History of the USS Dace SSN 607

Veterans & Mesothelioma > Asbestos on Navy Ships > Submarines of the United States Navy: (Post-World War II Era) > USS Dace

USS Dace SSN-607: History, Patrols, Crews

Commissioning

The USS Dace (SSN-607; submarine, nuclear-powered) was a member of the Permit class (originally the Thresher class) of nuclear attack submarines. It was the second U.S. Navy vessel, and second submarine, to carry the name of the fish. The first USS Dace (SS-247) served in World War II, sinking six Japanese ships.

Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula, Miss., was awarded the contract to build the Dace on March 3, 1959. Her keel was laid on June 6, 1960; she was launched on Aug. 18, 1962. She was sponsored by Betty Ford, the wife of then-Michigan Congressman and future President Gerald Ford. The Dace, who had the nickname “Galloping Ghost of the Atlantic Coast,” was commissioned on April 4, 1964, with Commander John A. Walsh in command.

Underway

For the better part of the next three decades, the Dace would serve as a member of the Atlantic Fleet, monitoring Soviet naval activity in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. During its frequent deployments to the Mediterranean as part of the Sixth Fleet, the Dace made ports of call in Athens, Greece and Naples, Italy.

During its deployments in the Atlantic, the Dace would make visits to Norway, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Scotland and Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. The Dace would go about her career with little fanfare, save for her lone “kill” in March 1975—a fishing boat that the submarine collided with in the Narraganset Bay off the coast of Rhode Island.

Decommissioning

The Dace was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on Dec. 2, 1988. She entered the Navy’s Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Bermerton, Wash., and on Jan.1, 1997, was declared scrapped.

Characteristics of the USS Dace
Displacement: 3700 tons surfaced, 4300 tons submerged
Length: 278 feet
Beam: 31 feet 7 inches
Draft: 28 feet 5 inches
Propulsion: S5W reactor
Speed: 15+ knots surfaced, 25+ knots submerged
Range: Complement: 96 officers and men Armament: 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes; SUBROC

Career:
Awarded: March 3, 1959
Laid down: June 6, 1960
Launched: Aug.18, 1962
Commissioned: April 4, 1964
Decommissioned: Dec. 2, 1988
Struck: Dec.2, 1988
Fate: Submarine recycling

Timeline:
March 1959: Contract for construction of USS Dace awarded
June 1960: Keel of USS Dace laid
August 1962: USS Dace launched
April 1964: USS Dace commissioned
March 1975: USS Dace collides with fishing boat off Rhode Island Coast
December 1988: USS Dace decommissioned

Crewmembers of the USS Dace:
An unofficial list of crew members that served on the USS Dace 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.

Owen Carroll (served July 1977-April 1981): “First topside after CAS Gibraltar, Dace Softball Team - Unbeaten against US Jarheads in New London, The Best of times - The worst of times CDR Robert Fitch - Best CO in Squadron Ten.”
Clyde Mattson (served 1977): “Guantanamo, Cuba, sound trials, Med run, Naples Italy, Athens, Greece.”
Dwight Kocher (served May 1978-December 1982): “The heat in 79 was rough. The overhaul in 80-81 at Mare Island was a real treat. Served with a great bunch of guys.”

Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dace_(SSN-607)
http://www.navysite.de/crew.php?action=ship&ship=SSN_607
http://www.navysite.de/ssn/ssn607.htm

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