Changes

The second Barb (SSN-596) was laid down on 9 November 1959 at Pascagoula, Miss., by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp.; launched on 22 February 1962; sponsored by Mrs. Marjorie Fluckey; and commissioned on 24 August 1963, Comdr. Charles D. Grojean in command.

The second Barb ([[submarine|SSN]]-596) was laid down on 9 November 1959 at Pascagoula, Miss., by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp.; launched on 22 February 1962; sponsored by Mrs. Marjorie Fluckey; and commissioned on 24 August 1963, Comdr. Charles D. Grojean in command.

Barb departed Pascagoula on 28 September for her shakedown cruise off the west coast. Sailing by way of the Panama Canal and Vallejo, Calif., she arrived in Puget Sound where she carried out a variety of trials during the period between 30 October and 19 November. The submarine then concluded her shakedown training with a four-week, round-trip voyage to Hawaii. Upon her return to the west coast on 17 December 1963, she entered the Mare Island Naval Shipyard for post-shakedown availability. Those repairs and modifications occupied her for nine months, carrying her well into 1964. Near the end of that period, on 1 July 1964, her home port was officially changed from Vallejo, Calif., to Pearl Harbor. Seven weeks later, Barb left the yard at Mare Island and began a somewhat circuitous voyage to her new base, travelling by way of Seattle, Wash.

Barb departed Pascagoula on 28 September for her [[shakedown cruise]] off the West Coast. Sailing by way of the [[Panama Canal]] and Vallejo, Calif., she arrived in Puget Sound where she carried out a variety of trials during the period between 30 October and 19 November. The submarine then concluded her shakedown training with a four-week, round-trip voyage to [[Hawaii]]. Upon her return to the west coast on 17 December 1963, she entered the Mare Island Naval Shipyard for post-shakedown availability. Those repairs and modifications occupied her for nine months, carrying her well into 1964. Near the end of that period, on 1 July 1964, her home port was officially changed from Vallejo, Calif., to [[Pearl Harbor]]. Seven weeks later, Barb left the yard at Mare Island and began a somewhat circuitous voyage to her new base, traveling by way of Seattle, Wash.

 

 

Following her arrival in Hawaii early that fall, the warship pursued an active schedule of training missions in the local operating area. On 1 December 1964, Barb was designated flagship for the Commander, Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet. Local training operations in the Hawaiian Islands took up most 1965. In fact, save for the period between 9 June and 25 July 1965 during which she voyaged to Mare Island Naval Shipyard for repairs to her sonar, the submarine operated in the Hawaiian area exclusively for two years. Early in the fall of 1966, the submarine made another extended voyage to the west coast during which she visited San Francisco and then carried out weapons alignment tests at Dabob Bay, Wash., before undergoing repairs and modifications at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Barb returned to Hawaii late in October and spent the rest of 1966 in Pearl Harbor in a restricted availability.

The submarine resumed a normal training schedule in the Hawaiian operating area at the beginning of 1967. That employment continued through the first four months of the year. Soon thereafter, however, her routine underwent a significant change when she embarked on her first deployment to the Far East on 9 May. She arrived at Naha, Okinawa, on 22 May and stayed until the 27th when she sailed for Vietnamese waters and a tour of duty with TG 77.9. After that assignment, Barb made a liberty call at Singapore before heading for Yokosuka on 19 June. The submarine spent nine days at Yokosuka and then returned to sea for almost three weeks of unspecified operations. Another upkeep period back at Yokosuka closed out the month of August, at which point Barb got underway for Hong Kong and a week-long liberty and goodwill visit. While on her way back to the Vietnamese war zone, she received orders diverting her to training duty out of Naha, Okinawa. That employment lasted until the second week in October, at which time she headed for Guam. Though diverted briefly to Subic Bay, Barb reached her destination on 15 October. At the conclusion of some tactical exercises and upkeep at Guam, she set out on the voyage back to Hawaii on 24 October. The submarine ended her first Far Eastern deployment when she reentered Pearl Harbor on 1 November.

The submarine resumed a normal training schedule in the Hawaiian operating area at the beginning of 1967. That employment continued through the first four months of the year. Soon thereafter, however, her routine underwent a significant change when she embarked on her first deployment to the Far East on 9 May. She arrived at Naha, Okinawa, on 22 May and stayed until the 27th when she sailed for Vietnamese waters and a tour of duty with TG 77.9. After that assignment, Barb made a liberty call at Singapore before heading for Yokosuka on 19 June. The submarine spent nine days at Yokosuka and then returned to sea for almost three weeks of unspecified operations. Another upkeep period back at Yokosuka closed out the month of August, at which point Barb got underway for Hong Kong and a week-long liberty and goodwill visit. While on her way back to the Vietnamese war zone, she received orders diverting her to training duty out of Naha, Okinawa. That employment lasted until the second week in October, at which time she headed for Guam. Though diverted briefly to Subic Bay, Barb reached her destination on 15 October. At the conclusion of some tactical exercises and upkeep at Guam, she set out on the voyage back to Hawaii on 24 October. The submarine ended her first Far Eastern deployment when she reentered Pearl Harbor on 1 November.

Following post-deployment standdown, Barb resumed local operations in the Hawaiian Islands at the beginning of 1968. She continued so engaged until late May 1968 when she commenced regular overhaul at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The maintenance and repairs took up the rest of 1968 and nearly all of 1969 as well. The overhaul ended officially on 8 December 1969, just in time for the annual holiday standdown. Early in January 1970, she sailed to Washington state again to carry out weapons systems’ accuracy tests and to test a new type of torpedo. Returning to Hawaii late in February, Barb pursued a normal schedule of local training missions from her base at Pearl Harbor. That employment occupied her for the remainder of 1970; though, late in the year, she began preparations to deploy overseas.

Following post-deployment standdown, Barb resumed local operations in the Hawaiian Islands at the beginning of 1968. She continued so engaged until late May 1968 when she commenced regular overhaul at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The maintenance and repairs took up the rest of 1968 and nearly all of 1969 as well. The overhaul ended officially on 8 December 1969, just in time for the annual holiday standdown. Early in January 1970, she sailed to Washington state again to carry out weapons systems’ accuracy tests and to test a new type of torpedo. Returning to Hawaii late in February, Barb pursued a normal schedule of local training missions from her base at Pearl Harbor. That employment occupied her for the remainder of 1970; though, late in the year, she began preparations to deploy overseas.

The submarine left Pearl Harbor for the western Pacific on 2 January 1971. She combined an extended special operation with her passage west that made the transit an unusually long one. She did not arrive in Yokosuka until 7 February. After two weeks of upkeep there, she headed for Subic Bay where she made a two-day stop between the 26th and the 28th. Departing Subic Bay on the 28th, Barb carried out another four weeks of special operations before returning to Subic Bay on 28 March. On the 30th, she embarked on the voyage to Hong Kong where she spent the first week in April. From Hong Kong, the warship sailed to the Mariana Islands, arriving at Guam on the 15th and remaining there for the rest of the month. On 1 May, she returned to sea for eight weeks of special operations. Her deployment ended on 25 June with her arrival back in Pearl Harbor.

The submarine left Pearl Harbor for the western Pacific on 2 January 1971. She combined an extended special operation with her passage west that made the transit an unusually long one. She did not arrive in Yokosuka until 7 February. After two weeks of upkeep there, she headed for Subic Bay where she made a two-day stop between the 26th and the 28th. Departing Subic Bay on the 28th, Barb carried out another four weeks of special operations before returning to Subic Bay on 28 March. On the 30th, she embarked on the voyage to Hong Kong where she spent the first week in April. From Hong Kong, the warship sailed to the Mariana Islands, arriving at Guam on the 15th and remaining there for the rest of the month. On 1 May, she returned to sea for eight weeks of special operations. Her deployment ended on 25 June with her arrival back in Pearl Harbor.