A HISTORY OF USS GREENLING (SSN 614)
The keel for USS GREENLING (SSN 614) was laid on August 15, 1961, by the General Dynamics Corporation Electric Boat Division, Groton, Connecticut. It was the twelfth of fourteen nuclear powered submarines of the “593” or “THRESHER” class, designed to be the fastest, deepest diving and quietest submarines built to date. The keel was laid on the same building ways that the first nuclear submarine NAUTILUS was built, only a short distance from the ways that gave birth to the first GREENLING (SS 213) in 1940.
GREENLING was one of three submarines authorized for conversion to the “improved THRESHER class.” These alterations followed the investigation into the cause of the tragic sinking of the USS THRESHER (SSN 593) on April 10, 1963, off Cape Cod. GREENLING was moved under tow April 29, 1964, to the Electric Boat Quincy Division, Quincy, Massachusetts, for lengthening and submarine safety program (SUBSAFE) modifications. Modifications included increased buoyancy and adding 13 feet 9 inches of length to the hull, providing improved living and working conditions for the crew and space for additional equipment. Before construction of GREENLING was completed, “THRESHER” class submarines were redesignated as the “594” or “PERMIT” class submarines after the existing lead ship of the class.
From December 1967 through May 1968, GREENLING conducted her initial shakedown cruise, operating mostly in the Caribbean in the vicinity of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. This cruise included multiple torpedo tube test firings and the launching of two SUBROC Missiles.
On May 27, 1968, GREENLING was diverted from a fleet training exercise to take part in the ensuing search and rescue operation for the USS SCORPION (SSN 589) which was missing from its return from deployment. The Commanding Officer of GREENLING was designated as the Commander of the SAR Task Element, consisting of three nuclear and four diesel submarines. The GREENLING participated in this SAR effort until June 12, 1968. GREENLING then participated in several ASW exercises and conducted a deployment in late 1968. GREENLING hosted the Chief of Naval Operations of the Mexican Navy on January 14, 1969, then so thereafter, deployed a second time. During this period, GREENLING was awarded the Submarine Division ONE HUNDRED TWO Fire Control Excellence Award and the Submarine Squadron TEN nomination for the NEY (food service excellence) award for 1968-1969. The ship also earned the Battle Efficiency “E” for Submarine Division ONE HUNDRED TWO for 1968-1969 and the first two Navy Unit Commendations for exceptionally meritorious service in the fall of 1968 and the spring of 1969. CDR Shaffer was awarded the Legion of Merit and a gold star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit for these same two periods. On May 13, 1969, Commander Austin B. Scott, Jr., USN, relieved Commander Shaffer as GREENLING’s Commanding Officer, marking the end of a very successful first year and a half in the life of the submarine.
Over the course of the next year, under the leadership of Commander Scott, GREENLING continued to build on her earlier successes. On May 19, 1969, Greenling entered the Electric Boat Division Shipyard, Groton, Connecticut, for a four month Post Shakedown Availability.
After a short shakedown cruise in southern waters, the ship embarked on a series of deployments and cruises, including Prospective Commanding Officer operations and several anti-submarine warfare exercises. For the second consecutive year, GREENLING earned the Battle Efficiency “E” for fiscal year 1970 in Submarine Division ONE HUNDRED TWO. The ship also earned its third Navy Unit Commendation and first Meritorious Unit Commendation for exceptional meritorious service for operations during two separate periods in 1970. Commander Scott was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and a gold star in lieu of a second Meritorious medal for these same two periods. In November and December 1970, GREENLING moored alongside USS FULTON (AS 11) for pre-overhaul upkeep.
At completion of overhaul, Commander William T. Johnson, USN, relieved Commander Scott as Commanding Officer on March 11, 1972. GREENLING then conducted a shakedown cruise and several small exercises and deployed to the Mediterranean. Throughout 1973, the ship performed a variety of operations: Anti-submarine warfare exercises, U. S. Naval Academy midshipmen summer training cruises and acoustic communications system tests. In 1974, GREENLING executed a highly successful deployment with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, for which GREENLING was presented its second Meritorious Unit Commendation for operations conducted there.
On January 14, 1975, Lieutenant Commander Christopher O. Nichols, USN, relieved Commander Johnson as Commanding Officer. After this relief, the ship immediately started to prepare for another cruise to the Mediterranean, conducting various types of training exercises including Prospective Commanding Officer operations. GREENLING deployed in May 1975 for operations with the U. S. Sixth Fleet. The year also saw GREENLING participate in a major Second Fleet NATO exercise “Ocean Safari” briefly on her return to New London from deployment. The remainder of the year was spent on local operations. GREENLING was awarded its third Meritorious Unit Commendation for operations conducted as an element of Task Forces Sixty Seven and Sixty Nine in June and July 1975 in the Mediterranean.
The bicentennial year was one of GREENLING’s most active, starting with numerous operations in the Caribbean, followed by upkeep in New London and operations with U. S. Army Special Forces, Navy SEALS and U. S. Marine Corps swimmers in “Lock-In/Lock-Out” training. The summer brought a third trip to the Caribbean for various services and exercises. After a few weeks of midshipmen training cruises, GREENLING joined the major NATO exercise “Teamwork ’76,” bringing port visits in Scotland and Norway. The year concluded in New London with pre-overhaul testing and a short holiday standown.
On February 4, 1977, GREENLING arrived in Charleston, South Carolina, for a refueling overhaul which lasted 22 months. This overhaul involved major upgrades to much of the ship’s equipment, including extensive changes to the ship’s sonar system. The ship’s appearance was slightly altered with the addition of the towed array storage tube and fairing, running the length of the port side. The overhaul was completed December 17, 1978, when the ship returned to New London, Connecticut, to recommence operations as a unit of Submarine Squadron TEN.
Commander William R. Witcraft, USN, relieved Commander Nichols on January 27, 1979, to start another very active period in the ship’s history. The early part of the year was dedicated mostly to services and exercises in the Caribbean, then post-overhaul inspections, tests and certifications. The summer brought local operations including midshipman training cruises and a MK 48 Proficiency Exercise at the AUTEC range. Late 1979 saw GREENLING underway for UNITAS XX as part of the U. S. Task Force operating with the navies of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. UNITAS XX brought operations in the waters off various ports along the eastern coast of South America.
In 1980, GREENLING prepared for and departed on deployment in May to the Mediterranean for operations with the Sixth Fleet. This deployment brought port visits in Cartagena, Spain, Sardinia and Naples, returning to New London in October via Halifax, Nova Scotia. 1980 concluded with various training operations from Narragansett Bay to the Caribbean. In 1981 the ship conducted its first Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) and local and Caribbean training operations leading to another Mediterranean deployment in September. While with the Sixth Fleet, the ship visited La Spezia, Santo Stefano and La Maddalena, Italy. GREENLING was still in the Mediterranean when 1982 arrived, but returned home to New London in February for some much deserved rest.
Upon completion of the R & R period on March 12, 1982, Commander Kevin G. Rogers, USN, relieved Commander Witcraft as Commanding Officer. The remainder of 1982 was spent in local and Caribbean operations including midshipman training cruises, an ASW exercise and various readiness examinations. The new year of 1983 brought another Selected Restricted Availability and various training exercises to workup for another deployment to the Mediterranean in September. While on deployment, GREENLING participated in numerous training exercises with NATO forces and saw ports of call including Palma, Spain, La Maddalena, Italy and Toulon, France. The ship returned to New London early in 1984.
On March 23, 1984, Commander Rogers was relieved by Commander Michael W. O’Neil, USN. The remainder of the year was spent in local and Caribbean operating areas for various training exercises.
After this intensive underway schedule, the ship was ready for its fourth and final overhaul. Late 1984, GREENLING arrived September 22, 1984, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire for extensive upgrading of numerous systems, particularly the ship’s fire control systems. This overhaul period lasted 35 months until September 1987, when GREENLING commenced sea trials and post-overhaul training operations. The ship returned in early October to New London, Connecticut after a three year absence from homeport for continued operations as a unit of SUBRON TEN. The year concluded with post-overhaul operations in the Caribbean.
Upon return to New London, Commander Stephen W. Zavadil, USN, relieved Commander O’Neil as Commanding Officer on December 18, 1987. In 1988, the ship completed the series of post-overhaul testing, inspections, certifications and repairs. In May 1988, seven months after the completion of overhaul, the ship deployed for its final time to the Mediterranean Sea and answered an intense Mediterranean operating schedule, winning the Sixth Fleet HOOK’EM Award for Anti-Submarine Warfare Excellence. The deployment also brought port calls to Gibraltar, Toulon, France, and La Maddalena, Italy. After returning November 1, 1988, from the deployment, the ship was awarded the Atlantic Fleet Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy for the greatest improvement in battle readiness for fiscal year 1988.
1989 brought GREENLING a myriad of operations in the local and southern waters for various training exercises. In October, GREENLING deployed to the Western Atlantic for nine weeks, then returned home for the end of the year. GREENLING’s continued success under Commander Zavadil in 1989 resulted in the ship earning the Battle Efficiency “E” for Submarine Squadron TEN. 1990 began with the first post-overhaul Selected Restricted Availability. Following SRA, GREENLING headed to southern waters for proficiency exercises and acoustic trials.
On May 29, 1990, Commander James A. Campbell, USN, relieved Commander Zavadil as Commanding Officer. GREENLING deployed June 28, 1990, for joint exercises with the navies of South America in UNITAS XXXI. Circumnavigating South America over the next five months, GREENLING visited fifteen ports while conducting extensive naval exercises with the navies of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela. In addition to ports of call in each South American country, GREENLING visited Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, and Port of Spain, Trinidad.
The year 1991 brought primarily training exercises and inspections. On May 4, 1991, GREENLING was reassigned as a unit of Submarine Squadron TWO as the former parent Submarine Squadron TEN was disestablished. These changes also moved GREENLING’s normal inport home from alongside USS FULTON (AS 11) at State Pier in New London to the U. S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton.
The 1992 brought another Atlantic deployment, a Selected Restricted Availability and several exercises and local operations including a port visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and other highly successful exercises followed by a port visit to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.
On November 20, 1992, Commander Steven Clark Hall, USN, took command from Commander Campbell. GREENLING’s final year has seen a continuation of her hard work and determination. In the past eight months, she has participated in a major FLEETEX, several operations with Canadian Navy units, made port visits to Port Canaveral, Florida, and Bermuda and conducted U. S. Naval Academy second class midshipmen training cruises, plus a several local operations.
