USS Parche ( SSN - 683 ) USS " Parche " ( SSN - 683 ) , a , was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the parche , a small , coral reef butterfly fish . " Parche " is the most decorated ship in U . S . Navy history . Construction and commissioning . The contract to build " Parche " was awarded to Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula , Mississippi , on 25 June 1968 and her keel was laid down there on 10 December 1970 . She was launched on 13 January 1973 , sponsored by Mrs . Philip A . Beshany , and commissioned on 17 August 1974 with Commander Richard N . Charles in command . Operational history . 1974 – 1979 . In 1975 – 76 " Parche " was in the Mediterranean Sea . Upon discovery of some relics from World War II in December 1975 , the " Parche " was called the " Prize of the Mediterranean " . The " Parche " docked in Italy a week late just in time for Christmas . Returned from the Med in March 1976 . " Parche " served as a unit of the United States Atlantic Fleet Submarine Force until 1976 before transferring to the United States Pacific Fleet in October 1976 . Once arriving at her new home port at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo , California , " Parche " received ocean engineering modifications . " Parche " deployed on a shakedown training cruise in August and September 1978 . Operation Ivy Bells , 1979 . " Parche " successfully tapped into Soviet underwater military communication cables in the Barents Sea in 1979 as part of Operation Ivy Bells . 1979 – 2004 . During her career , " Parche " was involved in recovering Soviet missile fragments from the seabed following test launches . Much of her operational history was spent undertaking missions of a clandestine nature , and as of late 2009 a vast majority of the missions the ship undertook remain classified . From 1987 to 1991 , " Parche " underwent an extended refueling overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard during which she was modified for research and development work . A – long extension was added to her hull just forward of her sail . The added section was flat - topped ( looking somewhat like the missile deck of a ballistic missile submarine ) and provided the space required to support a larger crew and additional equipment . These additions included an extensive array of signals - intelligence - collecting antennas , electronic gear , and other navigational and ocean engineering equipment . The overhaul also added many auxiliary navigational and maneuvering features , including both upward and forward - facing short - range sonar s , and a suite of armor ed spotlights and closed - circuit television cameras for under - ice operations . Upon completion of her modifications in 1991 , " Parche " began a new mission as part of Submarine Development Squadron 5 . She resumed operations in the Pacific Fleet in 1992 . " Parche " was transferred to a new home port , Naval Base Kitsap at Bangor , Washington , in November 1994 . " Parche " may have recovered Chinese missile fragments . In 1995 and 1996 , the People ' s Republic of China launched DF - 21 and DF - 15 ballistic missile s into the sea surrounding Taiwan to deter Taiwan from moving toward independence ; Robert Karniol writes : " I suspect that " the " Parche " might have gone after these Chinese missile fragments " , and " I suspect that Beijing gave away some useful missile secrets . " Decommissioning and disposal . On 19 October 2004 , a decommissioning ceremony took place at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton , Washington ; she was officially decommissioned on 18 July 2005 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day . The wardroom of the oldest submarine in the fleet carries Richard O ' Kane ' s personal cribbage board , and upon the " Parche ' s " decommissioning the board was transferred to the next oldest boat : . Her scrapping at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard via the Ship and Submarine Recycling Program was completed on 30 November 2006 . " Parche " s research and development duties will be assumed by , a whose construction period was extended to include modifications that will allow her to carry out the same types of research and development . According to Robert Karniol , " Jimmy Carter " in succeeding " Parche , " has become " Washingtons premier spy submarine . " Military awards . " Parche " is the most decorated ship in U . S . Navy history , receiving a total of nine Presidential Unit Citations and ten Navy Unit Commendation s . The submarine also received thirteen Navy Expeditionary Medal s during her thirty years of service . Commemoration . " Parche " s sail was preserved . During the summer of 2006 it was moved from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to a maritime park in downtown Bremerton .