USS ARCHERFISH (SSN 678)

USS Archerfish (1943 - 1959) SS-311
 

USS Archerfish, a 1525-ton Balao class submarine built at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, New Hampshire, was commissioned in September 1943. She served in the Pacific throughout World War II. On 29 November 1944, Archerfish torpedoed and sank the Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano, the largest warship ever lost in combat. In addition to regular war patrol activities, she also performed aircrew rescue duties and was present in Tokyo Bay at the time of Japan's formal surrender on 2 September 1945.

Out of commission between June 1946 and March 1952, Archerfish operated in the Atlantic during 1952-55 and decommissioned for a second time in October 1955. Recommissioned in August 1957, her subsequent employment was mainly as a scientific research submarine. She was redesignated AGSS-311 in 1960 and participated in Operation "Sea Scan", a global oceanographic undertaking that ran into the mid-1960s. Archerfish continued her research support service in the Pacific until removed from active service in May 1968. She was sunk as a target the following October.

USS Sturgeon (1971 - 1998) SSN-678
 

ARCHERFISH was laid down on 19 June 1969 at Groton, Conn., by the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp.; launched on 16 January 1971; sponsored by Miss Mary Conover Warner; and commissioned at New London, Conn., on 17 December 1971, Comdr. Ralph Gordon Bird in command.

Following her commissioning, the nuclear submarine proceeded to Newport, R. I., in late January 1972 and then to the Caribbean for shakedown training. She held acoustic sea trials in Exuma Sound and weapons systems acceptance trials at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, and at St. Croix, Virgin Islands. The submarine carried out tests off the Bahamas in April and May.

Keel Layed:  19 June 1969
Christening Date:  16 January 1971
Commissioning Date:  17 December 1971
Decommissioned Date:  31 March 1998

USS ARCHERFISH PHOTOGRAPHS

USS ARCHERFISH (SS 311)

USS ARCHERFISH (SS 311)

USS ARCHERFISH (SSN 678)

USS ARCHERFISH (SSN 678)

USS ARCHERFISH (SSN 678)