OUR BOAT
​History
USS Flying Fish (SSN-673), a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the flying fish, any of number of fishes of tropic and warm temperate seas whose long wing-like fins make it possible for them to move some distance through the air.
​Commanding Officers
4/29/1970 - Commissioned at Groton, CO is CDR Donald C. Sheldon
2/13/1973 - CDR James D. Williams relieved CDR Sheldon as CO
5/22/1976 - CDR Thomas A. Meinicke relieved CDR Williams as CO 7/8/1980 - CDR Steven J. Loucks relieved CDR T.A. Meinekie as CO
4/1/1983 - CDR Joseph T. Lario relieved CDR Steven J. Loucks as CO
2/6/1986 - CDR Robert L. Hendricks relieved CDR. J.T. Lario as CO
4/3/1989 - CDR Stanley J Mack relieved CDR R. L. Hendricks as CO
10/11/1991 - CDR Louis T Roumaya relieved CDR S. J. Mack as CO 11/24/1993 - CDR Wiley Robert Deal, Jr. relieved CDR Louis T Roumaya as CO
SSN-673 Service History
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1967-1970
Friday, June 30, 1967 Keel laid at Electric Boat (EB) in Groton, CT
Saturday, May 17, 1969 Launched at EB Groton, Mrs. John W. Harvey was sponsor, widow of Thresher SSN-593 CO
Wednesday, April 1, 1970 Delivered to Navy
Wednesday, April 29, 1970 Commissioned at Groton, CO is CDR Donald C. Sheldon, Assigned to SUBRON 6 Norfolk
1973
Tuesday, February 13, 1973 CDR James D. Williams relieved CDR Sheldon as CO
Wednesday, November 14, 1973 PNSY for extensive overhaul (Approx. 1 year)
1976
Saturday, May 22, 1976 CDR Thomas A. Meinicke relieved CDR Williams as CO
Monday, October 4, 1976 Visits Bremerhaven, Germany OCT 4-8
Monday, May 31, 1976 In 1976 she won the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for the United States Atlantic Fleet.
1977
Friday, April 29, 1977 Surfaced at North pole at midnight and remained there for 12 hours. She was 11th to visit and 10th to surface at the pole. Dr. Waldo Lyon aboard. CDR Thomas A. Meinekie is CO (SUBICEX1-77)
Monday, June 6, 1977 Returned to Norfolk from polar cruise.
1980
Tuesday, July 8, 1980 CDR Steven J. Loucks relieved CDR T. A. Meinekie as CO
Wednesday, December 10, 1980 Returned to Norfolk after 5 months med deployment, visiting ports including Athens, Greece, Naples, Italy and Ashdod, Israel
1983
Friday, April 1, 1983 CDR Joseph T. Lario relieved CDR Steven J. Loucks as CO
Thursday, June 30, 1983 In port, Port Everglades, FLA
1984
Monday, July 23, 1984 Returned to Norfolk after 5 months med deployment, visiting La Spezia, Italy and Ashdod, Israel
1985
Monday, June 10, 1985 Arrived New London for Refresher training
1986
Thursday, February 6, 1986 CDR Robert L. Hendricks relieved CDR. J.T. Lario as CO
Tuesday, July 15, 1986 Began overhaul at Puget Sound NSY
1988
Friday, January 15, 1988 Completed overhaul at Puget sound NSY
Saturday, November 5, 1988 Rejoined SUBRON 6 at Norfolk Naval Base after 2 1/2 years extended overhaul at PSNSY
1989
Monday, April 3, 1989 CDR Stanley J Mack assumes command
1990
Monday, March 5, 1990 Returned to Norfolk from 6 mo. Med Cruise
1991
Friday, October 11, 1991 CDR Louis T Roumaya relieved CDR Stanley J Mack as CO at Naval station Norfolk
1993
Wednesday, November 24, 1993 CDR Wiley Robert Deal, Jr. assumes command
1994
Monday, November 14, 1994 Returned to Norfolk from 4 month med and S. Atlantic cruise, visited Toulon, La Maddalena, Gibraltar. Roosevelt Roads, Curaçao and Bridgeport, Barbados
1995
Monday, May 1, 1995 Mine laying exercises, Joint Service Special Warfare operations. Operational Test Launch of Tomahawk cruise missile.
Monday, July 10, 1995 Inactivation at Norfolk
Friday, October 20, 1995 Placed “in reserve, in commission” from the active fleet for decommissioning. Recycling start date
1996
Thursday, May 16, 1996 Decommissioned at Puget Sound NSY, She had nine commanding Officers and steamed 600.000 miles. Strike date.
Tuesday, October 15, 1996 Recycling started Decommissioning and disposal
Thursday, May 16, 1996 Flying Fish was decommissioned on 16 May 1996 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. Her scrapping via the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, was completed on 15 October 1996.
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