USS Drum (SSN-677)
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | USS Drum (SSN-677) |
| Ordered: | 15 March 1967 |
| Builder: | Mare Island Naval Shipyard |
| Laid down: | 20 August 1968 |
| Launched: | 23 May 1970 |
| Commissioned: | 15 April 1972 |
| Decommissioned: | 30 October 1995 |
| Struck: | 30 October 1995 |
| Motto: | Pride Runs Deep |
| Fate: | Submarine recycling program |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Sturgeon-class submarine |
| Displacement: | 4,015 long tons (4,079 t) light 4,313 long tons (4,382 t) full 298 long tons (303 t) dead |
| Length: | 292 ft (89 m) |
| Beam: | 32 ft (9.8 m) |
| Draft: | 29 ft (8.8 m) |
| Propulsion: | 1 × S5W nuclear reactor |
| Speed: | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Complement: | 14 officers, 95 men |
| Armament: | 4 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes |
USS Drum (SSN-677), a Sturgeon class attack submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for any of various fishes capable of making a drumming noise, best known on the Atlantic coast. The contract to build her was awarded to Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 15 March 1967, and her keel was laid down on 20 August 1968. She was launched on 23 May 1970, sponsored by Mrs. William F. Bringle, wife of Vice Admiral William F. Bringle, commander of the 7th Fleet,and commissioned on 15 April 1972, with Commander James L. Willis in command.
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[edit] Service history
After commissioning, Drum conducted initial testing in Puget Sound before arriving at her lifelong homeport of San Diego on 22 May. Drum commenced six months of operational tests and fleet training exercises in Puget Sound, Hawaiian, and San Diego operating areas to become a unit of the Pacific Submarine Fleet. Drum returned to Mare Island Naval Shipyard in November for a one month Post Shakedown Availability (PSA).
[edit] 1970s
Following PSA and follow-on operations in Southern California, Drum deployed in March 1973, on its first and longest Western Pacific deployment, eight months, returning to San Diego in November.
On 10 July 1974, CDR D. C. Tarquin, USN, relieved CDR Willis. Drum began its second deployment to the Western Pacific at the end of the year, visiting Japan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines before returning in May 1975. Drum was awarded its first Navy Unit Commendation for her successes during this deployment.
In June 1976, Drum departed San Diego for its third Western Pacific deployment, visiting Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, and Guam. Drum was awarded its Meritorious Unit Commendation for the successes during this deployment and returned from WESTPAC in November 1976. On 19 November 1976, CDR M. D. Bradley, USN, relieved CDR Tarquin as Commanding Officer of Drum.
1977 began with Drum changing homeport to Bremerton, Washington and entering Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for MK-48 torpedo impact testing and a non-refueling overhaul. Drum completed the overhaul in April 1978, ahead of schedule and under budget. The next several months were spent conducting operations in Puget Sound, including visits to Seattle, Everett, and Esquimalt, until Drum returned to San Diego in July 1978.
From her return to San Diego until April 1979, Drum completed the rigorous training, testing, and loadout necessary for deployment. Drum deployed to WestPac from May to October 1979. During this deployment, the ship completed a special operation for which it was awarded its second Meritorious Unit Commendation. Additionally, Drum made port visits to Guam, Thailand, and the Philippines during the deployment. After returning to San Diego in October 1979, Drum engaged in local operations and completed a 2-month PSA at Mare Island.
[edit] 1980s
In May 1980, after returning to San Diego, CDR Michael F. Oliver, USN, relieved CDR Bradley. For the next several months, Drum operated in her local homeport operating areas before her next WESTPAC deployment in October, which included visits to Guam and the Philippines. This deployment lasted until mid-April 1981. In November 1981, Drum departed San Diego for the Western Pacific, visiting Korea, spending Christmas in Japan, and returning home at the beginning of the new year.
Drum continued operations in Southern California operating areas, visiting San Francisco before starting the second Selected Restricted Availability in San Diego in the summer of 1982.
Upon completion of the SRA, Drum concluded 1982 preparing for her next Western Pacific and Indian Ocean deployment. Shortly after Christmas, Drum deployed to WESTPAC, which included operations in the Indian Ocean. During this deployment, Drum visited the Philippines, Australia, Diego Garcia, and Japan. Drum returned to San Diego in June 1983.
On 12 August 1983, CDR Harold L. Cox, USN, relieved CDR Oliver as Commanding Officer. After another well-deserved standdown period at the end of this deployment, Drum participated in Advanced Capability (ADCAP) Mk 48 torpedo testing exercises at the tracking range at Nanoose, British Columbia.
In May, 1984, Drum left San Diego for the Western Pacific, stopping in Hawaii for RIMPAC ’84, a multi-national Naval exercise, then continued west with visits to the Philippines, Japan, Guam, and Thailand. Drum returned in November 1984.
1985 began with local operations in Southern California operating areas and operations in the Puget Sound including a port visit to Esquimalt, British Columbia. In October 1985, Drum changed homeport a second time to Bremerton, Washington, to begin her second and final overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
On 18 April 1986, CDR Donald L. Winchell, Jr. relieved CDR Cox, becoming the sixth CO of USS Drum. The refueling overhaul was completed in November 1987, and Drum returned to San Diego to its new squadron, Submarine Squadron ELEVEN.
Drum spent most of 1988 in local operations and preparation for her next deployment. After nine months of preparations and inspections since overhaul, Drum left San Diego for two months of independent operations, for which Drum was awarded the third Meritorious Unit Commendation.
On 21 February 1989, CDR Bruce B. Engelhardt, USN, relieved CDR Winchell as CO. In mid May 1989, Drum departed on its tenth trip to the Western Pacific, for which Drum was awarded the second Navy Unit Commendation. This WESTPAC included visits to Lahaina and Pearl Harbor, and Japan. Drum returned in August to San Diego and continued operations in Southern California operating areas for the remainder of the year.
[edit] 1990s
1990 began with an SRA that was completed in March. On 1 April, Drum changed administrative commanders to Commander, Submarine Squadron THREE.
Drum participated in RIMPAC ’90 in the spring, which included a port call at Lahaina, Maui. After a summer of preparations, Drum departed San Diego in September for another deployment to the Western Pacific, during which port calls were made to Guam, Japan, and Singapore. Drum was awarded the fourth Meritorious Unit Commendation for operations conducted during this deployment. For Drum's outstanding performance in FY 1990, the crew was awarded the Battle Efficiency “E” for Submarine Squadron THREE. Drum returned home in March 1991.
In August 1991, Drum commenced independent operations and retuned in late September. In October 1991, Drum participated in San Francisco’s Fleet Week ’91. For Drum's outstanding performance in FY 1991, the crew was awarded the Battle Efficiency “E” for Submarine Squadron THREE, for the second consecutive year. On 22 November 1991, CDR Wayne A. Thornton relieved CDR Engelhardt as DRUM’s eighth CO.
In February 1992, Drum departed on deployment to the Western Pacific. Port visits included Pearl Harbor, Japan, Guam, Singapore, and Australia, completing the 680-mile (1,090 km) transit of the inner passage of the Great Barrier Reef. During this deployment, the ship was awarded the fifth Meritorious Unit Commendation. Drum returned to San Diego in August 1992 and hosted the first tour of a U.S. nuclear submarine by senior Russian naval officer and dignitaries.
Drum departed on its next deployment two days after Christmas 1993. During this deployment, Drum visited Guam, Japan, and New Caledonia.
On 8 August 1994, CDR Steven, C. Hall relieved CDR Thornton to become Drum's ninth Commanding Officer. During Drum's final year in service, Drum participated in San Francisco’s Fleet Week ’94 and made a port visit to Astoria, Oregon.
On 13 February 1995, Drum departed San Diego for the thirteenth deployment to the Western Pacific, which included a visit to Guam.
[edit] Collision with a container ship
While leaving port in Hong Kong, Drum collided with the Panamanian-registered Sei Bright. The freighter was slightly damaged at the bow, but no one was injured and Drum was not damaged.[1]
Drum returned to San Diego from its last WESTPAC on 13 April. CDR Hall was relieved of duty following the collision and on 27 April, CDR Mitchell K. Sauls became Drum's tenth and final Commanding Officer. At 1300 hours on 20 May 1995, the inactivation ceremony was held for Drum in her homeport of San Diego, CA. In late May 1995, Drum departed its homeport of San Diego, California, for the last time, destined for Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard to begin the inactivation process.
[edit] Final deposition
Drum was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 30 October 1995. Ex-Drum is stored at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington awaiting entry into the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program.
The non-profit Mare Island Park Historic Foundation is raising money to return Drum to Vallejo, California, as a floating museum. In the FY97 Defense Bill, Congress authorized the transfer of Drum to Vallejo at "no cost to the US Government". If money is raised to cover the cost, ex-Drum may be transferred after the reactor is removed and the hull is decontaminated.
[edit] References
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
