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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Blueback (SS-581)

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Foxtrot - Sierra

Barbel Class Submarine: Laid down, 15 April 1957, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation, Pasgagoula, MS.; Launched, 16 May 1959; Commissioned, USS Blueback (SS-581), 15 October 1959; Decommissioned, 1 October 1990, at San Diego, Cal., Point Loma Submarine Base; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet; Struck from the Naval Register, 30 October 1990; Final Disposition, Donated to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, OR. in February 1994, where she is on permanent display as a museum ship, opened to the public, 15 May 1994.

Specifications: Displacement, Surface 1,745.56 t.(lt), 2,316.64 t. (fl), Submerged: 2, 644.45 t.; Length 218' 1" ; Beam 29'; Draft 29' 3"; Speed, Surfaced 15 kts, Submerged (snorkel) 12 kts, (battery) 21 kts; Maximum Operating Depth, 712 ft.; Complement 85; Armament, six 21" torpedo tubes (bow), 18 torpedo capacity including 6 loaded Sensors 2 periscopes, active sonar, passive sonar, radar, ECM; Propulsion, Surface Propulsion 3 Fairbanks-Morse 38d(8 1/8)x10 diesel engines Designed SHP continuous: 3150 Designed RPM: 162 1 shaft, 1 propeller Fuel capacity: 112,000 gallons Cruising Distance: 19,000 miles without refueling Submerged Propulsion (Snorkel) Designed SHP: 2400 Designed RPM: 52 Submerged Propulsion (Battery) 2 General Electric motors Designed SHP: 4800 Designed RPM: 198 Maximum safe astern RPM: 110 Endurance at full speed: 0.5 hours Endurance at 3 knots: 102.0 hours

Size	Image Description	Source
82k	Wrapped in bunting from stem to stern, the Blueback (SS-581) slides down the launching ways at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation, Pasgagoula, MS., 16 May 1959.	USN / USNI photo.
150k	Commemorative pamphlet of Blueback's (SS-581) launching, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation, Pasgagoula, MS., 16 May 1959.	Courtesy of Ken Hart.
181k	Blueback (SS-581), underway, probably during her sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico, circa 1959-60.	Courtesy of John Hummel.
70k	Blueback (SS-581), underway, probably during her sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico, circa 1959-60.	USN photo taken from The American Submarine, by Norman Polmar & submitted by Robert Hurst. Photo added 04/17/08.
39k	Blueback (SS-581), in San Francisco Bay. With the low buildings in the immediate background (which may be a portion of Fisherman's wharf) probably headed out to the Golden Gate. Circa mid 70'?	Text courtesy of OMC J. Reid Pallady USNR-RET. Photo courtesy of Historic Naval Ships Association (hnsa.org)
48k	An Oil on masonite painting by the artist John Charles Roach, entitled "Ballast Point, San Diego", depicts sub base with subs and tenders at the pier in San Diego during mid 1986. The tenders were possibly the: McKee (AS-42) for Subron 7 & Dixon (AS-37) for Subron 3. Among the subs were the: Dolphin (AGSS-555): Gudgeon (SS-567): Albacore (AGSS-569): Barbel (SS-580): Blueback (SS-581): Permit (SSN-594): Plunger (SSN-595): Pollack (SSN-603) Haddo (SSN-604): Guardfish (SSN-612): Haddock (SSN-621): Sturgeon (SSN-637): Gurnard (SSN-662) : Hawkbill (SSN-666): Pintado (SSN-672): Drum (SSN-677): William H. Bates (SSN-680): La Jolla (SSN-701): Portsmouth (SSN-707) & Salt Lake City (SSN-716).	Ballast Point, San Diego John Charles Roach 1986.5 Oil on masonite, 1986, courtesy of the USNHC, # 88-163-CR. Text contributed by OMC J. Reid Pallady USNR-RET & QM2(SS) David Johnston, USNR.
29k	Commemorative post card marking the Blueback's (SS-581), appearance at Seattle's Sea Fair Fleet Week, Aug. 1989.	Courtesy of Richard Leonhardt.
427k	The attack submarine Blueback (SS-581) lays tied up to the pier at the submarine base at San Diego om 23 Feb 1990. The *Blueback, a diesel-electric submarine, is scheduled for decommissioning after more than 30 years of active service. The submarine tender Mckee* (AS-41) is in the background.	USN photo # DN-SN-90-06767 by PH2 Mike Poche, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
110k	A lieutenant sits at an engine control panel aboard the attack submarine Blueback (SS-581) at the submarine base at San Diego on 23 Feb 1990.	USN photo # DN-SN-90-06764 by PH2 Mike Poche, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
218k	A petty officer opens the breach door of a torpedo aboard the attack submarine Blueback (SS-581) at the submarine base at San Diego on 23 Feb 1990.	USN photo # DN-SN-90-06760 by PH2 Mike Poche, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
201k	A petty officer works at a control panel for the No. 3 main generator aboard the attack submarine Blueback (SS-581) at the submarine base at San Diego on 23 Feb 1990.	USN photo # DN-SN-90-06761 by PH2 Mike Poche, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
43k	Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of the Blueback's (SS-581) decommissioning, 1 October 1990.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
40k	Blueback (SS-581), at Portland, OR., June 2000.	Courtesy of Dale C. Haskin.
318k	The Blueback (SS-581) at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, OR.	Photo contributed by Mike Brock courtesy of Tom Bateman.

View the Blueback (SS-581)
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
B-Girls Reunion Association - USS Blueback SS-581
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry _ USS Blueback (SS-581)
US Submarine Veterans - USS Blueback (SS-581)
Visitor's Guide to Historic Naval Ships - USS Blueback (SS-581)

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