USS Bergall (SSN-667)

USS "Bergall" (SSN-667), a "Sturgeon"-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the bergall, a small fish of the New England coast. The contract to build her was awarded to Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 9 March 1965 and her keel was laid down on 16 April 1966. She was launched on 17 February 1968 sponsored by Mrs. Ray C. Needham, and commissioned on 13 June 1969, with Commander Billy F. Tally in command.

On 23 April 1984 "Bergall" collided with USS "Kittiwake" (ASR-13) at Norfolk, Virginia. The USS Bergall was moored up to the pier aft of the USS Kittiwake. The USS Kittiwake had undergone maintenance since the last time it went underway and the main drive motor was re-wired improperly. Unknown to the USS Kittiwake bridge, the main drive motor now rotated in the opposite direction as ordered by the bridge. As the USS Kittiwake got underway, it started to drift aft due to the reverse rotation of the ship's screw. The USS Kittiwake bridge noted the backward motion, and then ordered an increase in the motor drive speed. This cause the USS Kittiwake to move further aft, faster. The USS Kittiwake bridge then ordered another increase in the forward speed of the boat. This continued until the stern of the USS Kittiwake backed into the sonar dome of the USS Bergall.

"Bergall" was decommissioned on 6 June 1996 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 6 June 1997. Ex-"Bergall" entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, and on 29 September 1997 ceased to exist.

References

Based on data from the Naval Vessel Register

External links

USS Bergall Association crew website - http://www.bergall.org/