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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive


Patches on left and center contributed by Mike Smolinski, on right by Jack Treutle

Grayling (SSN-646)


Radio Call Sign: November - Delta - Victor - Quebec

Sturgeon Class Attack Submarine: Laid down, 12 May 1964, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME.: Launched, 22 June 1967; Commissioned, USS Grayling (SSN-646), 11 October 1969; Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 18 July 1997; Final Disposition, disposed of through the NPSSRP (Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 31 March 1998.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 3,640 t., Submerged: 4,640 t.; Length 292' 3"; Beam 31' 8"; Draft 28' 8"; Speed, Surfaced 15 kts, Submerged 25 kts; Depth limit 1,300'; Complement 108; Armament, four 21" torpedo tubes amidships aft of bow, MK 48 Torpedoes, UUM-44A SUBROC, UGM-84A/C Harpoon, MK 57 deep water mines, MK 60 CAPTOR mines; Combat Sensors, Radar, BPS-14/15 surface search, Sonars, BQQ-5 multi-function bow mounted, BQR-7 passive in submarines with BQQ-2, BQS-12 active 7, TB-16 or TB-23 towed array, EW Systems, WLQ-4(V), WLR-4(V), WLR-9 ; Propulsion System, one S5W nuclear reactor, two steam turbines, one propeller, 15,000 shp.
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12 May 1964431kOne of a kind times three:
John Adams (SSBN-620) commissioned, Nathanael Greene (SSBN-636) launched; & Grayling's (SSN-646) keel laid on 12 May 1964.
Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Grayling377kGrayling (SSN-646) Sponsor Lori Brinker Cullen, daughter of Robert Marion Brinker, Commander (Commanding Officer) of the Grayling (SS-209).USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Insert link courtesy of spokesman.com.
Grayling579kIn a typical Portsmouth Naval Shipyard launching, the Grayling (SSN-646) slides down the ways bow first at Kittery, ME., 22 June 1967.USN photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Grayling78kStern view of the Grayling (SSN-646) as slides down the ways bow first at Kittery, ME., 22 June 1967. USN photo courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Grayling72k Front cover of the Launching Program for the Grayling (SSN-646) at Kittery, ME., 22 June 1967. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
Grayling26kGrayling (SSN-646) Launch Pin. Courtesy of Ron Toth Jr. of timepassagenostalgia.com via Tom Kermen.
Grayling73kCommemorative postal cover marking the Grayling's (SSN-646) launching at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME., 22 June 1967. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Grayling320kThe Grayling (SSN-646) during construction in Portsmouth (NH) Naval Shipyard, photo taken from barge, April 1969.Photo courtesy of Fred Tollison.
Grayling161kPeriscope photo of Grayling (SSN-646) underway off Portsmouth, NH, in 1969. Photo courtesy of Fred Tollison.
Grayling194kGrayling (SSN-646) during sea trials in 1969; during testing of the anchor, it could not be retrieved in normal manner; the tug arrived with divers who attached a cable to the anchor and it was then lifted onto the tug for transit back to Portsmouth. The anchor chain was manually detached from the anchor and secured topside on the Grayling for the transit back to Portsmouth.Photo courtesy of Fred Tollison.
Grayling199kGrayling (SSN-646) during sea trials, 1969. During sea trials, an emergency blow valve malfunctioned; a replacement valve was flown out by aircraft and dropped by parachute; this photo shows retrieval of the valve from the water; the valve was replaced, leading to successful emergency blow tests.Photo courtesy of Fred Tollison.
Grayling263kGrayling (SSN-646) on 12 September 1969.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Grayling283kA circling Grayling (SSN-646) on the outside with a escorting tug on 12 September 1969.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Grayling748kGrayling (SSN-646) gets a go over. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Grayling321kGrayling (SSN-646) enters a busy port.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Grayling48k Front cover of the Commissioning Program for the Grayling (SSN-646) on 11 October 1969. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
Grayling1.88kSpecial issue of the Portsmouth Periscope honoring the commissioning of the Grayling (SSN-646) on 11 October 1969.PDF courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Grayling123kPort side view of the Grayling (SSN-646) underway, possibly circa her commissioning period, 1969. Official USN photo courtesy of Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr.
Sturgeon Class43k Oil on canvas painting by the artist Jim Christley entitled "Trailing".
During the Cold War the US Naval Submarine Force was tasked with keeping tabs on Soviet Naval movements in particular, the Soviet Submarine Force. Submarines of the Sturgeon Class were well suited to this task and often trailed Soviet submarines for days reporting on their movements and recording noise signatures. In this image, such a trailing has turned into a close aboard encounter as a Soviet Viktor III Class has turned to port to check his baffles (to listen to see if anyone is immediately astern). A trailing Sturgeon has stopped his screw and gone quiet. Extending far behind the US submarine is its towed array sonar which assists in giving a clear picture of the ocean's acoustics
Photo & text courtesy of subart.net.
Submerged submarines145kSubmerged submarines in tandem.USN photo courtesy of Robert Hall.
Grayling106kThe Grayling (SSN-646) in the deperming facility, Norfolk, VA, in 1970.Photo courtesy of Fred Tollison.
Grayling199kGrayling (SSN-646) under way with porpoises, 1970.Photo courtesy of Fred Tollison.
Grayling327kAn image of the patch created by the crew of the Grayling (SSN-646) to commemorate the ship's 1976 Northern Run. The design was the work of MM1/SS Don Ostrander. USN photo courtesy of Tom Marcucci.
Grayling673kThis photo of the Grayling (SSN-646) is from the 1980's and came from the Estate of U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Albert Joseph Baciocco. He commanded Submarine Division Forty-Two; Submarine Squadron Four; and Submarine Group Six during the height of the Cold War, so there's a chance this photo is of one of these groups as well. It is hand signed by all 18 Submarine Commanders. Many of the legible names are easily researched - many of which went on to be admirals themselves. These men commanded our Submarines during the cold war.USN photo courtesy of Tommy Trampp.
Grayling237kThe Grayling (SSN-646) is entering Mare Island channel in March 1987 for her arrival at the shipyard for overhaul. She was under overhaul at yard from 30 March 1987 until 9 January 1990. The Carquinez Bridge is visible in the background. Large building beyond the bridge is the C&H Sugar Refinery at Crockett, CA. USN photo # 219796-3-87, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Grayling302k A port view of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Grayling (SSN-646) underway off Portsmouth, N. H., 1 February 1991. Official USN photo # DN-ST-91-05696 by E.F. Capece, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
Grayling29kCommemorative post mark from Grayling's (SSN-646) visit to the North Pole, April 1992. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Grayling559k A port bow view of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Grayling (SSN-646) moored at a pier at Port Canaveral, Florida, 25 July 1993. Official USN photo # DN-SC-93-05986 by OS2 John Bouvia, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
Grayling198k An SH-60F "Seahawk" from the "Nightdippers" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Five (HS-5) hovers in front of U.S. Navy's Sturgeon-class attack submarine, Grayling (SSN-646) while operating in the western Mediterranean Sea, 19 June 1996. The Seahawk was operating from the deck of the U.S. Navy's nuclear powered aircraft carrier George Washington (CVN-73), while conducting a passing exercise with units from the French aircraft carrier Clemenceau's (R-98). USN photo # 7340V-002, by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jim Vidrine, courtesy of t2news.navy.m7z.net.
Grayling223kGrayling (SSN-646) alongside at Groton, 1996. Photo by Ken Hart.
Grayling133k Bow view of Grayling (SSN-646) at Groton 1996. Photo by Lester Palifka.
Grayling1.07kGrayling (SSN-646) underway, date and place unknown.USN photo courtesy of COMSUBGRU NINE web site.
Grayling62k Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of the Grayling's (SSN-646) decommissioning, 18 July 1997. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Grayling960kGrayling (SSN-646) off of Southern San Francisco in this undated photo.Photo courtesy of Jim Stats and submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
Grayling32kGrayling (SSN-646) awaiting disposal at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 31 March 1998. Courtesy of Don Shelton.
Spent Fuel569kSealed reactor compartments are shipped by barge out of Puget Sound Naval Base down the coast and along the Columbia River to the port of Benton. There the radioactively-contaminated hull sections are transferred to special multiwheeled high-load trailers for transport to the Hanford Reservation in Washington State. Pictured below is the burial ground for spent fuel of the following 77 nuclear reactor submarines as of March 2003:
Patrick Henry (SSBN-599),
Snook (SSN-592),
George Washington (SSBN-598),
Scamp (SSN-588),
Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601),
Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618),
Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600),
Dace (SSN-607),
John Adams (SSBN-620),
Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602),
Barb (SSN-596),
Ethan Allen (SSBN-608),
Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610),
Pollack (SSN-603),
Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN-685),
James Monroe (SSBN-622),
Skipjack (SS-585),
Nathan Hale (SSBN-623),
Plunger (SSN-595),
Shark (SSN-591),
Lafayette (SSBN-616),
Sam Houston (SSBN-609),
Jack (SSN-605),
Haddo (SSN-604),
Tinosa (SSN-606),
Guardfish (SSN-612),
Permit (SSN-594),
Queenfish (SSN-651),
Ulysses S. Grant (SSBN-631),
John Marshall (SSBN-611),
George C. Marshall (SSBN-654),
Flasher (SSN-613),
Guitarro (SSN-665),
Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617),
George Washington Carver (SSBN-656),
Tecumseh (SSBN-628),
Halibut (SSGN-587),
Will Rogers (SSBN-659),
Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655),
Daniel Boone (SSBN-629),
Greenling (SSN-614),
John C. Calhoun (SSBN-630),
Casimir Pulaski (SSBN-633),
Skate (SSN-578),
Sargo (SSN-583),
Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657),
Sturgeon (SSN-637),
Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640),
Swordfish (SSN-579),
Seadragon (SSN-584),
Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634),
Simon Bolivar (SSBN-641),
Hammerhead (SSN-663),
Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658),
Tullibee (SSN-597),
Lewis & Clark (SSBN-644),
Pargo (SSN-650),
Seahorse (SSN-669),
Gurnard (SSN-662),
Flying Fish (SSN-673),
Gato (SSN-615),
Puffer (SSN-652),
Seawolf (SSN-575),
Baton Rouge (SSN-689),
Bergall (SSN-667),
Whale (SSN-638),
Henry Clay (SSBN-625),
James Madison (SSBN-627),
Finback (SSN-670),
Spadefish (SSN-668),
Sunfish (SSN-649),
George Bancroft (SSBN-643),
Grayling (SSN-646),
Pintado (SSN-672),
Tunny (SSN-682),
Archerfish (SSN-678),
& Woodrow Wilson (SSBN-624).
As time passes & more boats are retired from service and their reactors are brought here, so the numbers rise. In this photo dated November 2009, 98 nuclear submarines and six nuclear cruisers have been recycled. For an up to date view, click here
USN photo submitted by Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Insert link courtesy of wikimedia.org
Grayling44kThe Grayling's (SSN-646) sail, with its dive planes preserved as a memorial to its crew, at the US Navy's Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine. Photo & text courtesy of Bill Fessenden.

Commanding Officers
01CDR. Baron, Charles Raoul, USN11.10.1969 - 05.10.1971 First Date in Commission
02CDR. Severance Jr., Laverne Stanard, USN (USNA 1957) :RADM05.10.1971 - 25.11.1974
03CDR. Cox, Kenneth Eugene, USN25.11.1974 - 03.02.1978
04CDR. Eckert, Thomas Richard, USN (USNA 1961)03.02.1978 - 17.08.1981
05CDR. Konetzni Jr., Albert Henry (Al), USN (USNA 1966) :VADM17.08.1981 - 27.05.1984
06CDR. Evans IV, William Ashley, USN (USNA 1967)27.05.1984 - 05.04.1987
07CDR. Stocho, William Louis, USN05.04.1987 - 11.03.1990
08CDR. Dunn, Robert Patrick, USN11.03.1990 - 16.11.1992
09CDR. Richard Earl, USN16.11.1992 - 20.03.1995
10CDR. Miller III, Samuel Clyde (Skip), USN20.03.1995 - 18.07.1997 Last Date in Commission
Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler

View the Grayling (SSN-646)
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
FAS--SSN-637 Sturgeon class

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