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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Sargo (SSN-583)
Keel Laying - Building

Radio Call Sign: November - Echo - India - Hotel

To Additional Pages

Launching - Shakedown
Commissioning - Decommissioning

Skate Class Submarine: Laid down, 21 February 1956, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 10 October 1957; Commissioned, USS Sargo (SSN-583), 1 October 1958; Decommissioned 26 Feb 1988 at Pearl Harbor, and struck from the Naval Register, 21 April 1988; Final Disposition, disposed of through NPSSRP (Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 14 April 1994 to 5 April 1995.
Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.)

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 2,570 t., Submerged: 2,861 t.; Length 267' 8" ; Beam 25'; Draft 20'; Speed, Surfaced 23 kts, Submerged 18+ kts; Complement 8 Officers, 75 Enlisted; Armament, six 21" torpedo tubes, Propulsion, S3W pressurized water cooled reactor, steam turbines, two propellers, 13,200 shp.

Size	Image Description	Source
173k	Hull section for Sargo (SSN-583) being fabricated in the structural shop at Mare Island on 19 Jan 1956. Photo caption: Assembled frame installed in shell plates on saddles.	U.S. Navy photo # 27754-1-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
156k	Hull section for Sargo (SSN-583) ready for shipping to the building ways at Mare Island on 13 Feb 1956.	U.S. Navy photo # 28121-2-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
98k	The first hull section of the Sargo (SSN-583), Mare Island Naval Shipyard first nuclear submarine, is seen being moved from Structural Shop on double flatbed trailer on 14 Feb 1956.	US Navy photo # NY9 28124-2-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
277k	RADM John R. Redman, USN, Commandant 12th Naval District delivers the main address during the keel laying of the Sargo (SSN-583) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 21 Feb 1956. The shipyard's voluntary civilian band is seen below the VIP stand.	US Navy photo # NY9-28179-2-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
58k	RADM John R. Redmond, Commandant 12th Naval Distirct (right) is seen with RADM Martin J. Lawrence, Shipyard Commander authencating the keel of Mare Island's first nuclear submarine Sargo (SSN-583) on 21 Feb 1956.	US Navy photo # NY9-28184-2-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
289k	Honors rendered during the keel laying of the Sargo (SSN-583) at Mare Island on 21 Feb 1956. Capt. E. A. Wright, shipyard Production Officer, is on the platform and Honorary Keel Layers are from the left to right are Master Shipfitter Charles H. Butler and Rigger Master, E. W. Martinez.	US Navy photo # NY9 28181-2-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
387k	Crowd at the keel laying of Sargo (SSN-583) at Mare Island on 21 Feb 1956.	US Navy photo # NY9 251786-2-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo added 11/30/06.
124k	It took 3 Admirals and a captain to plant the Sequoia Redwood tree to mark the keel laying of Mare Island's first nuclear submarine Sargo (SSN-583) on 21 Feb 1956. From left to right: RADM Martin J. Lawrence, USN (Shipyard Commander), RADM John R. Redman (Commandant 12th ND), RADM F. I. Entwistle, USN (Mare Island Base Commander) and Capt R. A. Davidson, CEC, USN (Public Works Officer Mare Island).	US Navy photo # NY9 28182-2-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
126k	This is a photo taken on 9 May 2003 on the now closed Mare Island Naval Shipyard of the Sequoia tree planted to mark the keel laying of the Sargo (SSN-583). The tree was used as the Shipyard Christmas tree in the 1980s and 1990s. .	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
255k	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.
245k	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.
108k	Shipyard welders working on a hull section for Sargo (SSN-583) at berth 15 at Mare Island on 14 May 1956.	U.S. Navy photo # 29304-5-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
131k	A hull section for Sargo (SSN-583) at berth 15 at Mare Island is being flipped from its horizontal to a vertical position for transpiration to building ways on 6 June 1956. The hull section is being lifted by *YD-33* (boom just visible) while the dock crane *D-2* (behind the hull section) will flip the section and then remove the handle cradle.	U.S. Navy photo # 29647-5-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
136k	Photo of winches and cable installation used to pull and lower hull section into place for Sargo (SSN-583) at Mare Island on 19 June 1956.	U.S. Navy photo # 29802-6-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
126k	Greasing the skids. Shop 72 workers are shown lubricanting the steel slide at building ways in preparation to pulling section 3 up the ways during the building of the Sargo (SSN-583). Photo taken on 19 Jun 1956 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.	US Navy photo # NY9 29803-6-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
216k	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.
232k	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.
277k	Bow 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.
222k	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.
596k	The 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.
503k	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.
367k	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.