>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1969) Vol. 4, p.57.





LAPON



		Lapon:  A scorpion fish of the Pacific coast of 

America.





SSN-661



Displacement:  4,640 t.

Length:  292’2”

Beam:  31’7”

Draft:  28’8”

Complement:  107

Armament:  4 21” torpedo tubes; SUBROC

Class:  STURGEON



	LAPON was laid down 26 July 1965 by Newport News 

Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Newport News, Va.; launched 16 

December 1966; sponsored by Mrs. Charles D. Griffin; and 

commissioned 14 December 1967, Comdr. Chester M. Mack in 

command.



	Upon commissioning, LAPON reported to Commander, 

Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet for duty, with her homeport 

at Norfolk, Va.  She spent most of 1968 going through 

training programs and cruising along the east coast of the 

United States.  Into 1969, she is preparing for a 

Mediterranean deployment and will join the 6th Fleet.



	[Deactivated while still in commission on 1 October 

1991, LAPON was decommissioned on 25 June 1992 and stricken 

from the Naval Vessel Register the following 8 August.  She 

is stored at Bremerton, Washington, awaiting her start in 

the Navy’s Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling 

Program.  



Internet web site:

	United States Naval & Shipbuilding Museum

		www.uss-salem.org/worldnav/usa/decom.htm





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com