Skipjack (SSN-585)

Skipjack (SSN-585) was the lead ship of the *Skipjack*-class of nuclear-powered attack submarines for the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1959, she was the first American submarine to combine a single S5W nuclear reactor with the revolutionary teardrop hull and a single screw, making her one of the fastest and most maneuverable submarines of her era. Her design principles became foundational for all subsequent American attack submarines, including the influential *Thresher* class.

Design and development

The design of *Skipjack* represented a radical departure from previous submarine classes like the *Tang* class. Her development was led by the Naval Reactors branch under Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, with the hull form perfected by the David Taylor Model Basin. The key innovation was the adoption of the *Albacore*'s teardrop hull, which offered vastly reduced underwater drag and hydrodynamic efficiency compared to traditional hull shapes. This was married to a new S5W reactor plant, a compact and powerful design that became the standard for the U.S. Navy for decades. The entire class was constructed by General Dynamics Electric Boat at its Groton, Connecticut shipyard, with the General Electric-built turbines driving a single large-diameter propeller. This configuration, eliminating the surface-optimized features of earlier nuclear submarines, gave *Skipjack* unprecedented speed and agility, fundamentally shifting submarine tactics towards true underwater operations.

Service history

Following her commissioning ceremony, presided over by Admiral Arleigh Burke, *Skipjack* began extensive trials with the Atlantic Fleet. She was initially homeported at Naval Submarine Base New London in Connecticut and assigned to Submarine Squadron 10. Throughout the Cold War, she conducted numerous vital intelligence collection and fleet exercise missions, often operating against units of the Soviet Navy. In 1961, she transited to the Pacific Fleet, being reassigned to Submarine Squadron One at Pearl Harbor. Her deployments took her across the Pacific Ocean, including operations in the Sea of Japan and the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War. In 1964, she participated in the Pacific Command exercise "Operation Sea Orbit" with the USS *Enterprise* (CVN-65) and the USS *Long Beach* (CGN-9), demonstrating global nuclear-powered task force capabilities. Later in her career, she returned to the Atlantic Ocean, operating from Naval Station Norfolk.

Commanding officers

Command of *Skipjack* was held by a succession of distinguished naval officers. Her first commanding officer was Commander William W. Behrens Jr., who oversaw her final construction and initial sea trials. Subsequent commanding officers included notable submariners such as Commander James B. Wilson and Captain Walter M. Douglass. These officers and their successors led the crew through demanding operational periods during the height of the Cold War, managing the complex S5W reactor plant and advanced Sonar systems like the BQQ-2 suite. The leadership aboard *Skipjack* contributed significantly to the development of nuclear submarine doctrine and crew training protocols within the United States Submarine Force.

Awards and recognition

Over her three decades of service, *Skipjack* and her crew earned multiple unit commendations. She was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for exceptionally meritorious service during a particularly demanding and successful operational period. She also received the Navy Expeditionary Medal for her forward deployments in direct support of national security objectives. Additionally, the submarine was granted the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for participation in specific campaigns, including operations related to the Vietnam War. These awards recognized the boat's consistent operational readiness, the technical skill of her crew in maintaining her advanced systems, and her successful execution of sensitive missions for the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets.

Decommissioning and legacy

After over 30 years of service, *Skipjack* was decommissioned on 19 April 1990 in a ceremony at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Her name was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. The hull was subsequently processed at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard under the Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, completing in 1996. The legacy of *Skipjack* is profound; her hull form and reactor plant combination defined the template for modern attack submarines. Elements of her design were directly incorporated into the *Thresher* class, and her influence extended through the *Sturgeon* class to the *Los Angeles* class. The pioneering technologies and operational concepts proven aboard *Skipjack* ensured American undersea superiority throughout the latter half of the Cold War and beyond.

Category:Skipjack-class submarines Category:Submarines of the United States Navy Category:Ships built in Connecticut Category:1959 ships