USS Blueback (SS-581) facts for kids
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USS Blueback (SS-581) in the 1960s
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| History | |
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 United States |
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| Namesake | Blueback |
| Awarded | 29 June 1956 |
| Builder | Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi |
| Laid down | 15 April 1957 |
| Launched | 16 May 1959 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. Kenmore McManes, wife of Rear Admiral McManes |
| Commissioned | 15 October 1959 |
| Decommissioned | 1 October 1990 |
| Stricken | 30 October 1990 |
| Status | Donated to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Barbel-class diesel-electric submarine |
| Displacement |
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| Length | 219 ft 6 in (66.90 m) overall |
| Beam | 29 ft (8.8 m) |
| Draft | 25 ft (7.6 m) max |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Endurance |
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| Test depth |
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| Complement | 8 officers, 69 men |
| Armament | 6 × 21 in (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes, 18 torpedoes |
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USS Blueback
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 Location in Portland, Oregon
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| Location | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry |
| NRHP reference No. | 08000947 |
| Added to NRHP | 18 September 2008 |
The USS Blueback (SS-581) was a special type of submarine called a Barbel-class submarine. It served in the United States Navy from 1959 to 1990. After its service, it became an exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).
Blueback was built by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Its construction started on April 15, 1957. The submarine was launched on May 16, 1959, and officially joined the Navy on October 15, 1959. It was the very last non-nuclear (diesel-electric) submarine to join the U.S. Navy. When it was taken out of service, the U.S. Navy became an all-nuclear submarine fleet, except for one research submarine.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Blueback comes from a type of fish. There are two main ideas about which fish it's named after.
Some sources say it's named after a special kind of rainbow trout found only in Lake Crescent in Washington. This fish lives in deep water and is bluish-black on top and white underneath.
Other sources believe it's named after the sockeye salmon, also known as the blueback salmon. This fish is very common on the west coast and is bright blue with silver sides.
Life at Sea: Blueback in Service
Blueback had a long career, traveling all over the world.
Early Years: The 1960s
In January 1960, Blueback began its first tests in the Gulf of Mexico. It then sailed to the Pacific Ocean, going through the Panama Canal on July 7. Its first home port was Naval Station San Diego.
In 1961, Blueback went on its first trip to the western Pacific. It took part in exercises with the U.S. 7th Fleet and visited Yokosuka, Japan. After returning to San Diego, it continued training. In July 1962, the submarine went into the Mare Island Naval Shipyard for its first major repair.
After repairs in 1963, Blueback moved to its new home port, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. From there, it went on another trip to the western Pacific. It visited Australia for the anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, stopping in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth. It also visited the Philippines and Japan before returning to Pearl Harbor.
In March 1964, Blueback was damaged when a crane fell on it while changing its propeller. It needed repairs in a drydock. Later that year, it acted as a target ship for tests of the UUM-44 SUBROC missile system.
In 1965, Blueback went on its second trip to the Far East. It visited places like Naha, Hong Kong, and Yokosuka. It also supported American operations during the Vietnam War. After returning to Pearl Harbor, it went to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for another major repair.
The repairs finished in September 1966. Blueback then did sound tests and weapons trials. It also helped with a research project in Canada. After a visit to Vancouver, it returned to Pearl Harbor for more training.
In February 1967, Blueback started another seven-month tour in the western Pacific. It continued training and supporting efforts in the Vietnam War, with stops in Hong Kong and Japan. It returned to Pearl Harbor in September.
In 1968, the submarine helped train future submarine commanding officers. It also acted as a target for other ships and aircraft to practice ASW (anti-submarine warfare) techniques. In July, it began a five-month trip to the Far East, including special operations and time in Yokosuka.
Busy Years: The 1970s
In early 1969, Blueback went to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for another major repair. After trials and training, it returned to Hawaii in December. In April 1970, it began its fifth trip to the western Pacific. It carried out special operations and spent time in the Vietnam war zone, visiting Yokosuka, Hong Kong, and Guam.
In 1971, Blueback had more repairs in Pearl Harbor. It then started another trip to the Far East in June. It visited Yokosuka, Sasebo, Hong Kong, and the Vietnam war zone, providing training services. It returned to Pearl Harbor in December.
In March 1972, the submarine began a long repair period at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, which lasted almost a year. After finishing in March 1973, it prepared for another deployment. It sailed to the Orient in August, taking part in operations with American, Korean, and Taiwanese naval forces. It visited many ports, including Yokosuka, Sasebo, Chinhae, Pusan, Buckner Bay, Hong Kong, and Subic Bay.
Blueback returned to Pearl Harbor in January 1974. For the rest of the year, it participated in many training operations. It helped surface ships and aircraft practice, did torpedo firing drills, and continued to train future commanding officers.
In March 1975, the submarine took part in "RIMPAC 75," a large exercise with ships from the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. After this, it had more repairs and continued local operations, including torpedo tests.
In February 1976, Blueback began another long repair at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, which finished in December. In February 1977, it participated in "RIMPAC 77" again. It then moved to its new home port, San Diego, in April. In June, it sailed to Santa Marta, Colombia, to join Task Force 138 for UNITAS XVIII, an exercise with South American navies. During this trip, Blueback visited ports in Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. It returned to San Diego in November.
In 1978, Blueback continued local operations and visited San Francisco. It also represented the Submarine Force at Portland, Oregon's Rose Festival. It then did an exercise with Canadian forces off Esquimalt, British Columbia. In September, it began its eighth trip to the western Pacific. It visited Yokosuka, Chinhae (Korea), Kaohsiung (Taiwan), and Hong Kong, taking part in joint exercises.
In January 1979, Blueback provided target services for ships practicing ASW. It also took part in special exercises with Army Special Forces troops. It returned to San Diego in March. For the rest of the year, it continued local operations, visited Astoria and Seattle, and participated in a minelaying exercise.
Final Years: The 1980s
In April 1980, Blueback began another trip across the Pacific, arriving in Okinawa in May. It took part in ASW exercises in the Philippine Sea. It visited Yokosuka, Sasebo, and Beppu in Japan, and Subic Bay in the Philippines. It also participated in joint exercises with South Korean forces and British Royal Navy ships.
After more special operations and port calls, Blueback returned to San Diego in October 1980. It continued training and local operations until its decommissioning.
A New Mission: Museum Ship
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Blueback was officially taken out of service on October 1, 1990. It was the last diesel-electric combat submarine in the U.S. Navy.
In February 1994, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) brought Blueback to Portland, Oregon. Today, it is an interactive part of the museum and a memorial. Its propeller was removed and placed outside the museum as a National Submarine Memorial. OMSI offers guided tours of the submarine, allowing visitors to explore its inside. In September 2008, the vessel was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its historical importance.
The submarine's radio room has been restored by the USS Blueback Radio Club. It has both old military radios and modern amateur radio equipment that use the original antennas. The submarine's radio call sign is now W7SUB.
Awards and Recognition
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Vietnam Service Medal with two campaign stars for its service during the Vietnam War.
See also
- USS Albacore (AGSS-569) – another famous research submarine that helped design the Barbel-class.
