USS Pintado (SSN-672) - Service History

Service History

Pintado was assigned San Diego, California, as her home port. She commenced her first operational deployment to the United States Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific in late October 1972, returning to San Diego in April 1973. Pintado conducted her second operational deployment from March to October 1974. After returning to San Diego, Pintado became the first submarine to successfully launch the Harpoon missile.

In May 1974 Pintado collided with a Soviet Navy YANKEE class ballistic missile submarine in the approaches to the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky naval base on the Soviet Union's Kamchatka Peninsula. The collision smashed much of Pintado's sonar sphere, jammed one of her a starboard-side torpedo hatches shut, and moderately damaging one of her diving planes. The Soviet submarine surfaced immediately, but the extent of damage to her was not known. Pintado, meanwhile, remained submerged and departed the area at top speed. She proceeded to Guam, where she entered drydock for repairs that lasted seven weeks.

Following her first overhaul, Pintado deployed to the Western Pacific in August 1977. She was operating with Republic of Korea Navy vessels on 6 December 1977 when a South Korean surface ship abruptly turned toward her. She executed a crash dive, but the two ships collided, and Pintado sustained damage to the top of her rudder. She returned to San Diego in February 1978.

From September to November 1978 Pintado operated in the Arctic under the polar ice cap, surfacing at the North Pole on 10 October 1978.

In September 1979 Pintado deployed to the Indian Ocean and supported Carrier Battle Groups Alpha and Bravo during the early weeks of the Iranian hostage crisis. She returned to San Diego in February 1980.

Pintado again deployed to the Western Pacific from February to August 1981, earning a Navy Unit Commendation.

In June 1982, Pintado entered Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for a 16-month regular overhaul during which her combat systems were extensively upgraded. The overhaul was completed in October 1983, and in December 1983 she resumed operations out of San Diego.

Pintado returned to the Arctic Ocean in September 1984, operating under the polar ice cap until November 1984 in company with one of her sister ships, the attack submarine USS Gurnard (SSN-662). On 12 November 1984 Pintado and Gurnard became the third pair of submarines to surface together at the North Pole.

From July 1985 to January 1986 Pintado conducted her fifth operational deployment to the United States Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. During this deployment, Pintado steamed over 33,000 nautical miles (61,116 kilometers) and conducted numerous fast-paced and highly successful operations. Following her return to San Diego, she completed repairs and alteration and celebrated the 15th anniversary of her commissioning. During the autumn of 1986, Pintado conducted over 50 days of highly successful operations as the Commander, Submarine Force, Pacific ready nuclear-powered attack submarine.

Pintado surfaced at the North Pole for the third time on 16 June 1987, during arduous Arctic operations extending from May to July 1987.

Pintado completed a two-month Arctic deployment in June 1988.

In July 1989 Pintado entered Mare Island Naval Shipyard for a regular overhaul.

In January 1992, Pintado's home port was changed to Pearl Harbor and became a member of Submarine Squadron 1.

From August 1992 through October 1992 Pintado conducted her fourth Arctic operation, also marking her 1000th surfacing and dive on 23 August 1992. She surfaced at the North Pole for an unprecedented fourth time on 4 September 1992 and returned to Pearl Harbor in November 1992 after circumnavigating North America and steaming over 20,000 nautical miles (37,040 kilometers).

In July 1993, Pintado made a six-month UNITAS deployment in company with several U.S. Navy surface units, circumnavigating South America while visiting numerous ports and working extensively in exercises with various South American navies.

From January 1996 through July 1996 Pintado conducted her sixth and final deployment to the Western Pacific. During this deployment Pintado participated in several exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Republic of Korea Navy.