USS Tunny (SSN-682)

• 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). • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • Notable Deployments: The submarine completed numerous deployments to the Western Pacific, earning accolades for her performance and professionalism during extended operations at sea. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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.