| USS Billfish (SSN-676), a Sturgeon-class attack
submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for
the billfish, a name used for any fish, such as gar or spearfish, with
bill-shaped jaws.
Construction and commissioning
The contract to build Billfish was awarded to
the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut,
on 15 July 1966 and her keel was laid down on 20 September 1968. She was
launched on 1 May 1970 sponsored by Mrs. Earle G. Wheeler, the wife of
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Earle G. Wheeler (1908-1975),
and commissioned on 12 March 1971 with Commander Richard M. Hughes in command.
_launching.jpg)
Billfish being launched at Groton,
Connecticut, on 1 May 1970. |
Service history
Billfish was one of the few submarines fitted
to carry Mystic class deep submergence rescue vehicle during the 1980s.
 .
The Mystic-class deep submergence
rescue vehicle
DSRV-2 Avalon aboard Billfish. |
|
1.jpg)
| Name: |
USS Ray |
| Ordered: |
15 July 1968 |
| Builder: |
Electric Boat |
| Laid down: |
20 September 1968 |
| Launched: |
1 May 1970 |
| Commissioned: |
12 March 1971 |
| Decommissioned: |
1 July 1999 |
| Struck: |
1 July 1999 |
| Fate: |
Submarine Recycling program |
| Speed: |
15 knots plus surfaced
25 knots plus submerged |
| Class & type: |
Sturgeon submarine |
Displacement:
surfaced
submerged |
3,978 long tons (4,042
t)
4,270 long tons (4,339 t) |
| Length: |
292 ft 3 in (89.08 m) |
| Beam: |
31 ft 8 in (9.65 m) |
| Complement: |
109 |
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