LY SPEAR AS36

• Name Significance: USS LY SPEAR (AS-36) was named after Lieutenant Commander Lycurgus M. Spears, a submarine officer who was killed in action during World War II. • Class and Role: She was the lead ship of the LY SPEAR-class submarine tenders, designed to provide maintenance, logistical support, and supplies to nuclear-powered submarines at sea. • Commissioning Date: The ship was commissioned on 28 February 1970 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia. • Cold War Service: LY SPEAR played a key support role during the Cold War, ensuring that U.S. submarines were always ready for deterrent patrols. • Women at Sea: In the 1970s, LY SPEAR became one of the first U.S. Navy ships to have women assigned as crew members, marking a significant moment in Navy integration. • Support for Nuclear Submarines: She was equipped to service Los Angeles-class and Sturgeon-class nuclear submarines, among others, providing everything from weapons loading to hull repairs. • Homeport: LY SPEAR was homeported at Norfolk, Virginia for most of her career, serving Submarine Squadron 6 and later Squadron 8. • Desert Storm Support: During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, LY SPEAR provided vital logistical and repair support to submarines deployed in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. • Decommissioning: After nearly 26 years of service, LY SPEAR was decommissioned on 1 September 1996 and later struck from the Naval Vessel Register. • Legacy: Today, parts of LY SPEAR have been repurposed for museum displays and training, and the ship is remembered for her vital role in supporting the U.S. Navy’s undersea fleet during a critical period in naval history.