USS Spadefish (SSN-668)

USS "Spadefish" (SSN-668), a "Sturgeon"-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the spadefish, a spiny-finned fish found in coastal waters of the western Atlantic from Cuba to Cape Cod. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company on 9 March 1965 and her keel was laid down on 21 December 1966. She was launched on 15 May 1968 sponsored by Mrs. Charles T. Booth, and commissioned on 14 August 1969, with LCommander George M. Henson in command.

Following shakedown in the Atlantic, "Spadefish" underwent post-shakedown availability at Newport News from April to June 1970 and in July participated in antisubmarine warfare exercises in the North Atlantic. After returning to her home port, Norfolk, Virginia, the submarine was deployed in the Atlantic from October to December and then returned to Norfolk for upkeep.

On 18 February 1971, she got underway for her second deployment in the Atlantic, visiting Faslane, Scotland, before returning to Norfolk on 18 April. The submarine operated in the Norfolk area for the remainder of the year, participating in antisubmarine warfare exercises and type training.

For the year 1972, "Spadefish" participated in training operations in the Norfolk area until deploying in the Atlantic from June to August, visiting Holy Loch, Scotland, before returning to Norfolk. She again deployed in theAtlantic on 10 October and returned to Norfolk on 17 December for the holidays.

Through the first six months of 1973, "Spadefish" operated out of Norfolk along the East Coast. She conducted independent exercises, an SSBN security exercise and independent type training. In May and June, she supported Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla 8 in a LANTREADEX and SEACONEX. At the end of June, she spent a week at the Isle of Portland, England, and, in July, returned to the east coast. At the beginning of September, she commenced a major overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. "Spadefish" completed overhaul in July 1974 and resumed Atlantic coast operation.

"Spadefish" completed ICEX's in 1984 under CDR George Bardsley, and in 1992 and 1993 under CDR R.B. Williams.

"Spadefish" completed two deployments to the Persian Gulf in 1995 and 1996, crossing the equator on both occasions. The 1996 deployment began at Pier 21 in Norfolk, VA, and ended at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA, where "Spadefish" was decommissioned under the command of CDR C.W. "Buddy" Puryear.

"Spadefish" was homeported in Norfolk, VA throughout her career, and was attached to Submarine Squadron Six.

"Spadefish" was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 11 April 1997. Ex-"Spadefish" entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, on 1 October 1996 and on 24 October 1997 ceased to exist.

A fictional "Spadefish" appears in the 2003 novel, "Final Bearing", (ISBN 0-765-34317-7) by George Wallace and Don Keith.

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