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) preparation for a refueling overhaul at General Dynamics' Electric Boat Division. After conducting a few more exercises, "Skipjack" entered the shipyard for overhaul in the summer of 1974 and remained inactive until the fall of 1976. "History from 1976 to 1979 needed." "History from 1980 to 1986 needed." On August 16, 1980, 'Skipjack' was in port in Callao, Peru, along with another US Navy surface vessel. In 1986, "Skipjack" deployed on a "Northern Run" to the North Atlantic Ocean. In 1987 "Skipjack" deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, returning in early September and entering dry-dock for the September – November time