Source: Haze Gray and Underway - Naval History and Photograhy

The third PLUNGER (SSN-595) was authorized as an SSGN but was laid down as an SSN 2 March 1960 at Mare Island Shipyard, Vallejo, Calif.; launched 9 December 1961; sponsored by Mrs. Clinton P. Anderson; and commissioned at Mare Island 21 November 1962, Comdr. William M. Adams in command.

Following a trip to Puget Sound 27 November to test torpedo tubes and sound gear, PLUNGER departed Mare Island 5 January 1963 for shakedown to Pearl Harbor. PLUNGER next was homeported at Mare Island and operated to test the performance of sonar and the fire control system. In April she changed homeport to Pearl Harbor, where she became flagship of ComSubDiv 71, 1 April.

Continuing in a testing capacity, PLUNGER evaluated the most advanced class of nuclear attack subs. Operating off the U.S. west coast during the spring and summer, she proceeded to Wake Island 15 September 1964 for SubRon Operational Evaluation missile firing.

At Pearl Harbor again in January 1965, PLUNGER was selected to demonstrate the capability of the Navy's latest ASW weapon system to Dr. Donald Hornig, Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology. At Wake Island in May, PLUNGER participated in C/S-17, the SubRon Operational Training Test. In September, she prepared for WestPac deployment, which continued into mid 1966. During this deployment, PLUNGER conducted evaluation exercises of AN/SQS-36 sonar and traveled as far east as Okinawa and Subic Bay. She also conducted ASW exercises and executed oceanographic and port surveys.

At Pearl Harbor with SubRon 7 in 1967, PLUNGER operated to improve the ASW readiness of the Pacific fleet; from 6 to 22 March, she participated in ASW exercises and later continued in advanced type-raining work. During inport periods at Pearl Harbor, PLUNGER provided services to Fleet Training Program Pearl Harbor. Homeporting at Puget Sound the last 6 months of 1967, PLUNGER returned to Pearl Harbor 1 February 1968 and continues operations with the Pacific Fleet into 1970.

Deactivated, in commission, on 10 February 1989, PLUNGER was formally decommissioned on 3 January 1990 and stricken from the Navy Register the following 2 February. She went through the Navy’s Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Bremerton, Washington between 5 January 1995 and 8 March 1996. Upon completing the program, the vessel ceased to exist as a complete ship.

Source: USS Plunger SSN-595 Tribute

The name Plunger is a distinguished one in United States submarine history, from the SS-2, the first submarine to be ordered by the Navy, through the SS-179 with its twelve war patrols, 16 sinkings, and numerous other plaudits, to the SSN-595, the most decorated submarine ever at Subase Ballast Point San Diego, CA. The common link is that they have all gone "in harm's way" in their own fashion and served their country well.

"Give me a strong ship and the men to sail her, for I intend to go in harm's way." -John Paul Jones

The USS Plunger SSN-595 keel was laid March 2, 1960. She waschristened and launched on 9 December 1961. She was commissioned at Mare Island Naval Shipyard 21 November 1962. Initially homeported in Pearl Harbor as part of Submarine Division 71, she served as the Submarine Force Flagship in 1963 and was transferred to San Diego in 1973 to join Submarine Squadron Three.

The USS Plunger SSN-595 was the third of what came to be known as the world's "first modern, quiet, deep-diving fast attack submarines, "integrating such advanced features as a hydrodynamically shaped hull, a large bow-mounted sonar array, advanced sound-silencing features, and an integrated control/attack center with the proven S5W reactor plant. Designed for prolonged periods submerged, she was limited only by the amount of food that she can carry, and is capable of sustained operation at high speed. All of these features made these ships the truly mature nuclear submarine design in the world at that time. So revolutionary, in fact, were these changes that one exercise report concluded with the statement that "at present we still have much to learn about the effective use of nuclear submarines".

Much of the Plunger's first years were spent in the development and testing of new weapons and tactics for nuclear submarines. In addition to this, she was also tasked with the full operational evaluation of the SUBROC anti-submarine missile, for which she received the SUBPAC Award for Excellence in Fire Control.

The Plunger was featured in All Hands magazine in October 1966. The following pages are scanned images of the feature stories about Plunger and her crew. The images are large so they can easily be read and they are filled with pictures of the crew from 1966.Cover, Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5. In the September 1967 issue of ALL HANDS Magazine a Subroc is moved for loading aboard the USS Plunger (SSN 595). This rare photo was taken off Hawaii in early 1968. It shows Submarine Division 71 operating off Oahu. The boats are the USS Flasher SSN-613, USS Guardfish SSN-612, USS Barb SSN-596 and the USS Plunger SSN-595 steaming in formation. This is the back of the photo.

Plunger went through three major overhauls, two at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and a refueling overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard from 1971 through 1973. Each overhaul saw her fitted with the latest in sonar, fire control, and electronic gear, along with improvements in her propulsion machinery. This gives credence to a favorite expression of a Pacific Fleet commander regarding 594 class submarines that "If you take an axe and replace the head and handle often enough, pretty soon you have a new axe."

In recognition of her abilities, Plunger won an impressive number of wards, including four Navy Unit Commendations, two Meritorious Unit Commendations, and six Battle "E" combat efficiency awards, making her the most highly decorated submarine in San Diego history. In addition, she was awarded in 1969, the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy as the ship exhibiting the most improvement in battle efficiency for that year-the first Pacific Fleet submarine to be so honored. She was again honored in 1983 by being the SUBPAC nominee for the award.

Plunger was also awarded the prestigious Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award in 1986 as the most combat-ready warship in the Pacific. This gave Plunger the distinction of being the only US submarine to win both of these impressive awards.

Despite significant differences, the USS Plunger SSN-595 has much in common with her distinguished ancestors. They all have been pioneers, the Navy's first submarine, one of the first submarines to take the war to the Japanese, and one of the first true submarine warships, able to operate totally divorced from the surface. All have been well-constructed and well-crewed and, despite the fact all have, in their own way, gone "in harm's way," all have discharged their duties with honor. "The past is prologue" is the motto of the USS Plunger SSN-595. She has lived up to that creed and leaves an even richer legacy to her successor.

Source: Wikipedia: USS Plunger (SSN-595)

USS Plunger (SSN-595), a Permit-class submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the plunger, a diver, a daring gambler.

The contract to build her as a guided-missile submarine (SSGN) was awarded to Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 23 March 1959, but by the time her keel was laid down on 2 March 1960 she had been redesigned as an attack submarine (SSN). She was launched on 9 December 1961 (sponsored by Mrs. Clinton P. Anderson), and commissioned on 21 November 1962, with Commander William M. Adams, Jr., in command.

Service history

Following a trip to Puget Sound on 27 November to test torpedo tubes and sound gear, Plunger departed Mare Island on 5 January 1963 for shakedown to Pearl Harbor. Plunger next was homeported at Mare Island and operated to test the performance of sonar and the fire control system. In April she changed homeport to Pearl Harbor, where she became flagship of ComSubDiv 71, on 1 April.

Continuing in a testing capacity, Plunger evaluated the most advanced class of nuclear attack submarines. Operating off the U.S. West Coast during the spring and summer, she proceeded to Wake Island on 15 September, 1964 for SubRon Operational Evaluation missile firing.

At Pearl Harbor again in January 1965, Plunger was selected to demonstrate the capability of the Navy's latest ASW weapon system to Dr. Donald Hornig, Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology. At Wake Island in May, Plunger participated in C/S-17, the SubRon Operational Training Test. In September, she prepared for WestPac deployment, which continued into mid 1966. During this deployment, Plunger conducted evaluation exercises of the AN/BQQ-1 sonar systems and traveled as far east as Okinawa and Subic Bay. She also conducted ASW exercises and executed oceanographic and port surveys.

At Pearl Harbor with SubRon 7 in 1967, Plunger operated to improve the ASW readiness of the Pacific fleet; from 6 March to 22 March, she participated in ASW exercises and later continued in advanced type-training work. During inport periods at Pearl Harbor, Plunger provided services to Fleet Training Program Pearl Harbor. Homeporting at Puget Sound the last six months of 1967, Plunger returned to Pearl Harbor 1 February, 1968.

In 1986 she won the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award.

Plunger was deactivated, in commission, on 10 February 1989, decommissioned on 3 January 1990 and stricken from the Navy Register the following 2 February. Ex-Plunger entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, on 5 January 1995 and on 8 March 1996 ceased to exist.