USS LY SPEAR

• Namesake: USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) was named after Lieutenant (junior grade) Lawrence York Spear, a pioneering submariner and naval engineer who played a key role in early U.S. submarine development. • Class and Role: She was a L. Y. Spear-class submarine tender, designed to provide maintenance, repair, and logistical support to nuclear-powered submarines. • Launch and Commissioning: The ship was launched on September 7, 1967, by the Norfolk Naval Shipyard and commissioned into service on February 28, 1970. • Homeport: Her homeport was Norfolk, Virginia, where she served as a key support vessel for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet’s submarines. • Support to Submarine Squadrons: USS L. Y. Spear served as the flagship for Submarine Squadron 6 and later Submarine Squadron 8, supporting both attack and ballistic missile submarines. • Women at Sea: In 1978, L. Y. Spear became one of the first U.S. Navy ships to embark female officers and enlisted personnel as part of a test program for gender integration at sea. • Cold War Service: During the height of the Cold War, she played a vital role in keeping U.S. submarines at peak readiness, conducting repairs and resupply at sea and in port. • Operation Goldenrod: In 1987, her crew assisted in the capture of a notorious terrorist, Fawaz Younis, in the Mediterranean, highlighting her participation in high-profile operations. • Humanitarian Missions: The ship also took part in humanitarian missions, providing aid and support following natural disasters in the Caribbean and elsewhere. • Decommissioning: USS L. Y. Spear was decommissioned on September 6, 1996, after more than 26 years of distinguished service, and was later scrapped in 2011.