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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Hunley (AS-31)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Sierra - Quebec - Yankee
NSQY
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation
Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (3)
Bottom Row - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon - National Defense Service Medal - Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon


Hunley Class Submarine Tender:
  • Laid down, 28 November 1960, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA.
  • Launched, 28 September 1961
  • Commissioned USS Hunley (AS-31), 16 June 1962, CAPT. Douglas N. Syverson USN in command
  • Decommissioned, 15 September 1994
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 30 May 1995
  • Title transfer to the Maritime Administration, 1 May 1999, for disposal
  • Custody assumed by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 12 October 1995 for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Title transfer to the Maritime Administration, 1 May 1999, for disposal
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 5 January 2007, to Southern Scrap Materials Company, New Orleans, LA. for $150,000.00, removed, 7 March 2007
    Specifications:
    Displacement 12,852 t.(lt) 17,640 t.(fl)
    Length 599'
    Beam 83'
    Draft 23' 4"
    Speed 18 kts.
    Complement 1,190
    Armament two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion Diesel-electric, one shaft

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed By / Source
    Hunley 187k Hunley (AS-31) ready for launch, 28 September 1961, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA.
    Newport News Shipbuilding photo
    Dale Hargrave
    Hunley
    09363135
    326k Hunley (AS-31) sponsor, Mrs. Lucy Gaillard, wife of J. Palmer Gaillard, Jr, mayor of Charleston, S.C. breaks the traditional bottle of Champagne across the ship's bow as she is launched, 28 SEptember 1961, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA.
    Newport News Daily Press
    Dale Hargrave
    Hunley
    09363136
    692k Hunley (AS-31) enters the water for the first time as she slides down the builders ways during her launching ceremony, 28 September 1961, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA.
    Newport News Daily Press
    Dale Hargrave
    Hunley 321k USS Hunley (AS-31)Commissioning Program cover Dale Hargrave
    Hunley 385k USS Hunley (AS-31) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photos.
    Scott Koen
    Hunley
    NPC-1064162
    185k
    Hunley
    09363137
    176k USS Hunley (AS-31) underway, date and location unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Hunley
    09363138
    225k USS Hunley (AS-31) underway, off Norfolk, VA., date unknown.
    ©George Barber
    Nicholas Tiberio
    Hunley 59k USS Hunley (AS-31) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photos.
    Robert Hurst
    Hunley 164k
    Hunley 103k USS Hunley (AS-31) under way, 14 December 1962
    US Navy photo # NH 96829 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Hunley
    09363142
    488k USS Hunley (AS-31) underway, circa 1963, location unknown
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine March 1964, p. 3
    Robert Hurst
    Hunley 3499k USS Hunley (AS-31) at her mooring in Holy Loch, Scotland, with ballistic-missile submarines alongside, circa April 1963. HMC Fred Overly, USN Retired
    Hunley 103k USS Hunley (AS-31) tied to mooring buoys at Holy Loch, Scotland, circa April 1963. She has two submarines, an LCM and other vessels alongside.
    US Navy photo # NH 96830 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center
    US Naval Historical Center
    Hunley 226k USS Hunley (AS-31) moored in the Holy Loch, Scotland, circa April 1963-64 while tending FBM Submarines.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Thomas Edison 997k USS Hunley (AS-31) with the Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine USS Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) alongside at Holy Loch, Scotland, in 1963. Hunley is using her hammerhead crane to offload a Polaris missile for test and inspection.
    US Navy photo.
    Robert Hurst
    Hunley 105k USS Hunley (AS-31) at her mooring in Holy Loch, Scotland, April 1966, with USS Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) alongside.
    US Navy photo # 69856 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center
    US Naval Historical Center
    Hunley 24k USS Hunley (AS-31) at her mooring in Holy Loch, Scotland, circa 1966 while tending SSBNs. Also note Floating Crane YD-245. Carl Musselman
    Hunley 154k USS Hunley (AS-31) in Holy Loch, Scotland, with harbor tugs Piqua (YTB-793), at left, and Natick (YTB-760) assisting, 7 June 1987. USS Simon Lake (AS-33) is on Hunley's opposite side, with masts, cranes and stack visible. Photograph was received in June 1992.
    US Navy photo # NH 96831
    US Naval Historical Center
    Hunley 152k USS Simon Lake (AS-33) arriving at Holy Loch, Scotland to relieve USS Hunley (AS-31) in 1966.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, October 1966.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Hunley 450k Looking into the Holy Loch from Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock Los Alamos (AFDB-7)
    USS Hunley (AS-31)
    Large Covered Lighter (NSP) YFNB-31
    Large Covered Lighter (NSP) YFNB-42
    Floating Crane (NSP) YD-245
    Carl Musselman
    Hunley 133k Left to right; USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642), USS Hunley (AS-31), USNS Furman (T-AK-280) USS Proteus (AS-19) and USS Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634) The two submarines are receiving regular routine maintenance and upkeep. Hunley is in the process of relieving Proteus, and Furman is providing both tenders with spare parts and groceries on her regular monthly trip Guam. Hunley will be in Guam for about five months while Proteus is in overhaul at the Ship Repair Facility, Guam. The background shows the peninsula of Polaris Point.
    Photo from "All Hands" magazine, July 1968.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Hunley 79k Stern view of USS Hunley (AS-31) moored in her homeport, Charleston, S. C., circa 1970.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Hunley 133k Stern view of USS Hunley (AS-31) moored in her homeport, Charleston, S. C., circa 1970. She has two submarines alongside. An unidentified sub to port and USS John Adams (SSBN-620) to starboard.
    US Navy photo
    Scott Koen
    Hunley 151k USS Hunley (AS-31) moored pierside at Fort Lauderdale. FL., date unknown
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1971.
    Stanley C. Svec
    Hunley 304k USS Hunley (AS-31) moored pierside at Key West, FL., circa 22-23 January 1976. Photo by Ray Blazevic.
    Image from Flickr courtesy of Florida Keys Public Libraries photo # MM00040123x.
    Robert Hurst
    Hunley 65k USS Hunley (AS-31) approaching Apra Harbor, Guam, 11 October 1977
    Photographed by M.L. Millard
    US Navy photo # 1150152 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center
    US Naval Historical Center
    Hunley
    09363143
    DN-SC-90-07705
    373k USS Hunley (AS-31) underway off Agana Bay, Guam, on 1 August 1980.
    U.S. Defenseimagery photo # VIRIN: DN-SC-90-07705 and
    US National Archives and Records Administration Identifier (NAID) 6451565, US Navy photos by PH1 Winfrey, USN
    Robert Hurst
    Hunley
    09363144
    NARA 6451565
    146k
    Hunley 134k USS Hunley (AS-31) moored at Holy Loch, Scotland, with USS Sunbird (ASR-15) alongside. Supporting yard craft including
    Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock Los Alamos (AFDB-7)
    Large Covered Lighter (NSP) YFNB-31
    Large Covered Lighter (NSP) YFNB-42
    Floating Crane (NSP) YD-245
    District Harbor Tug Large Piqua (YTB-793)
    District Harbor Tug Large Sagus (YTB-780)
    District Harbor Tug Large Natick (YTB-760) are moored aft of Hunley, circa 1982.
    Carl Musselman
    Hunley
    09363139
    187k USS Hunley (AS-31) moored in the Holy Loch, Scotland with submarines alongside, circa 1982. Supporting yard craft including Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock Los Alamos (AFDB-7) Large Covered Lighter (NSP) YFNB-31 Large Covered Lighter (NSP) YFNB-42 Floating Crane (NSP) YD-245 Nicholas Tiberio
    Hunley
    09363140
    283k View of Holy Loch Scotland from Kilmun looking south toward Sandbank and Ardnadam Pier with USS Hunley (AS-31) moored in the Loch with submarines alongside, circa 1982. Supporting yard craft including Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock Los Alamos (AFDB-7) Large Covered Lighter (NSP) YFNB-31 Large Covered Lighter (NSP) YFNB-42 Floating Crane (NSP) YD-245 Nicholas Tiberio
    Hunley 353k USS Hunley (AS-31) servicing FBM Submarines in the Holy Loch at Dunoon, Scotland, December 1985. Moored aft of Hunley is Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock Los Alamos (AFDB-7)
    US Navy photos by PH1 Perry E. Thorsvik.
    Scot Koen and
    Carl Musselman
    Hunley 358k
    Hunley 149k
    Hunley
    09363141
    159k Two U.S. submarines coming alongside USS Hunley (AS-31) at Holy Loch Refit Site 1 on 1 December 1985.
    Photo taken by 6985ws (real name unknown).
    Robert Hurst
    Hunley 205k USS Hunley (AS-31) tied to mooring buoys at Holy Loch, Scotland, circa December 1986-87. Note Christmas decorations, the stars on the stack and main mast. Photo by Carl Musselman MM1/SS 1982-1995.
    Hunley 383k USS Hunley (AS-31) moored at the D&S piers Naval Station Norfolk, VA., with two Los Angeles Class Submarines alongside, 9 October 1988.
    Department of Defense photo # DN-ST-89-00218
    Scott Koen
    Hunley 279k USS Hunley (AS-31) moored at the D&S piers Naval Station Norfolk, VA., Christmas Day 1989.
    US Navy photo
    Scott Koen
    Hunley 634k USS Hunley (AS-31) and SUBRON Eight FBM Submarines moored at the D&S piers Naval Station Norfolk, VA., Winter 1989-90.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Hunley 292k USS Hunley (AS-31) moored pierside at at Truman Annex, in May 1994. Photo by Raymond L. Blazevic.
    Image from Flickr courtesy of Florida Keys Public Libraries photo # MM0004OO84x.
    Robert Hurst
    CVN-73 George Washington
    NS0273ay
    2.67M Aerial view of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard on the Elizabeth River, 25 March 1995. Ships in the yard, (L to R), the decommissioned Orion (AS-18), a destroyer under overhaul, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73), decommissioned submarine tender Hunley (AS-31), the stripped-down hull of the decommissioned nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser Virginia (CGN-38) and a medium auxiliary repair dock inside the large graving dock at lower right.
    Photo by Robert J. Sitar.
    National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 330-CFD-DN-SC-95-01523.

    US National Archives


    For more photos and information about USS Hunley, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
  • Submarine Tenders of the United States Navy
  • Launching Program
  • Welcome Aboard Pamphlet Port Call, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 22-23 January 1976

  • Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Syverson, Douglas Neil, USN (USNA 1939)16 June 1962 - 15 November 1963
    02CAPT. Black Sr., Robert Glenwood, USN15 November 1963 - 11 September 1965
    03CAPT. Heald, Joseph Frank, USN (USNA 1944)11 September 1965 - 12 October 1966
    04CAPT. Thomas Jr., Albert Horatio, USN (USNA 1946)12 October 1966 - 8 June 1968
    05CAPT. Anders Jr., Samuel Glen, USN (USNA 1946)8 June 1968 - 27 July 1970
    06CAPT. Frost, Rilward Alfred, USN (USNA 1949)27 July 1970 - 5 March 1972
    07CAPT. Clay, Harold Scott, USN (USNA 1948-A)5 March 1972 - 29 June 1974
    08CAPT. Williams III, William Albert, USN :RADM29 June 1974 - 11 January 1975
    09CAPT. Hebbard Jr., Leroy Blanchard, USN (USNA 1953)11 January 1975 - 30 October 1976
    10CAPT. Glovier Jr., Harold Alba, USN (USNA 1954)30 October 1976 - 14 February 1979
    11CAPT. Bacon, Roger F. USN (USNA 1959)14 February 1979 - 12 June 1980
    12CAPT. Loewenthal, Robert Gordon, USN (USNA 1957)12 June 1980 - 31 August 1982
    13CAPT. Camilleri, Terrence Joseph, USN (USNA 1959)31 August 1982 - 21 July 1984
    14CAPT. Hastie, William John (Sandy), USN (USNA 1960)21 July 1984 - 29 August 1987
    15CAPT. Bean, Charles Dunbar, USN29 August 1987 - 11 August 1989
    16CAPT. Almon, John Sterling, USN11 August 1989 - 12 July 1991
    17CAPT. Kent, Thomas Richard, USN (USNA 1967)12 July 1991 - 12 June 1993
    18CAPT. Helfen, William, USN (USNA 1970)12 June 1993 - 15 September 1994
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation

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    Last Updated 28 October 2022