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Halibut
(SSG(N)-587) was launched by Mare Island Naval Shipyard,
Vallejo, California, 6 January 1959 [Vol. IV, errata: 9
January]; sponsored by Mrs. Chet Holifield, wife of
Congressman Holifield of California; and commissioned 4
January 1960, Lt. Comdr. Walter Dedrick in command.
Halibut had
the distinction to be the first submarine in the world
designed and built from the keel up to launch guided
missiles. Intended to carry the Regulus I missile, Halibut
departed for her shakedown cruise 11 March. On the way to
Australia 25 March she became the first nuclear powered
submarine to successfully launch a guided missile. The
submarine returned to Mare Island Ship. yard 18 June 1960,
and after short training cruises departed 7 November for
Pearl Harbor and active service with Pacific Fleet. During
her first deployment she successfully launched her seventh
consecutive Regulus I missile during a major Southeast Asia
Treaty Organization weapons demonstration. Returning to
Pearl Harbor 9 April 1961, Halibut began her second
deployment 1 May. During the months that followed she
participated in several guided missile launching exercises
and underwent intensive training.
Halibut
deployed for the third time to the Western Pacific in late
1961, establishing a pattern of training and readiness
operations followed through 1964. On 4 May 1964 Halibut
departed Pearl Harbor for the last Regulus missile patrol to
be made by a submarine in the Pacific. Then, from September
through December, Halibut joined eight other
submarines in testing and evaluating the attack capabilities
of the Permit Class submarines.
In February 1965 Halibut
entered Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for a major overhaul,
and on 15 August she was redesignated SS(N)-587. The nuclear
attack submarine sailed from Pearl Harbor 6 September for
the West Coast arriving Keyport, Wash., the 20th. On 5
October she departed Keyport for Pearl Harbor and, after an
8-day stop over at Mare Island, Calif., arrived 21 October. Halibut
then began ASW operations in the area, continuing through
1966 and to date in 1967 adding powerfully to the deterrent
strength of the United States in the Pacific.
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