USS Whale SSN-638: History, Patrols, Crews

Commissioning

The USS Whale, (SSN-638 submarine, nuclear-powered) was the second member of the Sturgeon class of nuclear fast attack submarines. It was the second vessel in U.S. Navy history named in honor of the aquatic mammal.

The contract for the Whale was awarded to the General Dynamics Quincy (Mass.) Shipbuilding Division on Nov. 30, 1961. Her keel was laid down on May 27, 1964. The submarine was launched on Oct. 14, 1966, by Mrs. Russell B. Long, the wife of the Louisiana Senator.

After nearly two years of testing, the Whale was officially commissioned and joined the ranks of the Navy's Atlantic Fleet on Oct. 12, 1968, with Commander William M. Wolff in command.

Underway

A week after making its first stop at its homeport of Charleston, S.C., the Whale set out on her shakedown training cruise on Nov. 2, 1968. In January of the following year, it began normal operations. One of the Whale's first missions was far from normal, however, as it was sent to the Arctic Circle to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Admiral Robert Peary's arrival at the North Pole. The Whale surfaced at the North Pole on April 6, 1969, then submerged back under the polar ice cap and made a port call in Scotland before returning to Charleston in early May.

In the fall of 1970, the Whale made its first trip into a potential combat zone as it was attached to the U.S. 6th Fleet and sent into the Mediterranean Sea during a brief conflict involving Jordan, Syria and the Palestine Liberation Organization. The situation never resulted in U.S. involvement and the Whale returned to Charleston without incident in November.

After spending nearly a year in dry dock at General Dynamics' Electronic Boat Division at Groton, Conn. (which would become its new homeport), the Whale returned to the Mediterranean in 1974 as part of the Navy's response to the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. The situation remained peaceful during the Whale's patrol, but she did take part in two NATO exercises with the Greek and Italian navies.
The Whale was temporarily attached to the 6th Fleet again in late 1975-early 1976. During its patrol, the Whale took part in another NATO exercise, "Ocean Safari," which included ships and submarines from the U.S. Navy, Greece, Italy and the Netherlands.

The Whale would undergo two more refittings: from late 1976-1978, the Whale underwent numerous modifications, including to its weapons systems; in 1988, it received a series of upgrades at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bermerton, Wash.
In 1992, the Whale made a voyage around South America, making ports of call in Puerto Rico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Panama and Colombia. A year later, it made a second visit to the North Pole as part of a scientific exercise. After a patrol that circumnavigated the globe, the Whale was deactivated while still in commission on April 28, 1995. It never fired a shot in anger.

Decommissioning

The Whale was placed in reserve, in commission, on Oct. 1, 1995. It entered the Navy's Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on Oct. 20 of that same year and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on July 1, 1996. The Whale was officially scrapped Sept. 29, 1997.

Characteristics of the USS Whale (Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Type: Nuclear-powered fast attack submarine
Displacement: 3,860 t. surfaced (3,920 t), 4,640 t. submerged (4,600 m³)
Length: 292 ft 3 in (89.1 m)
Beam: 31 ft 8 in (9.7 m)
Draft: 28 ft 8 in (8.7 m)
Propulsion: one S5W nuclear reactor, two steam turbines, one propeller, 15,000 shp. (11.2 MW)
Speed: 15 kt. surfaced, (28 km/h), 25 kt. submerged (46 km/h)
Test depth: 1,300 ft (400 m)
Crew Complement: 107
Armament: four 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes; Mark 48 torpedoes, UUM-44A SUBROC Harpoon Missiles, Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles

Career:
Builder: General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division
Laid down: May 27, 1964
Launched: Oct. 14, 1966
Commissioned: Oct.12, 1968
Decommissioned: June 25, 1996
Struck: June 25, 1996
Fate: submarine recycling, 1996

Timeline:
November 1961: Contract for construction of USS Whale awarded
May 1964: Keel laid for the USS Whale
October 1966: USS Whale launched
October 1968: USS Whale commissioned
April 1969: USS Whale surfaces at the North Pole
September 1970: USS Whale makes first trip into the Mediterranean Sea
August 1972-October 1973: USS Whale undergoes refitting and refurbishment at the Groton (Conn.) Electric Boat yard.
May 1974: USS Whale redeploys to the Mediterranean Sea
September 1976-July 1978: USS Whale returns to Groton for complete overhaul
1990: The Whale receives the last "Battle E" (Battle Effectiveness Award) for Submarine Squadron 10. The squadron is disbanded later in the year and the Whale joins Submarine Squadron 2.
1992: The Whale completes a voyage around South America
1995: USS Whale circumnavigates the globe
June 1995: USS Whale deactivated
June 1996: USS Whale decommissioned
September 1997: USS Whale officially ceases to exist

Crewmembers of the USS Whale:

An unofficial list of crew members that served on the USS Whale 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 the following web address: http://navysite.de/ssn/ssn638.htm

Scott Faulkner (Served December 1990-December 1992): "Without a doubt the most challenging and rewarding time of my life. My experience on Whale was unforgettable and I would do it all again."
Paul Jurcsak (Served June 1990-July 1993): "Great boat with a great crew."
Fred Foster (Served July 1990-July 1993): "Gained from some valuable life experiences and learned from many great people."
Patrick Ryan (Served June 1991-October 1992): "Was the Leading First for E-Div for about one year."

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