About this Unit
USS Tunny (SSN-682) was a Sturgeon-class attack submarine in the United States Navy, commissioned on 26 January 1974. Built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, she served primarily during the Cold War, conducting a variety of missions including intelligence gathering, surveillance, and anti-submarine warfare. Tunny operated in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, participating in numerous exercises and deployments to promote maritime security and deter potential adversaries. After over two decades of service, she was decommissioned on 1 October 1998 and later scrapped through the Navy’s Ship-Submarine Recycling Program.
Historical Facts
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Namesake Legacy: USS Tunny (SSN-682) was the second U.S. Navy vessel named after the tunny, a type of oceanic fish, continuing the legacy of the famed WWII submarine USS Tunny (SS-282).
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Sturgeon-Class Submarine: Tunny was a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, one of the mainstays of the U.S. Navy’s Cold War undersea fleet, designed for anti-submarine and anti-surface ship warfare.
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Commissioning: Laid down on May 22, 1970, at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Tunny was launched on June 10, 1972, and commissioned into service on January 26, 1974.
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Pacific Operations: Tunny spent her career based in the Pacific, conducting vital deterrence and surveillance missions during the height of the Cold War, often operating out of Pearl Harbor.
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Special Missions: While many of her operations remain classified, Tunny took part in special intelligence-gathering and surveillance patrols, contributing to national security and Cold War deterrence.
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Notable Deployments: The submarine completed numerous deployments to the Western Pacific, earning accolades for her performance and professionalism during extended operations at sea.
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Recognition: USS Tunny received several awards, including the Navy Unit Commendation and Battle “E” awards, recognizing her for excellence in battle readiness and overall performance.
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Crew Traditions: Like other submarines, Tunny’s crew upheld the “dolphin” tradition, where new submariners had to qualify and earn their submarine warfare insignia through rigorous training and tests.
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Decommissioning: After more than 21 years of service, Tunny was decommissioned on October 1, 1998, and subsequently scrapped via the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Bremerton, Washington.
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Legacy Lives On: Artifacts and memorabilia from USS Tunny (SSN-682) are preserved in naval museums and by her former crew, keeping her story alive for future generations of submariners and naval enthusiasts.
