USS Flying Fish (SSN-673)

USS Flying Fish (SSN-673), a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the flying fish, any of number of fishes of tropic and warm temperate seas whose long winglike fins make it possible for them to move some distance through the air.

Construction and commissioning
The contract to build Flying Fish was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 15 July 1966 and her keel was laid down there on 30 June 1967. She was launched on 17 May 1969, sponsored by Mrs. John W. Harvey, and commissioned on 29 April 1970 with Commander Donald C. Shelton in command.

Service history
6/30/1967 - Keel laid at Electric Boat (EB) in Groton, CT

5/17/1969 - Launched at EB Groton, Mrs. John W. Harvey was sponsor, widow of Thresher SSN-593 CO

4/1/1970 - Delivered to Navy

4/29/1970 - Commissioned at Groton, CO is CDR Donald C. Sheldon, Assigned to Subron 6 Norfolk

2/13/1973 - CDR James D. Williams relieved CDR Sheldon as CO

11/14/1973 - PNSY for extensive overhaul (Approx 1 year)

5/22/1976 - CDR Thomas A. Meinicke relieved CDR Williams as CO

4/10/1976 - Visits Bremerhaven, Germany OCT 4-8

In 1976, she won the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for the United States Atlantic Fleet.

Decommissioning and disposal
Flying Fish was decommissioned on 16 May 1996 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. Her scrapping via the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, was completed on 15 October 1996.