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USS SKATE
SUBMARINE
USS Skate (SSN-578) was launched on 16 May 1957.
On 17 March 1959,
USS
Skate became
the
first submarine to surface at
the top of the world -
the North Pole.
Several months before that record, on 11
August, Skate earned
the distinction of being
the second
vessel that reach the North Pole via
undersea voyage. Skate steamed
to the Arctic where she operated under the ice for ten
days. She navigated over 2,400 miles under ice and
surfaced nine times through
it.
USS Skate was
unable to surface precisely at the Pole on the this
voyage due to dangerous ice conditions.
The USS Nautilus achieved this feast just
one week earlier!)
While at the pole, the crew planted an American Flag in a cairn they
built out of ice blocks and put a waterproof container
in the cairn with a note commemorating the event. The
crew also held a ceremony for the late Arctic explorer
Sir Hubert Wilkins and committed his ashes at the pole.
After reaching the Pole, the submarine Skate continued
her mission to pioneer arctic operations during periods
of extreme cold and maximum ice thickness. She steamed
3,900 miles under pack ice while surfacing through it
ten times.
When the submarine
returned to port, she was awarded a star in lieu
of a second Navy Unit Commendation for "the
first time the ability of submarines to operate in and
under the Arctic ice in the dead of winter
. . ."
On 7 July 1962, USS
Skate again
pointed her bow toward the North Pole. Five days
later, USS
Seadragon (SSN-584), based in Pearl Harbor, Hi.,
did likewise. The mission of the two submarines was to
rendezvous under the ice there. They began rendezvous
procedures on 31 July. After the historic meeting, the
two ships operated together for over a week. Both
submarines surfaced at the North Pole on 2 August and
official greetings and insignia of the Submarine Forces,
Atlantic Fleet and Pacific Fleet, were exchanged.
USS
Skate returned
to New London and performed fleet and local operations
for the next several years. She entered Norfolk Naval
Shipyard, Va., on 28 April 1965, for an overhaul and
installation of the SUBSAFE
package. Skate was
the first submarine to finish this major conversion
program which was instituted after the loss of Thresher (SSN-593)
in 1963.
The polar veteran operated
under Arctic ice again in March and April of 1969, in
October of 1970, and in February 1971.
On 30 October 1986, USS
Skate submarine was decommissioned.
The Skate-class submarines were the first production run
of nuclear-powered submarines of the US Navy.
This primarily wood
USS Skate
submarine
model is
23"
long x 6 tall x 4 wide
(1/144 scale)
$1,490
 Shipping and insurance in
the contiguous USA included.
Other places: $250 flat rate.
For other sizes,
contact us for a quote:
Services@ModelShipMaster.com.
We also accept commissions to build the
following subs of the class:
USS Swordfish (SSN-579)
USS Sargo (SSN-583)
USS Seadragon (SSN-584)
Learn more about the
USS Skate
submarine here:
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/skate-ii.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Skate_(SSN-578)
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