USS Skipjack (SSN-585) USS Skipjack (SSN-585) USS "Skipjack" (SSN-585), the lead ship of her class of nuclear-powered attack submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named after the Skipjack tuna. Her keel was laid down on 29 May 1956 by the Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on 26 May 1958, sponsored by Helen Mahon, wife of Representative George H. Mahon from the 19th District of Texas, and commissioned on 15 April 1959 with Commander W. W. Behrens, Jr., in command. On the "Skipjack", there were many design changes that
USS Skipjack (SSN-585) Atlantic transit. Down in the subsurface calm, the crew were hardly even aware of the turbulence above them. After returning to Norfolk, "Skipjack" conducted several exercises with ASW aircraft flying from air bases in Virginia and North Carolina. In these exercises "Skipjack" played the role of a Russian submarine; ASW forces were to locate, track and conduct simulated attacks against the "Skipjack". During the exercise, "Skipjack" was placed under certain handicaps that would not have been present in normal operations; for instance, she was restricted to a designated operating area measuring 20 miles by 10 miles. Also, at that time,