USS Sailfish (SSR-572)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Sailfish.
USS Sailfish (SSR-572)
History
United States
NameUSS Sailfish
NamesakeSailfish
Ordered10 March 1951
BuilderPortsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine
Laid down8 December 1953
Launched8 September 1955
Commissioned14 April 1956, as SSR-572
Decommissioned29 September 1978
ReclassifiedSS-572 (Attack submarine), 3 February 1961
Stricken30 September 1978
FateSunk as target, May 2007
General characteristics
Class and typeSailfish-class submarine
Displacement
  • 2,030 long tons (2,063 t) light
  • 2,334 long tons (2,371 t) surfaced
  • 3,168 long tons (3,219 t) submerged
Length350 ft (110 m)
Beam29 ft 1 in (8.86 m)
Draft16 ft 4 in (5 m)
PropulsionDiesel-electric, 2 screws
Speed
  • 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph) surfaced
  • 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) submerged
Complement95 officers and men
Armament6 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes

USS Sailfish (SSR/SS/AGSS-572), the lead ship of her class of submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the sailfish, a large gamefish inhabiting tropical seas, related to the swordfish, but possessing scales and a large sail-like dorsal fin.