USS Hammerhead SSN663

• USS Hammerhead (SSN-663) was a Sturgeon-class attack submarine in the United States Navy, named after the hammerhead shark. • Construction began at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia, with the keel laid on November 29, 1966, and she was launched on April 14, 1968. • The submarine was officially commissioned into service on June 28, 1968, with Commander Walter M. Douglass in command. • USS Hammerhead participated actively in Cold War operations, including intelligence-gathering and surveillance missions, though many remain classified. • She won the coveted Navy Unit Commendation for her exceptional performance on a special operation in the early 1970s. • In 1981, Hammerhead was involved in a significant NATO exercise known as "Ocean Safari," helping validate tactics for anti-submarine warfare. • The submarine was featured in the book "Blind Man's Bluff," which details secret submarine espionage operations during the Cold War. • During her service, Hammerhead underwent several overhauls and upgrades, including a major refueling and modernization in the 1980s to extend her operational life. • She earned several awards, including the Navy "E" Ribbon for battle efficiency, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. • USS Hammerhead was decommissioned on April 5, 1995, after nearly 27 years of service, and later scrapped under the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program.