USS Puffer (SSN-652)

USS Puffer (SSN-652) on her way to Guam in 1994.
History
Name: USS Puffer (SSN-652)
Namesake: The pufferfish
Ordered: 26 March 1963
Builder: Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi
Laid down: 8 February 1965
Launched: 30 March 1968
Sponsored by: Mrs. John B. Colwell
Commissioned: 9 August 1969
Decommissioned: 12 July 1996
Struck: 12 July 1996
Motto: Pride in Perfection
Fate: Scrapping via Ship and Submarine Recycling Program completed 28 March 1997
General characteristics
Class and type: Sturgeon-class attack submarine
Displacement:
  • 3,978 long tons (4,042 t) light
  • 4,272 long tons (4,341 t) full
  • 294 long tons (299 t) dead
Length: 292 ft (89 m)
Beam: 32 ft (9.8 m)
Draft: 29 ft (8.8 m)
Installed power: 15,000 shaft horsepower (11.2 megawatts)
Propulsion: One S5W nuclear reactor, two steam turbines, one screw
Speed: Over 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Test depth: 1,300 feet (396 meters)
Complement: 109 (14 officers, 95 enlisted men
Armament:

USS Puffer (SSN-652), a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the pufferfish, a fish which inflates its body with air.

Construction and commissioning

The contract to build Puffer was awarded to Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on 26 March 1963 and her keel was laid down there on 8 February 1965. She was launched on 30 March 1968, sponsored by Mrs. John B. Colwell, and commissioned on 9 August 1969 with Commander John M. Will, Jr., in command.

1978

On May 22, 1978 a valve was mistakenly opened releasing up to 500 US gallons (1,900 l; 420 imp gal) of radioactive water in the Puget Sound.

1980's

As part of Submarine Squadron One, from May to October 1980 USS Puffer, under the command of Commander Howard W. Habermeyer Jr USN, conducted her fifth Westpac/Indian Ocean Cruise, visiting the ports of Hong Kong, Subic Bay, PI, Guam, and Diego Garcia. On 18 July 1980 USS Puffer Docked at HMAS Stirling, Rockingham, Western Australia for an R&R visit, departing on 25 July 1980. After this deployment USS Puffer received her third Navy Unit Commendation.

After returning from her 1980 Westpac cruise, USS Puffer conducted local operations from November 1980 to May 1981, when the submarine went into a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) which was completed in August 1981. During 1981 USS Puffer was awarded Submarine Squadron One's Battle 'E', Engineering 'E', and Supply 'E'. From September to late October 1981 USS Puffer conducted workups for her upcoming deployment.

USS Puffer would conduct her sixth Westpac/Indian Ocean Cruise from November 1981 to 14 May 1982. Again under the command of Commander Habermeyer Jr, USS Puffer again visiting ports like Subic Bay, PI, Yokosuka, Japan. Again USS Puffer Docked at HMAS Stirling, Rockingham, Western Australia for an R&R visit from 10-17 February 1982. After this deployment USS Puffer received her fourth Navy Unit Commendation as well as her second Submarine Squadron One's Battle 'E'.

1989

Prior to the filming of The Hunt for Red October Sean Connery was on board preparing for his role as Capt. Marko Ramius. He was given the status of a commander and was allowed (while the captain was next to him) give orders while the boat was underway.(Ref. IMDB.com)

In The Hunt for Red October, the scene for the flashing light sequence was filmed at sea off the coast of San Diego using the Puffer and a Captain’s gig from one of the submarine tenders located at Point Loma sub base. A Mess Cook who knew Morse Code was given a script. The eyepiece was removed from the Number 2 periscope and a large flashlight was used since submarines do not have the capability. The Puffer is not listed in the film credits. [1]

Decommissioning and disposal

Puffer was decommissioned on 12 July 1996 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. Her scrapping via the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton, Washington, began on 20 October 1996 and was completed on 28 March 1997.

References

  1. ↑ Sutton, Dom CAPT USN (retired), (December 9, 2017). Watch officer at the time of filming.


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