Scamp (SSN-588)

Scamp (SSN-588) was a *Skipjack*-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarine of the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1961, she was the second ship of the U.S. Navy to bear the name, after the World War II *Gato*-class submarine USS *Scamp* (SS-277). Her service spanned the height of the Cold War, where she conducted vital intelligence collection missions and participated in numerous Pacific Fleet exercises.

Construction and commissioning

The contract for *Scamp* was awarded on 31 December 1957 to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard located in Vallejo, California. Her keel was laid down on 23 January 1959, and she was launched on 8 October 1960, sponsored by Mrs. John R. Perry. The submarine was officially placed in commission with the United States Navy on 5 June 1961, under the command of Commander Walter M. Douglass.

Design and features

As a member of the revolutionary *Skipjack* class, *Scamp* featured the advanced teardrop hull form, which provided exceptional hydrodynamic efficiency and underwater speed. She was powered by a single S5W reactor plant, a standard for U.S. nuclear submarines of the era, driving two propellers. Her armament consisted of six torpedo tubes located in the bow, capable of firing Mark 37 and later Mark 48 torpedoes, as well as the SUBROC anti-submarine warfare missile. The class's design directly influenced the subsequent *Thresher/Permit* class.

Service history

Following shakedown and initial operations with the Pacific Fleet, *Scamp* was primarily deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. She conducted numerous special operations and intelligence collection missions against Soviet and Chinese naval forces during the Cold War. In 1968, she participated in the search for the lost submarine USS *Scorpion* (SSN-589). A significant overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard from 1973 to 1975 included refueling her reactor and modernizing her sonar and combat systems. She later served as a training platform for Naval Reserve personnel.

Decommissioning and disposal

After over 26 years of service, *Scamp* was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register simultaneously on 28 April 1988. Her defueled reactor core was removed, and her hull was processed through the Ship-Submarine Recycling Program at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. The recycling was completed on 9 September 1994.

Awards and legacy

Throughout her career, *Scamp* was awarded several unit awards, including the Navy Unit Commendation and multiple Navy Expeditionary and Sea Service awards. The submarine is remembered for her contributions to undersea surveillance and the development of fast attack submarine tactics during a critical period of naval history. Her name was later assigned to the *Virginia*-class submarine USS *Scamp* (SSN-811).

Category:Cold War submarines of the United States Category:Skipjack-class submarines Category:Ships built in Vallejo, California Category:1961 ships