Uss Simon Lake AS33 ( Marine Detachment )

The USS Simon Lake (AS-33) was a submarine tender commissioned by the United States Navy in 1964, serving as a critical support ship for submarine operations during the Cold War. The ship included a Marine Detachment tasked with providing onboard security, ceremonial duties, and augmenting ship’s defense in port or during transit. The Marine Detachment played a vital role in ensuring the safety of nuclear weapons and sensitive equipment stored or serviced aboard. Throughout its service, the USS Simon Lake and its Marine Detachment supported submarine fleets in both the Atlantic and Mediterranean, notably providing logistical and technical assistance at forward bases such as Holy Loch, Scotland, and La Maddalena, Italy, until the ship’s decommissioning in 1999.