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USS Flasher (SSN-613)
Encyclopedia
USS Flasher (SSN-613), a , was the second ship of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
to be named for the flasher
Flasher
Flasher has multiple meanings:*A person who displays his or her body in a form of indecent exposure *Another name for a vehicle's turn signal, see automotive lighting#Turn signals...
, a member of the Lobotidae family of fishes, which have an unusual placement of the second dorsal and anal fins, posteriorly on the body, close to the tail.
Construction history
The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric BoatElectric boat
While a significant majority of water vessels are powered by diesel engines, with sail power and gasoline engines also remaining popular, boats powered by electricity have been used for over 120 years. Electric boats were very popular from the 1880s until the 1920s, when the internal combustion...
Division of General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
Corporation in Groton, Connecticut
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
on 9 June 1960 and her keel was laid down on 14 April 1961.
Originally laid down as the eleventh submarine in the Thresher-class building program, Flasher was extensively modified during the construction period. These modifications consisted of lengthening the hull, lengthening the sail, and upgrading the watertight integrity of the sea water systems. The SUBSAFE
SUBSAFE
SUBSAFE is a quality assurance program of the United States Navy designed to maintain the safety of the nuclear submarine fleet; specifically, to provide maximum reasonable assurance that subs' hulls will stay watertight, and that they can recover from unanticipated flooding.SUBSAFE covers all...
Program was developed as a result of the loss of the , the first submarine of the class; Flasher became the first submarine certified as SUBSAFE. This contributed to the lengthy delay between being laid down and commissioning.
In the nation's only simultaneous twin launching Flasher and were launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 22 June 1963. Flasher was sponsored and christened
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
by Mrs. Paul F. Fay, Jr., wife of the Under Secretary of the Navy. Vice Admiral Elton W. Grenfell, then Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (ComSubLant
ComSubLant
Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic is the type commander for U.S. submarines in the Atlantic Fleet. Established on 7 December 1941, Rear Admiral Richard S. Edwards was assigned as the first Force Commander. U.S. submarine operations in the Atlantic, however, go back to before the First World War...
), delivered the principal address. She was commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 22 July 1966, with Commander Kenneth M. Carr
Kenneth Monroe Carr
Kenneth M. Carr became Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on July 1, 1989. He has been a member of the Commission since August 14, 1986. He retired from the U.S. Navy as a vice admiral on May 1, 1985, last serving as Deputy and Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief Atlantic Command...
in command. The principal speaker at the commissioning was US Representative George W. Grider
George W. Grider
George William Grider was a United States Naval Officer, an attorney, and a Democratic U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1965 to 1967....
of Tennessee, who had commanded the during World War II.
1966–1969
After commissioning, Flasher arrived at new her home port of Pearl HarborPearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, on 23 September 1966. On 7 October 1966 she received a visit from the Director General of the Japanese Defense Agency Mr. Elkichi Kambayashiyama, in company with COMSUBPAC
ComSubPac
Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet is the principal advisor to the Commander, United States Pacific Fleet for submarine matters. The Pacific Submarine Force includes attack, ballistic missile and auxiliary submarines, submarine tenders, floating submarine docks, deep submergence...
Rear Admiral John H. Maurer.
Flasher sailed for her first Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment on 25 April 1968, and was awarded her first Battle Efficiency "E"
Battle Effectiveness Award
The Battle Effectiveness Award , commonly known as the Battle "E", is awarded annually to the small number of U.S...
for overall combat excellence on 4 July 1968. Flasher was awarded her second consecutive Battle Efficiency "E" on 1 July 1969. On 2 December 1969 Flasher was awarded her first Meritorious Unit Commendation
Meritorious Unit Commendation
The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
for her service during the period March 1967 through August 1968.
1970–1979
On 15 June 1970 Flasher commenced her first major overhaul at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, which was completed by 12 June 1971. In November 1971 Flasher commenced another WESTPAC deployment, visiting GuamGuam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, Mariana Islands
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
; White Beach, Okinawa; Yokosuka, Japan; Subic Bay
Subic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
, Philippines, and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, before returning to her home port in June 1972. On 1 July 1972 Flasher was awarded her third Battle Efficiency "E" for overall combat excellence, and on 13 July 1972 received a visit from Secretary of the Navy John Chafee
John Chafee
John Lester Hubbard Chafee was an American politician. He served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, as the 66th Governor of Rhode Island, as the Secretary of the Navy, and as a United States Senator.-Early life and family:...
. On 19 August 1972 Flasher was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, and in September participated in the RIMPAC
RIMPAC
RIMPAC, the Rim of the Pacific Exercise, is the world's largest international maritime exercise. Conducted biennially , it is hosted and administered by the United States Navy, with the United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, and Hawaii National Guard forces under the leadership of...
72 exercise.
On 2 March 1973 Flasher was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Unit Commendation
The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944...
for her operations in 1970-1971. She commenced another WESTPAC deployment in early 1973, visiting Yokosuka, Japan, Subic Bay, Philippines; and Hong Kong before returning to Pearl Harbor on 24 December 1973. During this tour, on 1 July 1973, she was awarded her fourth Battle Efficiency "E" for overall combat excellence. In June 1974 Flasher completed a two-month special operation.
Flasher commenced her second overhaul (Refueling and Overhaul
Refueling and Overhaul
In the United States Navy, Refueling and Overhaul refers to a lengthy process or procedure performed on nuclear-powered Naval ships, which involves replacement of expended nuclear fuel with new fuel and a general maintenance fix-up, renovation, and often modernization of the entire ship...
) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard
Mare Island Naval Shipyard
The Mare Island Naval Shipyard was the first United States Navy base established on the Pacific Ocean. It is located 25 miles northeast of San Francisco in Vallejo, California. The Napa River goes through the Mare Island Strait and separates the peninsula shipyard from the main portion of the...
on 11 January 1975, changed homeport to Mare Island, and shifted administrative command to Submarine Squadron 3. The overhaul completed on 16 December 1976, she changed homeport to San Diego, California, on 22 December 1976.
In August 1977 she attended the Seattle Seafarer Festival
Seafair
Seafair is a summer festival in Seattle, Washington, USA that encompasses a wide variety of small neighborhood events leading up to several major city-wide celebrations...
.
In January 1979 Flasher commenced a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, which was completed on 29 March 1979. In June 1979 she attended the Portland Rose Festival
Portland Rose Festival
The Portland Rose Festival is an annual civic festival held during the month of June in Portland, Oregon. It is organized by the volunteer non-profit Portland Rose Festival Association with the purpose of promoting the Portland region...
. On 1 July 1979 she was awarded her fifth Battle Efficiency "E".
1980–1992
On 12 November 1980 she was awarded her second Meritorious Unit Commendation for the period November 1979 through May 1980, and on 5 November 1982 was awarded a third Meritorious Unit Commendation for the period July 1981 through January 1982.Flasher commenced her third overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard
Mare Island Naval Shipyard
The Mare Island Naval Shipyard was the first United States Navy base established on the Pacific Ocean. It is located 25 miles northeast of San Francisco in Vallejo, California. The Napa River goes through the Mare Island Strait and separates the peninsula shipyard from the main portion of the...
on 9 May 1983, which was completed on 26 March 1985, and she shifted homeport back to San Diego, California.
In March 1986 Flasher began another WESTPAC deployment, and visited Yokosuka, Japan; Guam; and Subic Bay, completing the voyage in August 1986.
Flasher completed her last WESTPAC deployment, with visits to Guam; Yokosuka, Japan; Korea; and Hong Kong, in April 1990.
Flasher completed a two month special operation in October 1990, and another in May 1991.
Flasher was awarded her Fourth Meritorious Unit Commendation in 1991, and on 18 June 1991 an Inactivation Ceremony was held at the Naval Base Point Loma
Naval Base Point Loma
Located in Point Loma, a neighborhood of San Diego, California, Naval Base Point Loma was established on 1 October 1998 when Navy facilities in the Point Loma area of San Diego were consolidated under Commander, Navy Region Southwest...
, San Diego, California.
Flasher was decommissioned on 26 May 1992 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on 14 September 1992. Ex-Flasher entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
, and on 11 May 1994 ceased to exist as a hull.
List of commanding officers
- Cmdr. K.M. Carr (22 July 1966-14 July 1967)
- Cmdr. A.C. Johnson (14 July 1967-8 July 1969)
- Cmdr. E.F. Cobb (8 July 1969-19 August 1972)
- Cmdr. R.F. Bacon (19 August 1972-11 January 1975)
- Cmdr. N.B. Henderson (11 January 1975-20 March 1976)
- Cmdr. W.C Rothert (20 March 1976-13 July 1979)
- Cmdr. W.C. Hughes, Jr. (13 July 1979-5 November 1982)
- Cmdr. R.R. Morris (5 November 1982-September 1986)
- Cmdr. P.W. Papineau (September 1986-2 March 1989)
- Cmdr. J.N. Weber (2 March 1989-26 May 1992)
Kenneth M. Carr
Kenneth Monroe Carr
Kenneth M. Carr became Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on July 1, 1989. He has been a member of the Commission since August 14, 1986. He retired from the U.S. Navy as a vice admiral on May 1, 1985, last serving as Deputy and Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief Atlantic Command...
became Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is an independent agency of the United States government that was established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 from the United States Atomic Energy Commission, and was first opened January 19, 1975...
in 1989. Vice Admiral Roger F. Bacon completed his naval career as the Assistant Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
for Undersea Warfare.
Awards
Flasher was highly decorated, receiving five Battle "E"sBattle Effectiveness Award
The Battle Effectiveness Award , commonly known as the Battle "E", is awarded annually to the small number of U.S...
, four Meritorious Unit Commendation
Meritorious Unit Commendation
The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
s, a Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Unit Commendation
The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944...
, and a Presidential Unit Citation during her 25 year career.
Ship insignia
The insignia of the Flasher was adapted from the insignia of the original , commissioned on 25 September 1943. Popular lore was that this insignia was designed by Walt DisneyWalt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
. However, other sources indicate that the logo was designed by a graphic artist who also worked for Disney, and that at best Walt Disney merely looked over his shoulder and provided some suggestions. During the final days of construction on the SSN-613, the crew developed several designs based on the original. The two ships' numbers were added and the electron orbits added to symbolize nuclear power. The insignia became official in 1965.