USS Darter (SS-576)

USS Darter, with the forward torpedo cradle raised (the three distinctive shark-fin domes are the PUFFS sonar).
Class overview
Builders	General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut
Operators	United States Navy
Preceded by	Tang class USS Seawolf (chronological only)
Succeeded by	Barbel class
Built	1954
In commission	1956–1989
History
United States
Name	USS Darter
Awarded	30 June 1954
Builder	General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down	10 November 1954
Launched	28 May 1956
Commissioned	20 October 1956
Decommissioned	12 December 1989
Stricken	17 January 1990
Fate	Sunk as a target, 7 January 1992
General characteristics
Class and type	Submarine
Displacement	1,620 long tons (1,646 t) surfaced 2,372 long tons (2,410 t) submerged
Length	285 ft 3 in (86.94 m) o/a
Beam	27 ft (8.2 m) overall 25 ft (7.6 m) waterline
Draft	19 ft (5.8 m)
Propulsion	Diesel-electric, two propellers
Speed	15.5 kn (17.8 mph; 28.7 km/h) surfaced 16 kn (18 mph; 30 km/h) submerged
Test depth	700 ft (210 m)
Complement	8 officers, 75 men
Armament	8 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes, (six forward, two aft)

USS Darter (SS-576), a unique submarine based on the Tang class, but incorporating many improvements, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the darter, a type of small American fresh-water fish.

The contract to build Darter was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 30 June 1954 and her keel was laid down on 10 November 1954. She was launched on 28 May 1956 sponsored by Mrs. G.L. Russell, and commissioned on 20 October 1956.

Designed under project SCB 116^[1] with sophisticated acoustic, electronic and fire control gear, Darter was intended to serve as a new generation of post-war ASW submarines, similar to USS Tang (SS-563). Darter was used to experiment with numerous innovations including a three-man helmsman-planesman station using aircraft-style stick controls.