RayII SSN 653

Ray II

(SSN-653: dp. 3,800 (surf.), 4,600 (subm.), 1. 292'3", b. 31'8"; dr. 28'8"; s. 20+ k.; cpl. 107; a. SUBROC, 4 21"tt.; el. Sturgeon)

The second Ray (SSN-653), a nuclear-powered attack submarine, was laid down 4 January 1965 by Newport News Shipbuilding & DryDock Co., Newport News, Va., launched 22 June 1966, sDonsored by Mrs. Thomas H. Kuchel, wife of Senator Kuchel of California, and commissioned 12 April 1967, Comdr. A. L. Kelln in command.

Ray uses a teardrop hull and sailplane configuration for maximum sDeed and maneuverability Primarily designed as a hunter-killer submarine, Ray is equipped with the latest equipment in sonar, weapons, fire control, eommunieations and eleetronies countermeasures enabling her to quietly an] efficiently seek out and destroy undersea enemies.

Homeported in Norfolk, Ray underwent shakedown training, weavons and sonar testiDg until 16 October 1967 when she deployed on Atlantic submarine operations until 12 December. In 1968 Ray again deployed on submarine operations from 8 April to 9 June and from 13 November to 20 December.

She spent the first 5 months of 1969 in submarine type training and fleet exercises off the east coast and in the Caribbean. SSN 653 departed Norfolk 6 June on a special operation before sailing for Scotland, arriving Holy Loeh 26 June. She departed Scotland 31 July, and returned to Norfolk 12 August. For the remainder of the year, and into 1970, Ray trained in the Atlantic with other units of the fleet.

Ray spent most of 1970 operating in the Atlantic out of Norfolk, Va. Her operations were eoneentrated primarily unon training and testing. In December 1970, she entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a 14 month overhaul period. She steamed out of Norfolk 5 March 1972 and engaged in various tests and exercises, notably two NATO exercises, STRONG EXPRESS and ESCORT DEEP, during the remainder of 1972. Returning to Norfolk 12 December, Ray's crewmen were able to spend the holidays in home port. She departed Norfolk in late February 1973 for a Mediterranean cruise which lasted until mid-summer, at which time she returned to Norfolk and normal Atlantic operations. As of January 1974, Ray is in Norfolk, Va.

From 1977 through 1988 Ray made numerous Mediterranean and North Atlantic deployments including an ICE-EX in 1986 where she surfaced at the North Pole along with sister ships USS Hawkbill (SSN-666) and USS Archerfish (SSN-678), the first time three attack submarines had ever surfaced at the pole together. In 1988 and again in 1991 she deployed north of the Arctic Circle, earning a Meritorious Unit Citation, Navy Expeditionary Medal and Arctic Service Ribbon each time.

Ray participated in a six-month Mediterranean cruise as a part of the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) aircraft carrier battle group from October 1989 to April 1990. She participated in various exercises and underwater operations which included operating in the Gulf of Sidra inside what Libya claimed was the "Line of Death" that formed the boundary of Libyan territorial waters, a territorial claim the United States did not recognize. She pulled into several liberty ports during this cruise, including La Maddalena in Italy, Cannes and Toulon in France, and Gibraltar. After her return to Charleston, she underwent routine repairs in drydock the Charleston Naval Shipyard.

At the time of Ray's deactivation in 1992, she had earned five Navy Unit Citations, six Meritorious Unit Citations, six Navy Expeditionary Medals and at least three Arctic Service ribbons, making Ray one of the most-decorated attack submarines in the Atlantic Fleet.

Decommissioning and disposal
Ray was decommissioned on 16 March 1993 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 at Bremerton, Washington, began on 15 March 2002 and was completed on 30 July 2003.