September 30, 2008

Subject: Submarine Hall of Fame Nomination

 

Navy Shipmates,

 

It is my distinct privilege and high honor to nominate the USS Halibut SSGN/SSN 587 as a candidate for enshrinement into the Submarine Hall of Fame.  Noting your criteria for nomination, "...for a submarine to be nominated it has to have provided an engineering or tactical advancement to the submarine service post World War Two....": soon it will become evident to you that USS Halibut has exceeded both standards, which you have set forth as relevant for consideration in this matter.

 

Please allow me to set the stage with a little history: The USS Halibut was a product of the Cold War. Conceived during a time when the "Massive Retaliation" policy was in force as our "big stick" to deter the Soviet Union's worldwide expansionism.  Then the crux of our massive retaliation depended on the bomber aircraft of the U.S. Air Force's Strategic Air Command (SAC) and their strategically located land based missiles, to deliver thermo nuclear warheads directly upon our enemy's homeland.  The United States Navy- since Alfred Thayer Mahan's inspired thesis on sea power- had always played the leading role in projecting our nation’s strategic power.  However, our Navy now found itself without a modern weapons system, with which to participate in strategic defense planning, with the U.S. Air Force already sitting in the “cat bird seat”.  The U.S. Navy was on the verge of being relegated to a minor role in our country's strategic defense plans.  The traditional bulwark of our Republic was in jeopardy of following in the wake of the formerly great British Navy.

 

Although Halibut was not yet conceived, this situation ignited a gleam in her father's eye: After much experimenting, the Navy developed its first, at sea launched, strategic guided missile- Regulus I.  Regulus I was deployed on certain Aircraft Carriers, Heavy Cruisers, and a few retrofitted WW II fleet submarines.  Additionally, a new class of diesel powered submarines were designated SSG, and laid out as guided missile launching platforms- of which two were commissioned.  However, with the unqualified success of the new nuclear powered submarines, the Navy decided not to build more diesel powered submarines; canceled the entire class of SSG's; and began planning a class of nuclear powered submarines, designated SSG(N), to launch the advanced Regulus II guided missile.

 

Regulus I (the first iteration).

 

The former (and last) Commanding Officer of USS Halibut (SS 232), Captain I'M. Galantin, was serving in the Pentagon, where he was assigned the responsibility for developing many of the design aspects for proposed new submarines.  I see no need to explain why the name Halibut was chosen for the first boat.  Nonetheless, as the design was being finalized for a diesel powered guided missile submarine, to be built at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Captain Galantin diligently worked to have this boat equipped with a nuclear propulsion system- and he succeeded. The keel of the guided missile submarine USS Halibut SSG(N) 587 was laid down at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 11 April 1957.  Captain Galantin was there to see his Halibut reborn in the guise of the U.S. Navy's only nuclear powered, guided missile submarine.  USS Halibut was commissioned on 4 January 1960- thus she serendipitously became the worlds first nuclear powered guided missile submarine.

Prior to her first Regulus Missile Deterrent Patrol, USS Halibut flew the five star flag of Admiral of the Fleet Chester W. Nimitz, as his Honorary Flagship, while participating in the Coral Sea Festival in Australia.  On 25 March 1960, during her transit to Australia, USS Halibut became the first nuclear powered submarine to fire a fully operational strategic missile while underway.

 

USS Halibut departed Pearl Harbor on February 9, 1961 on her first Regulus Missile Deterrent Patrol.  Not only would she bring United States nuclear warheads sometimes within sight of their targets, but also she would multi-task- performing other high value special operations.  USS Halibut completed her last assignment as SSG(N) 587 on July 14, 1964, when she returned from her seventh, and the terminal, Regulus Missile Deterrent Patrol.  

            

Concurrent with the SSG(N) program there were other submarine launched missile systems under development, which would supersede both USS Halibut and Regulus.  Therefore, she became a victim of a more advanced technology.  However, the contribution of USS Halibut and the other “G Boats” was officially recognized on 15 April 1997, by COMSUBLANT,  VADM Richard W. Miles, when he authorized crewmembers “who conducted Regulus missile deterrent patrols…to wear the SSB(N) Deterrent Patrol Insignia….”

 

Life after Regulus: Operation Sand Dollar (the second iteration).

 

In February 1965 USS HALIBUT entered Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for a major overhaul, and on 15 August 1965 she was re-designated SS(N)-587.  In August 1968 HALIBUT transferred to Mare Island Naval Shipyard for overhaul and installation of specialized oceanographic equipment.  Subsequent to her SS(N) re-designation, USS Halibut participated in the highly classified "Operation Sand Dollar".  At the culmination of this project, USS Halibut had tenaciously searched the Pacific Ocean floor and located the wreckage of K-129, a Golf II Soviet Missile Submarine, which had foundered and sank to the bottom under several thousand feet of ocean.  Predicated on USS Halibut's success, the CIA commenced the infamous "Operation Jennifer" to clandestinely salvage the K-129.   

 

Life after Sand Dollar: Operation Ivy Bells (the third iteration).

 

In 1971 the U.S. Navy conceived Operation "Ivy Bells".  Again, USS Halibut, with her unique layout, was reconfigured to deploy special, stand alone, electronic voice recording equipment to the bottom of the Sea of Okhotsk, and to support divers during this equipments installation.  On subsequent operations, USS Halibut and her divers collected the equipment's data recording devices, and exchanged them with fresh recorders.  USS Halibut excelled at this task until 1975 when she was replaced by other submarines.  USS Halibut returned to her birth place, Mare Island Naval Shipyard, and was decommissioned on 30 June 1976.  Later she was stricken from the Navy Register- and ceased to be a US Naval Vessel.  The USS Halibut  went to the ship breaker in September 1994.

 

USS Halibut's Awards:

 

The Presidential Unit Citation: Operation Sand Dollar (1968).  The PUC, previously being awarded exclusively in wartime, was only the third ever awarded in peace time.  (Nautilus and Triton were the others)

The Presidential Unit Citation: Operation Ivy Bells (1972)

The Navy Unit Commendation: Operation Ivy Bells (1972, 1974, and 1975)

           

Additionally, between 1961 and 1972 USS Halibut received numerous Pacific Submarine Force Unit Citations, Fleet Commander Commendations, and Excellency ("E") awards for Battle Efficiency, Missile Launches, and Fire Control excellence.

 

Prior to the time of her decommissioning, USS Halibut was the most decorated US Naval vessel of the Cold War.   

 

USS Halibut in Retrospect:

 

At her initial cost of $110 million, USS Halibut was probably the most cost effective submarine ever put into naval service.  Consider this: She was part of our strategic missile forces, which held the line in the Pacific for five years until our Navy could get enough SSB(N)'s operational in both oceans.     Actually her weight of broadside, in mega tons, was only slightly less than the inaugural FBM Submarine patrols.  Also while on Regulus Deterrent Patrol she participated in certain special operations, thus relieving the workload on the scarcely available and overly demanded services of the other SS(N)'s.  The foregoing was accomplished with only one crew- essentially one half the manpower of an SSB(N).  Moreover, twice more she was retrofitted for dedicated diverse operations, which even if another SS(N) had been refitted- undoubtedly at higher cost- there would have been an operational loss to the already overworked submarine fleet.  That's a lot of bang for the buck.

 

USS Halibut's  Engineering Advancements:

 

USS Halibut was the U.S. Navy's first nuclear powered submarine purpose built to launch strategic guided missiles.  As an SSG(N) she was equipped with a SINS and the MK 11 Star Scope, both innovative, but fledgling, navigation systems.  She was one of the inaugural nuclear powered boats to operate, evaluate, and eventually prove the feasibility of SINS navigation for fleet use.

 

In her second iteration, as an SS(N), she became the first known nuclear submarine to be equipped with certain innovative and advanced Oceanographic equipment.  This included her famous "fish", launched and operated while submerged, and its mechanical and electronic support equipment, plus other unnamed devices. 

 

In her third iteration, she was the first known nuclear submarine to be equipped with certain equipment to support Navy divers, working outside of her hull in frigid waters, while she was submerged.  Part of this equipment was a special diving chamber, disguised as an independent DSRV, permanently attached to her after hull section.              

 

USS Halibut Tactical Advancements:

 

SSG(N) 587 proved to be an OJT vehicle for many officers and men who would crew and command the new SSB(N)'s.  Also, while pioneering the continuously submerged Deterrent Patrol, she added another dimension of utility to her existence, by participating in special operations of great value, which remain classified.   

 

Re-commissioned as SS(N) 587, during Operation Sand Dollar- while continuously submerged on station- USS Halibut devised innovative operational procedures, and performed difficult repairs, to facilitate "flying" the "fish" (an underwater remote operated vehicle) under arduous, and sometimes dangerous conditions.  Her successful completion of this work made the CIA's Operation Jennifer possible.  USS Halibut was the first known operational nuclear submarine to deploy and operate an ROV while submerged.     

 

In her third iteration, as SS(N) 587, USS Halibut was again configured for a special operation.  Operation Ivy Bells was an extremely dangerous undertaking to both the boat and her crew.  She was tasked to enter restricted waters, find a certain underwater communications cable, then install a device to record sensitive data transmitted via this cable.  Subsequent to her initial success in installing the device,  USS Halibut returned to said waters several times to exchange data recorders.  Later other submarines were refitted to relieve Halibut, and this operation lasted for several years.  Once again, USS Halibut's phenomenal success inaugurating difficult tasks with innovative technology, led the way for others to build upon her tactical advancements.  Having been compromised by a drunken traitor at the NSA, and a popular book, knowledge of this operation now resides in the public domain.

 

Epilogue:

 

There is no greater proof of USS Halibut's lasting contribution to submarine engineering and tactical advancements, than the U.S. Navy's decision to create a new class of SSG(N)'s.  Four former Ohio class SSB(N)'s have been reconfigured with modern- even futuristic- systems, which emulate each of USS Halibut's capabilities throughout her various iterations.  They launch guided missiles, fly underwater ROV's, support submerged diving operations, and perform special operations- as pioneered by SSG(N)/SS(N) 587.  Obviously, these modern SSG(N) systems are far more advanced than those in the USS Halibut's time.  I like to think, however, that somewhere in the distant shadows of our Navy's institutional memory, there languished the spark of her accomplishments, which eventually ignited the insight and innovation in the development of the modern SSG(N).

 

Thanking you, on behalf of myself and my USS Halibut shipmates, for your time and consideration in this matter.

 

Paul D. Benton EMCM(SS) USN (Ret.)