USS Parche (SSN-683), a Sturgeon-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the parche, a small, coral reef butterfly fish. Parche is the most decorated ship in U.S. Navy history. Construction and commissioning The contract to build Parche was awarded to Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on 25 June 1968 and her keel was laid down there on 10 December 1970. She was launched on 13 January 1973, sponsored by Mrs. Philip A. Beshany, and commissioned on 17 August 1974 with Commander Richard N. Charles in command. Parche is launched at Pascagoula, Mississippi, on 13 January 1973. Operational history 1974-1979 In 1975-76 Parche was in the Mediterranean Sea. Upon discovery of some relics from World War II in December 1975, the Parche was called the "Prize of the Mediterranean". The Parche docked in Italy a week late just in time for Christmas. Returned from the Med in March 1976.

USS Parche (SSN-683) off Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, sometime prior to October 1985. The structure on the after part of her casing is a permanently attached swimmer lock-out chamber, although described under its cover story as Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle. Her ship's insignia is at lower right.    Name:  USS Parche Commisioned:  1974 Length: 302 ft as built 401 ft after lengthing 1991 Beam: 31 ft 8 in Speed: surfaced 15 knots submerged 25 knots Complement:  112 as built 179 aftr 1991 modifications

Operation Ivy Bells, 1979

Parche successfully tapped into Soviet underwater military communication cables in the Barents Sea in 1979 as part of Operation Ivy Bells.

1979-2004

During her career, Parche was involved in recovering Soviet missile fragments from the seabed following test launches. Much of her operational history was spent undertaking missions of a clandestine nature, and as of late 2009 a vast majority of the missions the ship undertook remain classified.

Parche after the extension of her hull; note the length of her bow in comparison to its length in the photograph of her launching above.

From 1987 to 1991, Parche underwent an extended refueling overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard during which she was modified for research and development work. A 100-foot (30 m) - long extension was added to her hull just forward of her sail. The added section was flat-topped (looking somewhat like the missile deck of a ballistic missile submarine) and provided the space required to support a larger crew and additional equipment. These additions included an extensive array of signals-intelligence-collecting antennas, electronic gear, and other navigational and ocean engineering equipment. The overhaul also added many auxiliary navigational and maneuvering features, including both upward and

Upon completion of her modifications in 1991, Parche began a new mission as part of Submarine Development Squadron 5. She resumed operations in the Pacific Fleet in 1992.

Parche was transferred to a new home port, Naval Base Kitsap at Bangor, Washington, in November 1994.

Parche may have recovered Chinese missile fragments. In 1995 and 1996, the People's Republic of China launched DF-21 and DF-15 ballistic missiles into the sea surrounding Taiwan to deter Taiwan from moving toward independence; Robert Karniol writes: "I suspect that "the Parche might have gone after these Chinese missile fragments", and "I suspect that Beijing gave away some useful missile secrets."

Decommissioning and disposal

. Parche returns to port for the last time at Naval Base Kitsap at Bangor, Washington, on 20 September 2004.

On 19 October 2004, a decommissioning ceremony took place at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton, Washington; she was officially decommissioned on 18 July 2005 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. The wardroom of the oldest submarine in the fleet carries Richard O'Kane's personal cribbage board, and upon the Parche's decommissioning the board was transferred to the next oldest boat: USS Los Angeles (SSN-688). Her scrapping at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard via the Ship and Submarine Recycling Program was completed on 30 November 2006. Parche's research and development duties will be assumed by Jimmy Carter, a Seawolf-class submarine whose construction period was extended to include modifications that will allow her to carry out the same types of research and development.

Military awards

Parche is the most decorated ship in U.S. Navy history, receiving a total of nine Presidential Unit Citations and ten Navy Unit Commendations. The submarine also received thirteen Navy Expeditionary Medals during her thirty years of service.

Commemoration

Parche's sail was preserved. During the summer of 2006 it was moved from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to a maritime park in downtown Bremerton.