USS Skate (SSN 578)

USS SKATE was the lead ship of a class of four nuclear-powered attack submarines and the second ship in the Navy named after the saltwater fish. Decommissioned on September 12, 1986, and stricken from the Navy list on October 30, 1986, the SKATE entered the Navy’s Nuclear Powered Surface Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., on April 14, 1994. Recycling was finished on March 6, 1995.

Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS SKATE. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Date	Where	Events
July 24, 1958	New London, CT.	USS SKATE suffers damage to her propeller when she collides with the USS FULTON (AS 11) while the tender is moored to a pier in New London, CT.
January 28, 1959	off the US east coast	The port propeller of USS SKATE is damaged in a collision with the USS CUBERA (SS 347). The accident occurs just after the CUBERA delivered mail to the SKATE and moved away. No injuries are reported.
February 13, 1960	Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT.	The SKATE suffers minor damage after colliding with a concrete pier at Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT.
1962	Baffin Bay, Thule, Greenland	USS SKATE's engine room begins to flood after a seawater circulation line fails while the SKATE is submerged at 400 feet. Seawater sprays in and starts to flood the engine room. The SKATE does not lose power and surfaces safely. On the surface, with the water pressure greatly reduced, the flooding is stopped.

Date

Where

Events

July 24, 1958

New London, CT.

USS SKATE suffers damage to her propeller when she collides with the USS FULTON (AS 11) while the tender is moored to a pier in New London, CT.

January 28, 1959

off the US east coast

The port propeller of USS SKATE is damaged in a collision with the USS CUBERA (SS 347). The accident occurs just after the CUBERA delivered mail to the SKATE and moved away. No injuries are reported.

February 13, 1960

Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT.

The SKATE suffers minor damage after colliding with a concrete pier at Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT.

1962

Baffin Bay, Thule, Greenland

USS SKATE's engine room begins to flood after a seawater circulation line fails while the SKATE is submerged at 400 feet. Seawater sprays in and starts to flood the engine room. The SKATE does not lose power and surfaces safely. On the surface, with the water pressure greatly reduced, the flooding is stopped.

General Characteristics:	Awarded: July 18, 1955
	Keel laid: July 21, 1955
	Launched: May 16, 1957
	Commissioned: December 23, 1957
	Decommissioned: September 12, 1986
	Builder: Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT.
	Propulsion system: one S3W nuclear reactor
	Propellers: two
	Length: 267.4 feet (81.5 meters)
	Beam: 25 feet (7.6 meters)
	Draft: 21 feet (6.4 meters)
	Displacement: Surfaced: approx. 2,570 tons Submerged: approx. 2,861 tons
	Speed: Surfaced: approx. 18 knots Submerged: approx. +20 knots
	Armament: eight 533 mm torpedo tubes
	Crew: 8 Officers, 75 Enlisted