SNOOK
Centropomus
undecimalis
![](images/snook7r.jpg)
The Snook is
a sleek and extremely strong fish. They are a subtropical
species that range in size up to 48" and 50 pounds. Also
known as an opportunistic feeder, Snook Fishing is
considered by many to be some of the most exciting shallow
water game fishing in the world. Snook fishing can be just
as frustrating as it can be rewarding. At times they
will attack a fly or lure with lightening speed and other
times they will timidly follow a presentation all the way to
the boat before turning away. Their complex and spooky
behavior makes them a supreme
challenge.
USS SNOOK (SSN
592)
![](images/592_RioDJ.jpg)
The picture above was taken on July 3, 1984 of the Snook (SSN-592) as she enters Rio de Janeiro harbor, Brazil, during Operation Unitas XXV, an annual, multinational naval exercise. Sugarloaf Mountain is in the background. The sailor on the sail plane is identified as FTC(SS) Craig Parker.
Skipjack
Class Attack Submarine: Laid down, 7 April 1958, at Ingalls
Shipbuilding Co., Pascagoula, MS.; Launched, 31 October
1960; Commissioned, USS Snook (SSN-592), 24 October 1961;
Decommissioned, 8 October 1986; Struck from the Naval
Register, 14 November 1986; Laid up at Bremerton Naval
Shipyard; Final Disposition, entered the NPSSRP (Nuclear
Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program) at Puget Sound
Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 1 October 1996 and completed
30 June 1997.
Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 2,880 t., Submerged:
3,500 t.; Length 251' 9"; Beam 32'; Draft 28 ft.; Speed,
Surfaced 15 kts, Submerged 30+ kts; Depth Limit 700';
Complement 118; Combat Systems, Sonar, BQR-12, BQR-2
passive, BQS-4 (modified) active/passive; Radar BPS-12; Fire
Control, MK-101 torpedo FCS, ASW MK-48; Armament, six 21"
torpedo tubes, forward; Propulsion System, one S5W nuclear
reactor, two Westinghouse steam turbines, one propeller
15,000 shp..
USS
SNOOK (SSN-592) was one of a radically different and faster
class of submarines. Her blunt nose, "football" shaped hull,
devoid of superstructure, makes SNOOK and her five sister
ships [USS SKIPJACK (SSN-585), USS SCAMP (SSN-588), USS
SCORPION (SSN-589), USS SCULPIN (SSN-590), USS SHARK
(SSN-591)] hydrodynamically superior to other
submarines. The combination of this hull form and a powerful
nuclear reactor plant made possible the highest submerged
speed yet attained.
Following
her Final Acceptance Trials at Mare Island in May 1962,
SNOOK conducted type training off San Diego. On 23 June,
1962 SNOOK departed San Diego to deploy as a unit of the
SEVENTH Fleet in the Far East. It is believed that this was
the first extensive (6 months) deployment of a nuclear
submarine. SNOOK operated with various surface and air units
of the powerful United States SEVENTH Fleet, spending a
total of 181 days away from her home port. During that time
she steamed a total of 41,000 miles, 37,000 of which were
completely submerged. During one period of extended training
operations, the ship submerged and did not surface again for
55 consecutive days, depending entirely upon her nuclear
reactor plant and atmosphere control equipment to keep her
comfortably isolated from the outside world.
SNOOK
returned to San Diego on 21 December, 1962 and moored to the
new Submarine Pier at Ballast Point. The first month of 1963
was spent conducting type training in the local operating
areas off San Diego. On 1 February, SNOOK entered Mare
Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California for extensive
improvements to her hull fittings and hull welds. On 23
February, 1963, Commander W.K. YATES, U.S. Navy relieved
Commander BUCKNELL as Commanding Officer.
SNOOK
left the shipyard on 23 August, 1963 and returned to San
Diego for type training. On 2 January, 1964 she again
deployed to the Western Pacific to join the SEVENTH Fleet.
During this second deployment, SNOOK took part in many major
fleet exercises and spent 120 days at sea out of a total of
163 days deployed. SNOOK steamed 31,000 miles during this
period, 29,000 of which were completely submerged. On 14
June SNOOK returned to San Diego after a successful
deployment. On 13 July SNOOK entered Mare Island Naval
Shipyard for routine repair and a new electronic equipment
installation. SNOOK left the yard on 1 November and returned
to San Diego. On 14 November, 1964 Commander J.D. WATKINS,
U.S. Navy, who had been the first Executive Officer of the Snook, relieved Commander YATES as Commanding Officer.
The remainder of the year was spent in the testing of the
new electronics equipment and routine submarine type
training in the San Diego operating areas.
After
participating in local operations off San Diego early in the
new year, SNOOK departed San Diego on 19 March, 1965 for her
third extended deployment to the Western Pacific as a unit
of the SEVENTH Fleet. Highlights of this deployment were
port calls made to Sasebo, Japan and Chinhae, Korea. SNOOK
was the second nuclear submarine to visit Japan and the
first nuclear submarine to visit Korea. During varied
operations with the SEVENTH Fleet, SNOOK cruised submerged
for 5 out of 6 months, steaming 34,000 miles of which 32,000
were submerged.
On
25 September, 1965 SNOOK returned to San Diego, ending a
highly successful deployment. After a well deserved leave
and upkeep period, the next six months were spent conducting
local operations off San Diego, undergoing sound trials at
Carr Inlet, Washington, and dry docking at Mare Island.
SNOOK
departed San Diego on 16 April, 1966 for her fourth extended
deployment to the Western Pacific. During this deployment,
SNOOK visited Naha, Okinawa; Yokosuka, Japan; Subic Bay,
Philippine Islands; Hong Kong, Chinae, Korea; and Sasebo,
Japan. SNOOK was the first nuclear powered ship to visit
Yokosuka, and during the port call at Chinhae, President
Park Chug Hee of the Republic of South Korea embarked on
SNOOK for a Andy familiarization cruise. On 18 July, SNOOK
was awarded the Battle Efficiency "E" for Submarine Division
THIRTY-ONE. On 3 September, Commander Avery K. LOPOSER, U.S.
Navy relieved Commander WATKINS as Commanding Officer.
SNOOK
returned to San Diego on 19 November, 1966, having steamed
35,000 miles of which 34,000 were submerged. The remainder
of the year was spent in holiday leave and upkeep. On 13
December, SNOOK was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for
operations performed during the Spring of 1965.
SNOOK participated in various local operations off San Diego
during the early months of 1967. On 19 March, 1967 SNOOK
departed San Diego for a fourteen month overhaul and her
first refueling at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton,
Washington.
On
30 June, 1968, her first overhaul complete, SNOOK returned
to San Diego, California. She participated in various local
operations off San Diego which included the sinking of the
USS ARCHERFISH (AGSS 311), that ship being used as training
target after being decommissioned. According to the
"Official Naval Message" from COMSUBRON FIVE to CNO, Date
Time Group 172314Z Oct 68, gives the date/time of sinking
Archerfish as Oct 17, 1968 at 22-26-42Z (to the nearest
second). Position is Lat/Lon 32 Degrees 23.0'N/122 Degrees
58.1'W. Two MK 37-2 and one MK 14-5 torpedoes were employed
by Snook. The first Mk 37-2 did not acquire or attack the
target. The second MK 37-2 hit the stern and detonated but
did not sink the target. The MK 14-5 hit between the after
end of the conning tower and the after battery hatch
(perfect amidships hit), lifted her out of the water, broke
her in half, and it was all over.
![Archerfish sinking](images/snookscp001.jpg)
The
sinking of ARCHERFISH (AGSS-311) as seen through
the periscope of USS SNOOK (SSN-592)
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From
January through April 1969, following the Christmas leave
and upkeep period, SNOOK took part in various HUKASWEX
exercises and preparation for overseas deployment. In May
1969 SNOOK once again departed for an extended deployment in
the Western Pacific.
SNOOK's
fifth Western Pacific deployment lasted seven months and
seven days; the longest deployment yet for SNOOK. Ports of
call were Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Subic Bay, Philippines;
Buckner Bay, Okinawa; Yokosuka, Japan; and Hong Kong,
British Crown Colony.
On
August 5, 1969 at the completion of the first of three
extended operations of the deployment, Commander W.T. HUSSEY
relieved Commander A.K. LOPOSER as Commanding Officer of the
SNOOK, at Subic Bay, Philippines. Commander HUSSEY's parents
Vice Admiral George F. HUSSEY, Jr., USN (Ret) and Mrs.
HUSSEY were present at the ceremonies.
SNOOK
returned to San Diego on 22 December, 1969 and relaxed into
holiday routine which gave the crew a well earned rest. Late
in January, SNOOK returned to sea participating in exercise
UPTIDE with other units of the First Fleet.
In
June 1970, SNOOK went to Mare Island Naval Shipyard for an
interim Dry Docking. After leaving Mare Island in September
1970, SNOOK returned to San Diego to participate in ASW
exercises and various training operations in preparation for
deployment early in 1971.
On
4 January, 1971 SNOOK departed San Diego for the sixth
Western Pacific deployment for this well traveled
nuclear submarine. SNOOK left port at 1000 headed for Pearl
Harbor and a one week period of upkeep, final system
checkout, and briefings by Commander Submarine Force, U.S.
Pacific Fleet Staff. During the six month deployment the
ship spent 137 days at sea, nearly 70% of the total time
away from San Diego, and steamed approximately 38,500 miles,
38,000 miles submerged.
The
ship visited the ports of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Buckner Bay,
Okinawa; Yokosuka, Japan; Hong Kong; Pusan, Korea; Guam,
M.I.; and Subic Bay, Philippines. The longest in port period
was spent in Yokosuka, Japan making preparations for an
extended two month operation. While deployed in the Western
Pacific the SNOOK operated with various ships of the SEVENTH
Fleet and the Japanese Self Defense Force.
The
SNOOK returned to San Diego on 12 July, 1971 and remained in
port for the next two months for leave and upkeep. During
the month of August, the ship made preparations to
participate in two major fleet exercises ROPEVAL 3-71 and
UPTIDE 3A scheduled for September and early October.
On
8 September, 1971 the SNOOK left San Diego for a ten day
Fleet training exercise involving many Naval vessels of the
U.S. FIRST Fleet. Returning late on the 17th of September,
the SNOOK remained in port for twelve days, installing
special electronic equipment for the second ten day
exercise.
Early
on the eighth of October, SNOOK returned to San Diego and
spent the last two months of the year conducting local
weekly operations off San Diego. from January to early May
1972, SNOOK conducted local operations and a seven week
Restricted Availability alongside the USS DIXON (AS 37).
This is the first time such an effort was attempted by a
tender on a nuclear submarine.
On
11 May, 1972, about 2300, SNOOK was ordered to deploy within
48 hours to the Western Pacific for an extended deployment.
With a great effort by all hands, SNOOK was readied and set
sail at 1200, 13 May, 1972, just 37 hours after
notification.
SNOOK
remained away from San Diego until 27 July, 1972. During
deployment SNOOK visited Subic Bay, Philippines; Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii; and Kaohsiung, Republic of China. SNOOK was
only the third nuclear submarine to visit Kaohsiung. SNOOK
participated in operations in support of U.S. Forces in
Vietnam as part of her assigned tasks.
SNOOK
spent two weeks at home with families and friends then
departed for a nine week Restricted Availability and Dry
Docking at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
On
10 October, 1972, while in the shipyard, Commander W.T.
HUSSEY was relieved by Commander J.D. COSSEY as Commanding
Officer, USS SNOOK. After leaving Puget Sound Naval
Shipyard, Snook conducted sound trials in Washington (Puget
Sound) in preparation for a West Pac. It was during these
sound trials that Snook grounded on the bottom of Dabob Bay, Washington, on October 25, 1972. On line references describe the ship as "slightly damaged". Private email from a crew member on board at that time informs me that the sonar dome, anchor, and rudder were severely damaged. The ship then apparently spent a few weeks in drydock for repairs at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
SNOOK
got underway on 10 January, 1973 for her eighth deployment
with the SEVENTH Fleet. During this deployment, SNOOK
visited Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and Guam in the Marianas. She
returned to San Diego on 16 June and began a four week, post
deployment leave and upkeep period, followed by another four
weeks engaged in sonar evaluation tests. On 26 November
1973, following her participation in COMUTEX 12-73, SNOOK
entered Mare Island Naval Shipyard to begin a refueling
overhaul.
During
the 1976 West Pac, Snook visited Hawaii, Guam, Yokosuka,
Pusan Korea, PI, Hong Kong, PI, Perth-Freemantle Australia,
before returning to San Diego. During the 1976 West Pac in
May, Commander J.D. Cossey was relieved by Commander Robert
C. Smith as Commanding Officer, USS SNOOK.
During
the 1978 West Pac, Snook visited Hawaii, Yokosuka, Chin Hai
Korea, PI, and Guam. Snook returned to Mare Island Naval
Shipyard in 1979 before transfer to the Atlantic in
1980.
Decommissioned
and stricken from the Navy Register on 14 November 1986,
former SNOOK began the Navy's Nuclear Powered Ship and
Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington on 1
October 1996 and completed it on 30 June 1997. Upon
completion, she ceased to exist as a complete
ship.
If any
Crewmembers serving on board Snook from about 1978 till 1986
has more information to add to this history page, I would be
happy to hear from you. Email to: whmcmicken@mcmicken.com.
To view a very detailed and complete website about USS Snook
SSN-592 please click here: USS
Snook SSN-592 Homepage
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