This USS Sunfish (SSN-649) website is dedicated to the men who served the United States aboard this able boat. Her undaunted crews were ever committed to ensuring freedom of the seas by maintaining a battle-efficient vessel. We’re grateful for all that stood behind this submarine: from keel laying to decommissioning. The list includes shipyard and support personnel, and in particular the families that have endured many sacrifices in the interest of the US Navy’s diverse missions.
There’ve been two US submarines named for the giant Ocean Sunfish, (Mola Mola). The first USS Sunfish SS-281 was a Gato-class diesel boat built by the Mare Island Shipyard in 1942 and the second USS Sunfish SSN-649 was a Sturgeon-class nuclear powered fast attack submarine built by General Dynamics at the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, MA with the keel laying in 1965.
— Both boats are proud to have had a chance to be in the service of this great nation —
Keel laid by General Dynamics in Quincy, MA on January 15, 1965. Launched October 14, 1966 sponsored by Mrs. Robert C Byrd and commissioned March 15, 1969. The submarine was decommissioned on March 31, 1997 and disposal completed through the Submarine Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on October 31, 1997.
USS Sunfish SSN-649 Reunion Information
Attention All Sunfish Sailors and Families…
We enjoyed our biennial reunion June 2023 in Nashua, NH and everyone had a great time. Sorry if you had to miss it.
Our next REUNION will be held in Mobile, AL in June 2025. We'll let you know all of the details as soon as we can.
Make sure that you keep checking back here for updates. You can join the Sunfish group on Facebook (Sunfish Vets) for another place to stay posted.
Each of the previous gatherings have been a memorable experience. Not only is it exciting when you run into shipmates from your time on the boat, but also great to meet Sunfish sailors from different eras and hear their 'stories'. Please pass the word to former crew with whom you have contact and encourage them to attend.
Hope to see you in Mobile !
We’re continually hearing from additional Sunfish sailors so try to get in touch with those you knew and encourage the men to sign up. More than anything else, direct contact with your shipmates will get `em fired up about coming to the reunions. Don’t forget to visit the log book by clicking on the button above and also read `Last Voyage of the USS Sunfish: The Closing of a Circle´ before you leave.