USS Billfish (SSN-676)

Summary

USS Billfish (SSN-676), a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the billfish, a name used for any fish, such as gar or spearfish, with bill-shaped jaws.

USS Billfish (SSN-676) early in 1971 (picture taken during first sea trial).
History
United States
NameUSS Billfish (SSN-676)
Ordered15 July 1966
BuilderThe Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down20 September 1968
Launched1 May 1970
Commissioned12 March 1971
Decommissioned1 July 1999
Stricken1 July 1999
MottoSpirit of 76
FateScrapping via Ship and Submarine Recycling Program completed 26 April 2000
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeSturgeon-class attack submarine
Displacement
  • 3,978 long tons (4,042 t) light
  • 4,270 long tons (4,339 t) full
  • 292 long tons (297 t) dead
Length292 ft 3 in (89.08 m)
Beam31 ft 8 in (9.65 m)
Draft28 ft 8 in (8.74 m)
Installed power15,000 shaft horsepower (11.2 megawatts)
PropulsionOne S5W nuclear reactor, two steam turbines, one screw
Speed
  • 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) surfaced
  • 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) submerged
Test depth1,300 feet (396 meters)
Complement109 (14 officers, 95 enlisted men)
Armament4 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes

Construction and commissioning edit

 
Billfish being launched at Groton, Connecticut, on 1 May 1970.

The contract to build Billfish was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 15 July 1966 and her keel was laid down on 20 September 1968. She was launched on 1 May 1970 sponsored by Mrs. Earle G. Wheeler, the wife of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Earle G. Wheeler (1908–1975), and commissioned on 12 March 1971.

Service history edit

 
The Mystic-class deep submergence rescue vehicle DSRV-2 Avalon aboard Billfish.

Billfish was one of the few submarines fitted to carry Mystic class deep submergence rescue vehicle during the 1980s.

Decommissioning and disposal edit

Billfish was decommissioned on 1 July 1999 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. Her scrapping was via the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, was completed on 26 April 2000.

 
Billfish pierside.

References edit

External links edit

  • USS Billfish SSN 676 (Web site created by former USS Billfish (SSN-676) crew member)