine credited with sinking an enemy ship.

L-2 was involved in a melee with two German subs (the UB-65 and another unknown

boat) on 10 July 1918. One of the German boats, the UB-65, was sunk, either by an

explosion of her own torpedo or by a torpedo from the other German boat. The British

Admiralty credited Lt. P.F. Foster and L-2 with having sunk the German sub. Lt. Forster

received the Navy Cross for his action in the engagement.

PCU R-21 (SS-98) launched at Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Bridgeport, CT; sponsored by

Mrs. Dallas C. Laizure.

1944 - PCU RUNNER (SS-476) keel laid as RUNNER at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.

PCU CUTLASS (SS-478) keel laid as CUTLASS at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.

1945 - USS BARB (SS-220) "sunk a train".

1993 - PCU NEBRASKA (SSBN-739) commissioned USS NEBRASKA (SSBN-739) at the Electric Boat

Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT.

1998 - USS BALTIMORE (SSN-704) decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register,

in storage at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard awaiting disposal by Submarine Recycling

Program.

2003 - USS MONTPELIER (SSN-765) moored at her homeport, Naval Station Norfolk, VA.

MONTPELIER was the last Norfolk-based submarine to return home from deployment in

support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

2006 - Cmdr. Erik Burian relieved Cmdr. Thomas Stanley as Commanding Officer, USS LOS

ANGELES (SSN-688) in a ceremony on the pier at Pearl Harbor Naval Station, HI.