USS Whale (SSN638)

• Namesake: USS Whale (SSN-638) was the fourth US Navy vessel named after the whale, continuing a tradition of submarine names inspired by marine creatures. • Sturgeon-Class Submarine: Whale was a Sturgeon-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, designed for both anti-submarine warfare and intelligence-gathering missions during the Cold War. • Commissioning: The submarine was commissioned on 12 October 1968, with Commander Donald C. Sheldon in command. • Arctic Operations: USS Whale gained distinction for its operations under the polar ice cap, surfacing at the North Pole in March 1969 during one of its early deployments. • Global Deployments: Whale conducted multiple deployments in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Arctic Oceans, often participating in NATO exercises and secretive intelligence missions. • Submarine Squadron: The vessel was assigned to Submarine Squadron 10, based in New London, Connecticut, for much of its career. • Collision Incident: In 1981, USS Whale collided with the Soviet submarine K-324 while operating in the Atlantic. Both subs sustained minor damage, highlighting the tense undersea cat-and-mouse games of the Cold War. • Refueling Overhaul: The submarine underwent a major refueling and modernization overhaul in the early 1980s at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, extending her operational life. • Deactivation and Decommissioning: USS Whale was deactivated in 1995 and officially decommissioned on 28 March 1996 after nearly three decades of service. • Recycling: The submarine was scrapped through the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, with the process completed in October 1996.