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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch on left courtesy of Jack Treutle, others by Mike Smolinski

Radio Call Sign: November - Whiskey - Foxtrot - Golf

Hawkbill (SSN-666)
Keel Laying / Commissioning

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Active Service - Decommissioning

Sturgeon Class Attack Submarine: Laid down, 12 September 1966, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 12 April 1969; Commissioned, USS Hawkbill (SSN-666), 4 February 1971; Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 15 March 2000; Final Disposition, disposed of through NPSSRP (Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. in December 2000

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.

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
134k	RADM J. H. McQuilin, Shipyard Commander (on the left) speaks during the keel laying ceremony of Hawkbill (SSN-666), at Mare Island on 12 Sep 1966. In the center of the photo are the Honorary Keel Layers, Capt D. T. Holmes, shipyard Production Officer & LT W. J. Cox, CHC. The first section of *Hawkbill* is to the right. It is lying horizontal before placed on the building ways.	USN photo # 74545-9-66, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
101k	RADM J. H. McQuilin, Shipyard Commander stamps his initials on the keel plate of the Hawkbill (SSN-666) at Mare Island on 12 Sep 1966.	USN photo # 74549-9-66, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
128k	The Honorary Keel Layers are seen with the Commander, Mare Island Naval Shipyard after he authenticated the keel of Hawkbill (SSN-666) at Mare Island on 12 Sep 1966. Pictured from left to right are: John Reza, Head of Shop 31; Selwin E. Carlson, Head of the Administration Division; Anna M Krisha (Senior employee of the Shipyard at the time) Head, Retirement and Insurance Section; RADM J. H. McQuilin, Shipyard Commander; and L. E. Schmidt, Metal Trade Council Representative.	USN photo # 74550-9-66, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
107k	The authenticated keel plate of the Hawkbill (SSN-666) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 12 Sep 1966.	USN photo # 74551-9-66, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
90k	Newsclipping from the 4 Apr 1969 edtion of the Mare Island newspaper showing the Sponsor of the Hawkbill (SSN-666) Mrs. Bernard F. Roeder. Mrs Roeder was the wife of VADM B. F. Roeder, Commander of the First Fleet.	Photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
62k	Newsclipping from the 12 Apr 1969 edition of the Napa Register showing the Hawkbill (SSN-666) on the building ways prior to her launching a Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 12 Apr 1969.	Photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
96k	Mrs. Bernard F. Roeder, Sponsor of the Hawkbill (SSN-666) is seen christening the ship on 12 Apr 1969 at Mare Island. Others in the photo are from left to right; Mrs Adam Musto, Matron of Honor; RADM Norbert Frankenberger, Commander, Mare Island Naval Shipyard; unidentifed Navy Captain, and Mrs B. F. Roeder.	USN photo # 90994-4-69, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
65k	The Hawkbill (SSN-666) is seen entering the water for the first during her launching at Mare Island on 12 Apr 1969.	USN photo # 90949-4-69, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
172k	The Hawkbill (SSN-666) is seen at her outfitting dock at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in March 1970.	The original 35mm slide scanned courtesy of By Design, Benicia, CA. Photo taken from the Vallejo side of the Mare Island Channel by Darryl Baker.
61k	Scene of the commissioning ceremonies of the Hawkbill (SSN-666) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 4 Feb 1971.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
80k	The Builder's Plate of the Hawkbill (SSN-666).	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
73k	News clipping from the 5 Feb 1971 edition of the Vallejo Times Herald. Caption reads: CDR Christopher H. Brown, USN, Skipper of the newly commissioned submarine Hawkbill (SSN-666) at Mare Island, and the vessel's Executive Officer, LCDR George R. Stubbs (left), USN are shown as the Navy's newest ship was placed in service Thursday at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, the *Hawkbill's* building yard. The submarine will join the Pacific Submarine Force in the near future.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
139k	News clipping from the 5 Feb 1971 edition of the Vallejo Times Herald. Caption reads: The nuclear powered, fast attack ship Hawkbill (SSN-666), her (commissioning) pennant flying following her commissioning Thursday at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, is shown moored to her berth. The *Hawkbill, a submarine of the new Sturgeon* class, shortly is due to join the Pacific Submarine Force.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
70k	News clipping from the 5 Feb 1971 edition of the Vallejo Times Herald. Caption reads: Members of the commissioning party stood at attention Thursday as a 13-gun salute boomed out for RADM William H. Goverman, USN, Commander of the Western Sea Frontier, who was at Mare Island to commission the nuclear advanced fast attack submarine Hawkbill (SSN-666). From left are CDR Christopher H. Brown, Skipper of the Hawkbill; Admiral Groverman; Capt. Robert H. Heath, (CHC), USN; (back) Capt. Willis C. Barnes, USN Commander Mare Island Naval Shipyard; Charles L. Gould, principal speaker, and Capt. E. O. Proctor, USN Commander, Submarines, San Francisco Bay Area.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.