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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)
Construction to Keel Laying

Radio Call Sign: November - Charlie - Mike - Juliet

To Additional Pages

Mock Up & Models
Post Keel Laying - Commissioning
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.

Size	Image Description	Source
1.1m	Partial hull section of Grayback (SS-574) showing special carriage and trestle for automatic welding of frames and wing bulkheads on 19 Jan. 1954.	U.S. Navy photo # 19914-1-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 05/13/09.
1.1m	Inner hull sections showing positioning rollers and interior bulkheads on 11 Mar. 1954.	U.S. Navy photo # 20451-5-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 05/13/09.
1.1m	Assembly jig for tee bar sections of inner hull frame on 11 Mar. 1954.	U.S. Navy photo # 20453-5-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 05/13/09.
570k	Gauges for framing alignment. 1 – Center marking device. 2 – Fiber hammer. 3 – Frame standard. 4 – Alignment gauge. 5 – Dial indicator, and 6 – Micrometer. on 29 Apr. 1954.	U.S. Navy photo # 20968-4-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 05/13/09.
1.1m	Installation of interior bulkhead #72 – Inner hull section #2 on 7 May 1954.	U.S. Navy photo # 21031-5-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 05/13/09.
1.0m	Inner hull frame being straightened and squared up in hydraulic press on 13 May 1954.	U.S. Navy photo # 21094-5-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 05/13/09.
1.0m	Assembling two sections of vertical and flat keel with outer shell “A” strake on 13 May 1954.	U.S. Navy photo # 21095-5-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 05/13/09.
961k	Gauge for framing alignment. 1 – Is the alignment gauge; 2 is the dial indicator; 29 Apr. 1954.	U.S. Navy photo # 20966-4-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 05/13/09.
1.2m	Inner hull shell plates welded together for conical hull section – edges being crimped in 1000 ton press before rolling on 13 May 1954.	U.S. Navy photo # 21099-5-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 05/13/09.
1.1m	Deep floor frame being straightened in hydraulic press on 13 May 1954.	U.S. Navy photo # 21101-5-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 05/13/09.
1.2m	Inner hull section #1 assembled with framing, wing bulkheads and floor, keel side-up on 25 May 1954.	U.S. Navy photo # 21204-5-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 05/13/09.
1.1m	Section #1 – stripped of cradles and staging being blocked up prior to loading on flat bed trailer on 23 June 1954.	U.S. Navy photo # 21733-6-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 05/13/09.
976k	Section #1 – in traveling position on flat bed trailer for transportation to building ways. Total weight 70 tons.	U.S. Navy photo # 21734-6-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 05/13/09.
139k	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.
145k	RADM 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.
124k	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.
194k	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.
195k	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.