16/10/2025
Commissioned: 15 October 1959 - the U.S. Navy's last non-nuclear, fast-attack submarine.
USS Blueback (SS-581) is a decommissioned Barbel-class submarine formerly in the United States Navy. She was the second Navy submarine named for a form of the rainbow or steelhead trout found only in Lake Crescent on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. The fish lives in deep water and is bluish black along its upper sides and whitish underneath.
Blueback was laid down by Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation of Pascagoula, Mississippi on 15 April 1957. She was launched on 16 May 1959 sponsored by Mrs. Kenmore McManes, wife of Rear Admiral McManes, and commissioned on 15 October 1959, Lieutenant Commander Robert H. Gautier in command.
Following three months of preparations and training, Blueback embarked on another tour of duty in the western Pacific on 17 February 1967. During the seven-month assignment, she punctuated periods at sea training and supporting the American efforts in the Vietnam War with port calls at Hong Kong and in Japan at Yokosuka and Sasebo.
Blueback (SS-581) earned two battle stars for her Vietnam War service.
She was the last non-nuclear submarine to join the United States Navy and was the final conventionally powered submarine to be decommissioned, leaving the United States Navy with a fully nuclear submarine fleet.
Decommissioned, 1 October 1990, at San Diego, Cal., Point Loma Submarine Base; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet; Struck from the Naval Register, 30 October 1990
Final Disposition, Donated to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, OR. in February 1994, where she is on permanent display as a museum ship, opened to the public, 15 May 1994.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Blueback_(SS-581)
http://www.navsource.net/archives/08/08581.htm
