Glenard P. Lipscomb-class (SSN-685)

Summary

Description

The USS Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN-685) was an exceptional nuclear-powered attack submarine within the United States Navy, showcasing its dedication to technological advancement and innovation. The vessel bore the name of Glenard P. Lipscomb, a congressman representing California's 24th district who served from 1953 until his death in 1970.

Commencing under the project SCB 302.68, the design of Glenard P. Lipscomb took inspiration from the USS Tullibee, adopting a turbo-electric transmission for propulsion. This system aimed to provide a quieter operation and improved safety due to its ability to instantly reverse thrust through a simple polarity change of the direct current motor. The scale of the Tullibee's plant was increased sixfold for Glenard P. Lipscomb, but this enlargement resulted in a heftier displacement that, in turn, reduced the submarine's speed. Despite its innovative turbo-electric drive proving to be unreliable and not adopted in subsequent designs until the emergence of the Columbia-class submarines, Glenard P. Lipscomb mirrored the Sturgeon class in many aspects and maintained its capability as a fully operational attack submarine.

The construction of Glenard P. Lipscomb began on June 5, 1971, at the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut. At its keel-laying, the Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird, a friend and colleague of Glenard Lipscomb, delivered a speech. Launched on August 4, 1973, with Mrs. Glenard P. Lipscomb as its sponsor, the submarine officially joined the fleet on December 21, 1974.

USS Glenard P. Lipscomb had a noteworthy operational history that included deployments to both the North Atlantic in the fall of 1976 and the Mediterranean Sea during the winter-spring stretch of 1977. These missions earned the vessel Meritorious Unit Commendations. The submarine further demonstrated its proficiency by receiving commendations for battle efficiency and engineering excellence for the fiscal years 1977 through 1980 under the leadership of Commanders Robert B. Wilkinson and Thomas Robertson.

A notable incident within its service record was a collision with a tugboat in the Cooper River in 1987 while at the Naval Weapons Station Charleston. The mishap caused minor damage to the submarine's towed array housing and propeller, leading to an additional week in drydock for repairs. Fortunately, there were no injuries on the submarine; however, the tugboat sank.

On July 11, 1990, the USS Glenard P. Lipscomb was decommissioned and later stricken from the Naval Vessel Register, concluding a rather brief service life of just under 16 years—a notably short tenure for a nuclear submarine in the U.S. Navy. The submarine was finally dismantled through the submarine recycling program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on December 1, 1997.

Technical specifications

Photo of Glenard P. Lipscomb class