Walk-Around
Externally, the boat held a traditional appearance as modern submarines go. The bow section was rounded to promote strong hydrodynamic qualities and the sail was positioned ahead of midships. At the stern there was a cruciform tailplane pattern with the propeller extended a short distance away. The hull was rounded in the usual way and the overall design a sleek and slim in appearance.
Service Record
Sturgeon's shakedown cruise took place along the American East Coast and in Caribbean waters during the latter part of the 1960s. In service, the Sturgeon-class boats were designated primarily for intelligence-gathering against the Soviet Union where their speed and silence were put to good use. This also involved supporting national security endeavors and special forces missions as called upon. USS Sturgeon was involved in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercises for the very early part of her ocean-going career and then assisted in trying to locate the missing submarine USS Scorpion (SSN-589) near the Azores. In 1969 she was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for her excellent service to date.
In 1971, the boat was given an overhaul to refresh her systems and other vital internal workings. More ASW exercises followed but the vessel ran aground near St. Croix in May of 1973 which damaged her bow and forced a return to the American East Coast for June of that year. From then on, she was part of the American Navy Atlantic force and managed training of future seamen afterwards before sailing to the Mediterranean. From there she partook in "ICEX 89" in Arctic waters and was refitted at Charleston, South Carolina later that year.
With the Cold War over following the demise of the Soviet Empire - and technology having passed her by - USS Sturgeon was decommissioned from service on August 1st, 1994 and struck from the Naval Register soon after. Once her powerplant was properly disposed of and the hull stripped of its military usefulness, she was sold off for scrap. Both her sail and her control station survived the scrapman's torch and these were put on display at the Naval Undersea Museum and the Submarine Force Library and Museum, respectively.
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