History of the USS Finback SSN-670

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USS Finback SSN-670: History, Patrols, Crews

Commissioning

The USS Finback, (SSN-670 submarine, nuclear-powered) was the 22nd member of the Sturgeon class of nuclear fast attack submarines. It was the second U.S. Navy vessel, and second submarine, named after the distinctive whale. The first USS Finback served during World War II and rescued future president George H.W. Bush from the waters off of Khichi Jima after his dive bomber was shot down in 1944.

The contract to build the Finback was awarded to the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Va., on March 9, 1965. Her keel was laid down on June 26, 1967; the Finback was launched on Dec. 7, 1968. It was commissioned on Feb. 4, 1970, with Commander Robert C. Austin in charge of the crew.

Underway

For the better part of the next three decades, the Finback patrolled the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Its primary mission would be to track the submarines and surface vessels of the Soviet (and later, Russian) Navy. Its homeport was Norfolk, Va.

Unlike its predecessor, the Finback would serve for more than 28 years in relative anonymity. Its only two brushes with publicity came as the result of accidents. The first, in 1974, occurred in port at Norfolk when the Finback collided with the submarine rescue ship USS Kittiwake. The Kittiwake received minor hull damage, while the Finback survived intact. The second incident, a fire off the Virginia coast in 1989, forced the submarine back to Norfolk.

In 1986, the Finback received the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for the Atlantic Fleet in recognition for its outstanding combat preparedness. The Finback received a small cash award that was put into the submarine’s recreation fund.

Decommissioning

The Finback was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on March 28, 1997. It entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bermerton, Wash., and was declared scrapped on Oct. 30, 1997.

Characteristics of the USS Finback
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: 9 March 9, 1965
Laid down: June 26, 1967
Launched: Dec. 7, 1968
Commissioned: Feb. 4, 1970
Decommissioned: March 28, 1997
Fate: submarine recycling
Stricken: March 28, 1997

Timeline:
March 1965: USS Finback ordered
June 1967: Keel of USS Finback is laid
December 1968: USS Finback launched
February 1970: USS Finback commissioned
1986: USS Finback wins Marjorie Barrett Battleship Fund Award
March 1997: USS Finback decommissioned
October 1997: USS Finback scrapped

Crewmembers of the USS Finback:
An unofficial list of crew members that served on the USS Finback 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 http://www.navysite.de

Jon Reintges (served June 1990-April 1994): “Had a great time on the sub and made a lot of good friends.”
Paul Kramp (served April 1981-December 1984): “Great ship! Great crew! Great Liberty!! Some of my best memories are of the days on board the Finback.”
Scott Moore (served August 1981-August 1985): “Great times and friends.”

Sources:
http://www.esryle.com/coblinks/links/670LINKS.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Finback_(SSN-670)
http://www.navysite.de/ssn/ssn670.htm
http://www.mcguinnessonline.com/finback/info.htm

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