USS Spadefish ( SSN - 668 ) USS " Spadefish " ( SSN - 668 ) , a , was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the spadefish , a spiny - finned fish found in coastal waters of the western Atlantic from Cuba to Cape Cod . Construction and commissioning . The contract to build " Spadefish " was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News , Virginia , on 9 March 1965 and her keel was laid down there on 21 December 1966 . She was launched on 15 May 1968 , sponsored by Mrs . Charles T . Booth , and commissioned on 14 August 1969 with Lieutenant Commander George M . Henson in command . Service history . 1969 - 1984 . " Spadefish " was assigned Norfolk , Virginia , as her home port , and it remained her home port throughout her career . She was attached to Submarine Squadron 6 . Following shakedown in the Atlantic Ocean , " Spadefish " underwent post - shakedown repairs and alterations at Newport News from April to June 1970 and in July 1970 participated in antisubmarine warfare exercises in the North Atlantic Ocean . After returning to her home port , Norfolk , Virginia , she deployed in the Atlantic from October to December 1970 and then returned to Norfolk for upkeep . On 18 February 1971 , " Spadefish " got underway for her second deployment in the Atlantic , visiting Faslane , Scotland , before returning to Norfolk on 18 April 1971 . She operated in the Norfolk area for the remainder of 1971 , participating in antisubmarine warfare exercises and attack submarine training . In 1972 , " Spadefish " participated in training operations in the Norfolk area until deploying in the Atlantic from June to August , visiting Holy Loch , Scotland , before returning to Norfolk . She again deployed in the Atlantic on 10 October 1972 and returned to Norfolk on 17 December 1972 . Through June 1973 , " Spadefish " operated out of Norfolk along the United States East Coast . She conducted independent exercises , a fleet ballistic missile submarine security exercise , and independent attack submarine training . In May and June 1973 , she supported Cruiser - Destroyer Flotilla 8 in an Atlantic readiness exercise and a sea control exercise . At the end of June 1973 , she spent a week at the Isle of Portland in England , and , in July 1973 , returned to the U . S . East Coast . At the beginning of September 1973 , she commenced a major overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth , Virginia . " Spadefish " completed overhaul in July 1974 and resumed operations along the U . S . East Coast . " Spadefish " operated in the Arctic on an Ice Exercise ( ICEX ) in 1984 under the command of Commander George Bardsley . " Spadefish " operated in the Arctic on an ICEX in 1992 under the command of Commander R . B . Williams . " Spadefish " again operated in the Arctic on an ICEX in 1993 , still under the command of Commander R . B . Williams . " Spadefish " completed two deployments to the Persian Gulf in 1995 and 1996 , crossing the equator on both occasions . The 1996 deployment began at Pier 21 in Norfolk and ended at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton , Washington . Decommissioning and disposal . " Spadefish " remained at Bremerton after her 1996 arrival , and was decommissioned there on 11 April 1997 under the command of Commander C . W . " Buddy " Puryear . She was 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 began on 1 October 1996 and was completed on 24 October 1997 .