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| Career | |
|---|---|
| Awarded: | 9 June 1960 |
| Laid down: | 15 August 1961 |
| Launched: | 4 April 1964 |
| Commissioned: | 3 November 1967 |
| Fate: | submarine recycling |
| Stricken: | 18 April 1994 |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 3732 tons |
| Length: | 292 feet 3 inches |
| Beam: | 31 feet 8 inches |
| Draft: | 24 feet |
| Speed: | over 30 knots |
| Complement: | 99 officers and men |
| Armament: | four 21-inch torpedo tubes |
On 10 April 1963, Thresher, the lead ship of Greeling's class, was lost due to severe design flaws. Because she was still early in the construction process, Greenling was one of three selected Thresher-class submarines selected for conversion to the "improved Thresher class." She was launched on 4 April 1964 sponsored by Mrs. H.C. Bruton. On 29 April, she was towed to 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, she and her sister ships were redesignated the Permit class, after the eldest surviving member of the class. Greenling was commissioned on 3 November 1967 with Commander Guy H.B. Schaffer in command.
On 27 May 1968, Greenling's fleet training exercise was interrupted by the search and rescue operation for USS Scorpion (SSN-589). Her Commanding Officer was designated the Commander of the SAR Task Element, which included of three nuclear and four diesel submarines. That assignment continued until 12 June 1968.
See USS Greenling for other ships of the same name.
References
This article includes information collected from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships and the Web site http://www.ussgreenling.com/