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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

William H. Bates (SSN-680)

Sturgeon Class Attack Submarine: Laid down, 4 August 1969, at Ingalls Nuclear Shipbuilding Division, of Litton Industries, Pascagoula, MS.; Launched, 11 December 1971; Commissioned, USS William H. Bates (SSN-680), 5 May 1973; Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 11 February 2000; Final Disposition, to be disposed of through (NPSSRP) the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 3,640 t., Submerged: 4,640 t.; Length 302'; 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-13 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
108k	The William H. Bates (SSN-680) slides down the launching ways at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp, Pascagoula, MS., 11 December 1971.	US Navy photo.
12k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the launching of the William H. Bates (SSN-680), 11 December 1971.	Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle.
43k	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.
145k	Submerged submarines in tandem.	U.S. Navy Photo courtesy of Robert Hall. Photo added 04/22/07.
99k	William H. Bates (SSN-680) port side view underway, date and location unknown.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
71k	Undated photo of the William H. Bates (SSN-680) underway.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
104k	William H. Bates (SSN-680) underway, date and place unknown.	US Navy photo courtesy of ComSubGru Nine
105k	William H. Bates (SSN-680) underway, date and place unknown.	US Navy photo courtesy of ComSubGru Nine
39k	William H. Bates (SSN-680) underway in 1985 with the *Mystic (DSRV-1)* attached to her hull.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
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.
78k	William H. Bates (SSN-680) working on the stern section, underway, date and place unknown.	US Navy photo courtesy of globalsecurity.org
68k	William H. Bates (SSN-680) periscopes and radio atenna, underway, date and place unknown.	US Navy photo courtesy of globalsecurity.org
66k	William H. Bates (SSN-680) undergoing repair, date and place unknown.	US Navy photo courtesy of globalsecurity.org

View the William H. Bates (SSN-680)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS William H Bates (SSN680)
FAS--SSN-637 Sturgeon class

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