USS Pargo (SSN-650)

USS Pargo (SSN-650), a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the pargo, also known as the red snapper, a fish of the genus Lutjanus found in the West Indies.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Pargo.
USS Pargo (SSN-650) in the Arctic, in September 1993.
History
United States
Name: USS Pargo (SSN-650)
Namesake: The pargo, a fish of the genus Lutjanus also known as the red snapper
Ordered: 26 March 1963
Builder: General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down: 3 June 1964
Launched: 17 September 1966
Sponsored by: Mrs. James L. Holloway, Jr.
Commissioned: 5 January 1968
Decommissioned: 14 April 1995
Stricken: 14 April 1995
Motto: For Land, For Honor, For Courage
Fate: Scrapping via Ship and Submarine Recycling Program begun 1 October 1994, completed 15 October 1996
General characteristics
Class and type: Sturgeon-class attack submarine
Displacement: 4,600 long tons (4,674 t)
Length: 292 ft (89 m)
Beam: 31 ft (9.4 m)
Draft: 28 ft 8 in (8.74 m)
Installed power: 15,000 shaft horsepower (11.2 megawatts)
Propulsion: One S5W nuclear reactor, two steam turbines, one screw
Speed: Over 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement: 107
Armament:

Construction and commissioning

The contract to build Pargo was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 26 March 1963 and her keel was laid down there on 3 June 1964. She was launched on 17 September 1966, sponsored by Mrs. Jean Gordon Holloway (née Hagood), the wife of retired Admiral James L. Holloway, Jr. (1898–1984), and commissioned on 5 January 1968 with Commander Steven A. White in command.

Service history
Sailors at work on the Pargo in April 1991.

1960s

Assigned to Submarine Development Group 2 with her home port at New London, Connecticut. Pargo was altered for acoustics at Groton then was involved in acoustic trials that resulted in alterations to all U.S. submarines. After acoustic trials the Pargo spent much of its time doing arctic research, surfacing at the north pole several times. Pargo participated in the search for the missing attack submarine USS Scorpion (SSN-589) from 27 May to 7 June 1968. She spent the rest of 1968 conducting various trials in the Caribbean Sea and off New London.

1970s

The Pargo made her 650th dive on 29 March 1978.

1980s

The "Pargo" entered dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (Bremerton, WA) in February 1985 for an 18-month overhaul. 30 months later the boat was back in service, having upgrades to all non-nuclear systems.

1990s

The "Pargo" conducted the first civilian oceanographic submarine cruise of the Arctic Ocean in 1993.

Decommissioning and disposal

Pargo was decommissioned on 14 April 1995 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 at Bremerton, Washington, began on 1 October 1994 and was completed on 15 October 1996.

Awards
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References


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