USS Glenard P Lipscomb (SSN-685)

• Namesake: USS Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN-685) was named after Congressman Glenard P. Lipscomb of California, who was a strong advocate for the U.S. Navy and national defense. • Unique Propulsion: The submarine was the only one of her class, designed as an experimental vessel featuring a turbo-electric drive system instead of the usual steam turbine setup. • Class and Comparison: Though often compared to the Sturgeon-class, Glenard P. Lipscomb was nearly 400 tons heavier and notably longer due to her unique propulsion machinery. • Troublesome Drive: The turbo-electric propulsion system, intended to provide quieter operations, proved unreliable and maintenance-intensive, limiting operational effectiveness. • Commissioning Date: Glenard P. Lipscomb was commissioned on December 21, 1974, at Groton, Connecticut. • Operational Service: The submarine served primarily in the Atlantic Fleet, conducting standard attack submarine missions, but was often hampered by mechanical difficulties from the unique propulsion system. • Nicknames: Crew and other submariners sometimes referred to her as "Glenard P. Flipscrew" or "Glenard P. Lipscramp" due to frequent propulsion issues. • Decommissioning: After less than 20 years of service, Glenard P. Lipscomb was decommissioned on July 11, 1990, making her one of the shortest-serving attack submarines of her generation. • Legacy: The turbo-electric drive concept was not repeated in subsequent U.S. submarines, though it influenced later developments in submarine propulsion technology, including the Seawolf-class. • Final Fate: The submarine was scrapped as part of the Ship-Submarine Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, completed in December 1997, and her sail was preserved as a memorial in Muskegon, Michigan.