USS Ray ( SSN - 653 ) USS " Ray " ( SSN - 653 ) , a " Sturgeon " - class attack submarine , was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the rays , various cartilaginous marine fishes characterized by a flat body , large pectoral fin s , and a whiplike tail , belonging to the superorder Batoidea , especially the true rays of the order Rajiformes Construction and commissioning . The contract to build " Ray " was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company at Newport News , Virginia , on 26 March 1963 and her keel was laid down there on 4 January 1965 . She was launched on 21 June 1966 , sponsored by Mrs . Thomas H . Kuchel , the wife of United States Senator Thomas H . Kuchel ( 1910 – 1994 ) of California , and commissioned on 12 April 1967 , with Commander Albert L . Kelln in command . Service history . With her home port at Norfolk , Virginia , " Ray " underwent shakedown training and weapons and sonar testing until 6 October 1967 , when she deployed to conduct Atlantic Ocean submarine operations until 12 December 1967 . In 1968 " Ray " again deployed for submarine operations in the Atlantic , from 8 April to 10 June and again from 13 November to 20 December . " Ray " January through May 1969 in attack submarine training and fleet exercise s off the United States East Coast and in the Caribbean Sea . She departed Norfolk on 6 June 1969 on a special operation before proceeding to Holy Loch , Scotland , where she arrived on 26 June 1969 . She departed Holy Loch on 31 July 1969 and returned to Norfolk on 12 August . For the remainder of 1969 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 . Her operations were concentrated primarily upon training and testing . In December 1970 , she entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard at Portsmouth , Virginia , for a 14 - month overhaul period . After its completion , she departed Norfolk on 5 March 1972 and engaged in various tests and exercises — notably two North Atlantic Treaty Organization exercises , " Strong Express " and " Escort Deep " — during the remainder of 1972 . She returned to Norfolk on 12 December 1972 . " Ray " departed Norfolk in late February 1973 to conduct a Mediterranean Sea cruise which lasted until mid - summer , at which time she returned to Norfolk and normal Atlantic operations . On 20 September 1977 , due to a combination of equipment failure and crew inexperience , " Ray " struck a coral mountain while submerged in the Mediterranean Sea . Her sonar equipment was destroyed and her auxiliary diesel engine was knocked off its mounts . Repairs required a year of work at Charleston Naval Shipyard in Charleston , South Carolina . 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 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 .