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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Guitarro (SSN-665)
Keel Laying - Launching

Radio Call Sign: November -Golf - Romeo - Kilo
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Commissioning
Active Service - Decommissioning

Sturgeon Class Attack Submarine: Laid down, 9 December 1965, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 27 July 1968; Commissioned, USS Guitarro (SSN-665), 9 September 1972; Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 29 May 1992; Final Disposition, disposed of through the NPSSRP (Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 18 October 1994.

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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Guitarro52kCommemorative post mark on the ocassion of the keel laying ceremony of the Guitarro (SSN-665), 9 December 1965, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.
Courtesy of Jim Richardson.
Guitarro126k Chaplain CDR Benoit Galland opens the keel laying ceremony for the Guitarro (SSN-665) at Mare Island on 9 Dec 1965. Pictured from left to right: RADM Edward J. Fahy, USN, Shipyard Commander; Lou Burgeline, Head of Plant Equipment (Honorary Keel Layer), CDR Benoit Galland, CHC, USN; Ed Weber, Inspector of Ship Mechanical Systems (Honorary Keel Layer); Walter Sobotor, President of Mare Island Metal Trades Council (Honorary Keel Layer); Howard Powell, Master of Sheetmetal Shop (Honorary Keel Layer); Capt. D. T. Holmer, USN, Shipyard Production Officer.
USN photo # MSA-70871-12/65, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Guitarro144k RADM Edward J. Fahy, USN, Shipyard Commander authenticates the keel of the Guitarro (SSN-665) at Mare Island on 9 Dec 1965.
USN photo # MSA-70874-12/65, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Guitarro107k The Keel plaque of the Guitarro (SSN-665), dated 12/9/1965.
USN photo # MSA-70875-12-65, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Guitarro586kThe Guitarro (SSN-665) is seen ready for launching on the morning of 27 July 1968 at Mare Island.
USN photo # 86038-7-68, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Guitarro95k Mrs. John McNay Taylor, Sponsor for the launching of the Guitarro (SSN-665) at Mare Island on 27 July 1968. She was the wife of VADM John McNay Taylor, USN (Ret). The Guitarro was the 14th nuclear submarine launched at Mare Island.
USN photo # MSA-86040-7-68, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Guitarro104k Mrs. John McNay Taylor, Sponsor and Mrs. John Sutro, Matron of Honor for the launching of the Guitarro (SSN-665) on 27 July 1968 at Mare Island.
USN photo # MSA-86041-7-68, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Guitarro526k Mrs John McNav Taylor, Sponsor, christens the Guitarro (SSN-665) on 27 July 1968 at Mare Island.
USN photo # 86057-7-68, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Guitarro118k RADM J. H. McQuilkin, USN, Shipyard Commander speaks at the launching of the Guitarro (SSN-665) on 27 July 1968 at Mare Island.
USN photo # MSA-86050-7-68, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Guitarro104k A clipping from the 26 July 1968 Mare Island newspaper "Tie Line". The photo shows Joe Honodel, Superintendent of Shop 64 (Shipwrights) is giving Paul F. Minasiian, Electrical Group Superintendent instruction on his duties as the triggerman for the launching of the Guitarro (SSN-665) on 27 July 1968.
USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Guitarro159k Representative Robert L. Leggett and RADM J. H. McQuilkin inspect the honor guard at the launching of the Guitarro (SSN-665) on 27 July 1968 at Mare Island. The Honor Guard was composed of students from Naval Schools Command, Mare Island.
USN photo MSA 86046-7-68, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Guitarro103k This picture appeared in the 2 Aug 1968 issue of the Mare Island newspaper "Tie Line" showing the christening of the Guitarro (SSN-665) at Mare Island on 27 July 1968.
USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Guitarro106k The Guitarro (SSN-665) at the end of the launching ways and entering the waters, 27 July 1968 at Mare Island.
USN photo.
Guitarro35k This picture appeared in the 2 Aug 1968 issue of the Mare Island newspaper "Tie Line" showing the Guitarro (SSN-665) in dry dock 2 after her launching at Mare Island on 27 July 1968. She was in dry dock to drop the launching cradle.
USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Guitarro71k First day cover for the launching of Guitarro (SSN-665).
Courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Guitarro95k Another first day cover for the launching of Guitarro (SSN-665). This one lists the nuclear submarines built at Mare Island up to the Guitarro.
Courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Guitarro134k The Guitarro (SSN-665) is on the bottom of the Napa River after her accidental sinking at Mare Island on 15 May 1969. (Note: The reactor had not been installed). Other vessels in the picture are from left to right; unknown YD, YD-33 (150 Ton Crane), and Satanta (YTM-270). Satanta is preventing the Guitarro from capsizing.
(On a personal note: I was working the installation of her MK-113 fire control system at the time, but I was in training at the time of her sinking and salvage. I did return in time to remove the mounting rails and the reference sensing elements from the forward portion of the torpedo tubes. These units were located on the tubes just before they penetrated the pressure hull. This experiences gave a new meaning to "sewer pipes.")
USN photo # MSA 91770-5-69, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Guitarro788k The Guitarro (SSN-665) after her accidental sinking at Mare Island on 15 May 1969, in dry dock #3 at Mare Island. She is being stripped of all equipment after her sinking at the shipyard. Equipment in the foreground is ultrasonic cleaning tanks for electronic equipment. Large tank trailer behind open tanks contains pure water. White rectangle in the middle of the picture blanks out the subs mast configuration.
USN photo courtesy of W. Gordon Lange, Captain, USN Ret. Text courtesy of Darryl Baker.
There is no DANFS History currently available for Guitarro (SSN-665) at the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site, the main archive for the DANFS Online Project.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information Contact Name: W. Gordon Lange, Captain, USN Ret.
Address: PO Box 3659 Groton Long Point, CT 06340
Phone: 860 572 7537
E-mail: glange2983@aol.com
Additional Contacts:
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
FAS--SSN-637 Sturgeon class
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