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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Contributed by Steve Rakers.

Richard B. Russell (SSN-687)

Radio Call Sign: November - Golf - Echo - Mike

Sturgeon Class Attack Submarine: Laid down, 19 October 1971, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, VA.; Launched, 12 January 1974; Commissioned, USS Richard B.Russell (SSN-687), 16 August 1975; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 24 June 1994; Final Disposition, disposed of through the NPSSRP (Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. 31 October 2002.

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
14k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the keel laying of the Richard B. Russell (SSN-687), 19 October 1971, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, VA.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
32k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the launching of the Richard B. Russell (SSN-687), 12 January 1974.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
71k	Bow view of the Richard B. Russell (SSN-687), probably during her shakedown trials off the Virginia coast, circa 1974.	Courtesy of USNI.
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.
20k	Rear Admiral Arlington “Arlie” Campbell became the second Commanding Officer of the Richard B. Russell (SSN-687) in April 1977. After two and one-half years in command, he attended several TRIDENT Class submarine design courses and reported in January 1980 to the Pre-commissioning Unit of the first TRIDENT submarine, Ohio (SSGN-726). At commissioning on 11 November 1981, he became the first Commanding Officer of the GOLD crew. On board *Ohio, he completed shakedown operations, post shakedown availability, the transit to the Pacific Ocean, initial strategic missile load out and the first GOLD crew TRIDENT* deterrent patrol.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Naval Nuclear Power Training Command via Bill Gonyo.
68k	Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr commanded the Richard B. Russell (SSN-687), where the crew was awarded three consecutive Battle Efficiency “E”s, three Navy Unit Commendations, and two Fleet Commander Silver Anchors for excellence in enlisted retention in the late 1970’s.	Photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
461k	A port bow view of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Richard B. Russell (SSN-687), underway. Note the "bustle" behind the sail, January 1984.	USN photo # DN-SC-88-09124, by PH1 Wiggins, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
231k	The *Los Angeles Class* nuclear-powered attack submarines Cincinnati (SSN-693) and Memphis (SSN-691) display ensigns and union jacks during the commissioning ceremony for their sister ship, the Salt Lake City (SSN-716). Moored alongside the submarine tender L.Y. Spear (AS-36) is the nuclear-powered attacks submarine Richard B. Russell (SSN-687) on 12 May 1984.	USN photo # DN-ST-84-09330, by PH1 Wujcik, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
340k	Aerial view of Richard B. Russell (SSN-687) berth at pier 21 North Mare Island in October 1985. The break in the seawall to the right is the former site of the shipyard's south ways. Wahoo (SS-238) was launched from those ways.	US Navy photo # 211100, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
64k	Richard B. Russell (SSN-687), receiving the "skunk and hammer" while preparing for DSRV operations out of Mare Island Shipyard (CA), circa 1985.	Courtesy of Steve Rakers.
100k	Richard B. Russell (SSN-687), underway, circa 1974-86, location unknown.	Courtesy of Chris Calnan, USS Richard B. Russell, 1986-1989.
101k	A starboard view of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Richard B. Russell (SSN-687), and the submarine rescue ship Kittiwake (ASR-13), tied up at a pier at NAS Norfolk, VA. on 1 Dec 1986.	USN photo # DN-ST-87-06725, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
109k	Richard B. Russell (SSN-687), anchored off Maui in 1987.	Courtesy of Chris Calnan, USS Richard B. Russell, 1986-1989.
70k	Richard B. Russell (SSN-687), underway in 1989 pulling out of Mare Island Straits.	Courtesy of Chris Calnan, USS Richard B. Russell, 1986-1989.
73k	Richard B. Russell (SSN-687), underway in 1989 pulling out of Mare Island Straits.	Courtesy of Chris Calnan,USS Richard B. Russell, 1986-1989.
127k	Richard B. Russell (SSN-687), underway, starboard view, date and location unknown.	Courtesy of John Hummel.
85k	Richard B. Russell (SSN-687), cutting a wide swath through the ocean, date and place unknown.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
192k	Vice Admiral Charles L. Munns first command assignment was as Commanding Officer of Richard B. Russell (SSN-687) from April 1990 to October 1992. During his command, the ship was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, two Navy Unit Commendations and three consecutive Battle "E" Awards.	USN photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo. Photo added 11/26/09.
27k	From left to right, Drum (SSN-677), Bluefish (SSN-675), Ray (SSN-653), Lapon (SSN-661) and Richard B. Russell (SSN-687) await scrapping at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 8 October 2001.	Courtesy of Don Sheldon.
70k	Commemorative post mark issued on the occasion of Richard B. Russell (SSN-687) & Boston (SSN-703) after finishing the NPSSRP (Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program), Sept. 2002.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.