USS Greenling (SSN-614)

USS Greenling (SSN-614)

USS Greenling (SSN-614), a Thresher-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the greenling, an elongate, fine-scaled fish found from Kamchatka to California. Her keel was laid down on 15 August 1961 by the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut.

On 10 April 1963, Thresher, the lead ship of Greenling's class, was lost due to severe design flaws in her non-nuclear piping systems. Because she was still early in the construction process, Greenling was one of three selected Thresher-class submarines selected for conversion to the "improved Thresher class." She was launched on 4 April 1964 sponsored by Mrs. H.C. Bruton. On 29 April, she was towed to Quincy, Massachusetts, for lengthening and submarine safety program (SUBSAFE) modifications. Modifications included increased buoyancy and adding 13 feet 9 inches of length to the hull, providing improved living and working conditions for the crew and space for additional equipment. Before construction of Greenling was completed, she and her sister ships were redesignated the Permit class, after the eldest surviving member of the class. Greenling was commissioned on 3 November 1967 with Commander Guy H.B. Schaffer in command.