USS Sunfish (SSN-649) Sturgeon Class Submarine. Dive again with your shipmates in this USS Sunfish (SSN-649) Sturgeon Class Submarine. Each piece is carved from wood and hand painted to provide a piece you’ll love. Length – 20 inches. US Veteran Owned Business. The product is not intended to be used by children 12 years and younger. Construction and commissioning The contract to build Sunfish was awarded to the General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division in Quincy, Massachusetts, on 26 March 1963 and her keel was laid down there on 15 January 1965. She was the only nuclear submarine built at the former Fore River Shipyard as well as the only submarine built there since 1925. She was launched on 14 October 1966, sponsored by Mrs. Byrd, the wife of United States Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, and commissioned on 15 March 1969, with Commander Richard L. A short dedependents’ cruise in late August 1969 was followed by post-shakedown repairs and alterations at Groton, Connecticut. The last two weeks of 1969 were devoted to a leave and recreation period for the crew. Sunfish spent early 1970 in upkeep periods and several short cruises in preparation for an extended deployment. She was deployed from 16 June to 26 August 1970, when she arrived at her home port, Charleston, South Carolina. She deployed again from 6 October to 1 December 1970. Sunfish put to sea again on 22 January 1971 to participate in a short fleet exercise, but her operational commitments changed after she left port and she did not return until 9 March 1971. She made a cruise to Port Everglades, Florida, in April 1971, followed by a fleet exercise. She spent the remainder of 1971 participating in antisubmarine warfare exercises with destroyers and patrol aircraft. Sunfish departed Charleston on 3 January 1972, for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and a tour of duty with the United States Sixth Fleet. The overhaul was completed in August 1973, and Sunfish proceeded to New London, Connecticut, for refresher training. She touched at Charleston in early November 1973, then continued to the Caribbean Sea for sound training and weapon systems tests. She operated along the United States East Coast from New London to Cape Kennedy, Florida, until June 1974. On 25 June 1974, Sunfish stood out of Charleston to begin a deployment. Ingalls was owned by Litton Industries at the time, She successfully weathered Hurricane Frederic, which hit the Gulf Coast region. 1000th dive, 1996 Sunfish’s home port had been changed to Norfolk, Virginia, by 1996, when she made history: Early that year, after pulling away from the submarine tender USS Simon Lake (AS-33), Sunfish made her one thousandth dive. Commander Submarine Group 8, Rear Admiral Richard W. Mies, who had served on Sunfish from March 1970 to April 1973, was aboard to give the order to submerge for the history-making dive. On 4 March 1996, the U. Navy’s Chief of Naval Information released this story. USS Sunfish (SSN-649) recently reached a milestone few other submarines can claim. It made its 1,000th dive. “Many subs don’t make it this far and are decommissioned before their 1,000th dive, ” said Commanding Officer CDR [Commander] E. This dive is not only a unique event, it also demonstrates the tremendous longevity and outstanding engineering capabilities of our submarine force. Sunfish made her last deployment in 1996.