Name USS Puffer (SSN-652) Ordered 26 March 1963 Sponsored by Mrs. John B. Colwell Construction started 8 February 1965 Length 89 m Builder Ingalls Shipbuilding | Namesake The pufferfish Laid down 8 February 1965 Commissioned 9 August 1969 Launched 30 March 1968 Test depth 396 m | |
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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.
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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.
Service history
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.
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)
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.
