January 17th - On This Date - USN Submarine Service

1903 - P

CU MOCCASIN (later A-4) (SS-5) commissioned USS MOCCASIN at the Holland yard at New Suffolk, NY.

1922 - 

Ex-B-2 (ex-CUTTLEFISH) (SS-11) sunk as a target. Hulk sunk in Manila Bay, near Corregidor, P.I.

1922 -

Ex-B-3 (ex-TARANTULA) (SS-12) sunk as a target. Hulk sunk in Manila Bay, near Corregidor, P.I.

1945 -

PCU MERO (SS-378) launched at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, WI; sponsored by Mrs. Henry G. Taylor.

1955 -

Commander Dennis Wilkinson, aboard USS NAUTILUS (SSN-571), sent the historic message, "Underway on nuclear power", signaling a new era in both submarine warfare and maritime propulsion. She steamed submerged 1,300 miles from New London to San Juan, Puerto Rico, in just 84 hours. The success of NAUTILUS ensured the future of nuclear power in the Navy. Now a museum, the historic ship attracts some 250,000 visitors annually.

1959 -

PCU BARBEL (SS-580) commissioned USS BARBEL (SS-580) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, NH; Lt. Comdr. Ord J. Kimzey, Jr. commanding.

1961 -

USS BURRFISH (SS-312) recommissioned as (SS-312).

1961 -

PCU LAFAYETTE (SSBN-616) keel laid as LAFAYETTE at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT.

1966 - 

PCU NARWHAL (SSN-671) keel laid as NARWHAL at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT.

1970 - 

USS VOLADOR (SS-490) and the Japanese freighter Miyahime Maru were lightly damaged in a collision at the mouth of Tokyo Bay, Japan.

1989 -

USS NORFOLK (SSN-714) collided with USS San Diego (AFS-6) on the surface near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel near Norfolk, VA, as both ships were heading out to sea, causing minor damage and no injuries.

1997 - 

Ex-DACE (SSN-607) disposition complete by Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA.

2006 -

USS NORFOLK (SSN-714) was moored to the Mina Salman Pier in Bahrain during a brief port visit. NORFOLK was deployed to the 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations (MSO). MSO set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations.

2006 - 

ASEAL delivery vehicle team (SDV) operated with USS TOLEDO (SSN-769) and conducted training drills with men assigned to the boat. SDV teams’ missions include clandestine insertion of SEALs, ordnance delivery, location and recovery of objects and reconnaissance.