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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive


Patch on left contributed by Mike Smolinski, Patch on right by Darryl L. Baker.

Grayback (SSG-574) (APSS-574)
Keel Laying - Commissioning

Radio Call Sign: November - Charlie - Mike - Juliet
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Active Service - Sinking (1986)

Grayback Class Missile Submarine: Laid down, 1 July 1954, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 2 July 1957; Commissioned, USS Grayback (SSG-574), 7 March 1958; Decommissioned, 25 May 1964, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.; Converted to a Transport Submarine and recommissioned, USS Grayback (APSS-574) in 1968; Decommissioned, 16 June 1984; Final Disposition, sunk as a target near Subic Bay, PI, 13 April 1986.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 2,670 t., Submerged: 3,638 t.; Length 322'; Beam 30' 1"; Draft 16' 4"; Speed, Surfaced 20.5 kts, Submerged 15 kts; Complement 9 Officers 75 Enlisted; Armament, up to four Regulus I missiles, or two Regulus II missiles, or two Regulus Is and one Regulus II; eight 21" torpedo tubes, 1 Regulus missile launcher; Propulsion, diesel-electric, town propellers.
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For Full Size Image		SizeImage DescriptionSource
Grayback139k First hull section for Grayback (SSG-574) is ready in the Mare Island's structural shop for transport to the building ways on 23 June 1954.
U.S. Navy photo # 21733-6-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 10/07/06.
Grayback145kRADM F. I. Entwistle, USN, Commander, Mare Island - Vallejo Area, U.S. Naval Base San Francisco delivers principle address at the keel laying ceremony for the Grayback (SSG-574) at Mare Island on 1 July 1954. Grayback was the last diesel powered submarine built at the yard.
U.S. Navy photo # NY9 21864-7-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback124k Capt. H. M. Thorpe, USN, Production Officer Mare Island reports that "the keel is well and truly laid" for Grayback (SSG-574) at Mare Island on 1 July 1954. The Honorary Keel Layers E. E. Pozzi, Master Painter and A. M. MacDonald, Master Sheetmetal Worker flank the captain.
U.S. Navy photo # NY9 21667-7-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback194k The speaker platform on the building ways at Mare Island on 1 July 1954 during the keel laying ceremony of Grayback (SSG-574).
U.S. Navy photo # NY9 21866-7-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback195k The keel of Grayback (SSG-574) is seen on the ways the day after her official keel laying at Mare Island on 2 July 1954.
U.S. Navy photo # 21899-7-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 10/07/06.
Grayback141k The bow of Grayback (SSG-574) on the ways at Mare Island on 3 April 1956. Note that she is configured as an attack submarine at this date.
U.S. Navy photo # 28741-4-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 10/07/06.
Grayback255k Bow view of Grayback (SSG-574) on the ways at Mare Island on 3 April 1956. Note that she is configured as an attack submarine at this date. The Sargo (SSN-583) is under constrution on the ways to the right.
U.S. Navy photo # 30138-7-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 10/07/06.
Grayback245k Stern view of Grayback (SSG-574) on the ways at Mare Island on 3 April 1956. The Sargo (SSN-583) is under constrution on the ways to the left.
U.S. Navy photo # 30139-7-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 10/07/06.
Sargo & Grayback232k Section 3 of the Sargo (SSN-583) is shown being moved up the building ways at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 19 Jun 1956. The Grayback (SSG-574) is shown on the building ways to the right.
US Navy photo # NY9 29805-6-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback277kBow view of Grayback (SSG-574) on the ways shown that the bow is being modified for her missile hanger at Mare Island on 9 January 1957. The Sargo (SSN-583) is under construction on the right.
U.S. Navy photo # 32690-1-57, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 10/07/06.
Sargo216k Stern view of Sargo (SSN-583) on the building ways at Mare Island on 2 April 1957. Grayback (SSG-574) is on the ways to the right.
U.S. Navy photo # 33742-4-57, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback222k Stern view of Grayback (SSG-574) on the ways the day before her launching at Mare Island on 1 July 1957. The Sargo (SSN-583) is on the ways to the left.
U.S. Navy photo # 34939-7-57, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 10/07/06.
Grayback193kAmidships looking aft plan view of Grayback (SSG-574) at Mare Island on 1 July 1957.
U.S. Navy photo # 37042-10-57, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 10/07/06.
Grayback117k Christening bottle (California Champagne) & case for the christening of Grayback (SSG-574) at Mare Island on 2 July 1957.
U.S. Navy photo # NY9 34894-6-57, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback503k Grayback (SSG-574) is shown half way down the building ways at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 2 July 1957. The Sargo (SSN-583) is on the right.
U.S. Navy photo # NY9 35073-7-57, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback367k Grayback (SSG-574) is shown at the end of the building ways at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 2 July 1957. The Sargo (SSN-583) is on the right.
U.S. Navy photo # NY9 35061-7-57, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback351k Grayback (SSG-574) is waterborne after her launching at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 2 July 1957.
U.S. Navy photo # NY9 35063-7-57, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback103k Postal cover marking the launching of the Grayback (SSG-574) on 2 July 1957 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
Courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback146kFront cover of the Launching Program of the Grayback (SSG-574) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 2 July 1957.
U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback91kPages 1 & 2 of the Launching Program of the Grayback (SSG-574) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 2 July 1957.
U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback109kBack cover of the Launching Program of the Grayback (SSG-574) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 2 July 1957.
U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback132k On 2 July 1957, upon the occasion of the launching of the Grayback (SSG-574), the sponsor was presented with several gifts during the reception which followed the launching. Shown are RADM M. J. Lawrence (Shipyard Commander), Mrs. John A. Moore (Sponsor), Mr. I. H. Whitthorne (President of Master's and Foreman's Association), and Mr. Ernest D. Wichels (President of the Navy Yard Association). Mrs. Moore is the widow of the commanding officer of the 1st Grayback (SS-208).
U.S. Navy photo # NY9 35070-7-57, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback596kThe spectators gathered for the launching of the Grayback (SSG-574) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 2 July 1957. The yard's first nuclear submarine Sargo (SSN-583) is seen on the ways to the right.
U.S. Navy # NY9 35033-7-57, photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback132kMrs. John A. Moore, Sponsor of the Grayback (SSG-574) vists the ship in dry dock 4 at Mare Island on 3 July 1957. RADM M. J. Lawrence, USN, Shipyard Commander and Capt E. J. Fahy, USN, Production Officer are seen with her. The building in the background is the yard's machine shop. The cupola in the right corner of the pcture is the periscope test tower for the optical shop which was on the top of the building. Periscopes were suspended from the ceiling and scopes head window projected into the cupola for test and calibration.
U.S. Navy photo # NY9 35079-7-57, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback87kOfficers and crew of the Grayback (SSG-574) at her commissioning ceremony, 3 July 1957.
 USN photo.
Grayback147k The front cover of the Commissioning Program for Grayback (SSG-574) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on Friday 1 March 1958.
U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback35k Pages 1 & 2 of the Commissioning Program for Grayback (SSG-574)at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on Friday 1 March 1958.
U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback180k Back cover of the Commissioning Program for Grayback (SSG-574) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on Friday 1 March 1958 which list the ship's company at the time of commissioning.
U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback117k This is the "Diagram for commissioning Grayback (SSG-574)" at Mare Island on 7 March 1958.
U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayback242k The colors are raised for the first aboard Grayback (SSG-574) during her commissioning ceremonies at Mare Island on 7 March 1958.
U.S. Navy photo # 38419-3-58, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 10/07/06.
View the Grayback (SSG-574 / APSS-574)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Regulus; U.S. Navy's first nuclear missile submarines.
United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. Grayback Base
USS (SSG 574) Grayback
Guppy Submarines
HISTORIC SUBMARINE DOCUMENTARY AND TRAINING FILMS
Back To The Main Photo IndexBack To the Submarine Index

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