USS Seahorse SSN-669: History, Patrols, Crews
Commissioning
The USS Seahorse, (SSN-669 submarine, nuclear-powered) was the 21st member of the Sturgeon class of nuclear fast attack submarines. It was the third U.S. Navy vessel, and second submarine, named after the aquatic animal.
The Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics’ Groton, Conn., shipyard received the contract to build the Seahorse on March 9, 1965.Her keel was laid on Aug. 13, 1966; the Seahorse was launched on June 15, 1968 and joined the ranks of the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Fleet with its commissioning on Sept. 19, 1969.
Underway
The Seahorse was based at Charleston, S.C., and made its first deployment to the North Atlantic in late November 1970. In June 1971, the Seahorse made her first deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, returning to Charleston in October. The cruise resulted in the Seahorse winning her first Meritorious Unit Commendation.
On Jan. 24, 1972, the Seahorse ran aground off the coast of Charleston while putting out to sea to begin its next patrol. The ship broke free after two hours and returned to Charleston for repairs. It set out a second time on Feb. 9, 1972. In September 1972, the Seahorse took part in the NATO exercise “Strong Express” in the North Atlantic, along with ships from the United Kingdom, Canada and the Netherlands.
On Oct. 25, 1973, the Seahorse was ordered to deploy to the Mediterranean on one day’s notice. The Yom Kippur War between Israel and several Arab nations was threatening to expand into a U.S.-Soviet conflict and the Seahorse was to join the American Sixth Fleet. The Seahorse stayed at sea until Dec. 11, 1973, with the exception of two stops of less than one day. Shortly after its return from the Mediterranean, in February 1974, the Seahorse entered the Charleston Naval Shipyard for an overhaul.
In 1981, the Seahorse made an extended deployment to the Indian Ocean. The patrol would result in a 46,000-mile, around-the-world cruise through five of the world’s seven oceans that would last six months. In 1985, the Seahorse deployed to both the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean, and in July 1986, she surfaced at the North Pole. She would make two more trips to the North Pole in 1990 and 1991.
In 1991, the Seahorse would also deploy to the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean and was awarded another Meritorious Unit Commendation. In January 1993, she was awarded the Battle Efficiency “E”. In 1994, the Seahorse took part in a five-month circumnavigation of South America before being prepared for decommissioning.
Decommissioning
The Seahorse was deactivated on Jan. 6, 1995. Its final duty was to act as a guard ship for the sea trials of the USS Los Angeles while on its way to the Navy’s Ship and Submarine Recycling Center at Bermerton, Wash. The Seahorse was decommissioned on Aug. 17, 1995 and declared scrapped on Sept. 30, 1996.
Characteristics of the USS Seahorse
Displacement: 3995 tons light, 4291 tons full, 296 tons dead
Length: 89 m (292 ft)
Beam: 9.7 m (32 ft)
Draft: 8.8 m (29 ft)
Propulsion: S5W reactor
Complement: 14 officers, 95 men
Armament: 4 × 21 in (533 mm) Vickers Torpedo Tubes capable of launching torpedoes, SubRoc, Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles, and mines.
Career:
Ordered: March 9, 1965
Laid down: Aug. 13, 1966
Launched: June 15, 1968
Commissioned: Sept. 19, 1969
Decommissioned: Aug. 17, 1995
Fate: submarine recycling
Stricken: Aug. 17, 1995
Timeline:
March 1965: USS Seahorse ordered
August 1966: USS Seahorse’s keel is laid
June 1968: USS Seahorse launched
September 1969: USS Seahorse commissioned
November 1970: USS Seahorse makes first deployment to the North Atlantic
June 1971: USS Seahorse makes first deployment to Mediterranean Sea
January 1972: USS Seahorse runs aground off of Charleston, S.C.
October 1973: USS Seahorse makes emergency deployment to the Mediterranean
1981: USS Seahorse makes deployment to Indian Ocean, completes round-the-world cruise
1994: USS Seahorse completes circumnavigation of South America
August 1995: USS Seahorse decommissioned
September 1996: USS Seahorse scrapped
Crewmembers of the USS Seahorse:
An unofficial list of crew members that served on the USS Seahorse can be found on the unofficial navy website at: http://navysite.de. This list is compiled by former crewmembers that voluntarily register. Some quoted comments from former crewmembers are listed below; many more are available on the source website at Navysite.de.
Sources:
http://www.esryle.com/coblinks/links/669LINKS.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Seahorse_(SSN-669)
http://www.navysite.de/ssn/ssn669.htm
http://www.ussseahorse.org/LoginHome23819.html
