The 1980's? Wow! That was a long time ago, uh?
How about the 1960's ... this was my first boat when I was 19 from April 63 to March 65.
USS Salmon SS-573:
http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08573.htm
Here's the USS Salmon in 1961 as a SSR radar picket boat that's why her sail was so big for the North Atlantic.
Here she is in San Francisco Bay after going through refit in 1965 ... notice she has the first passive sonar for determining ranges called PUFFS.
Salmon (SS-573) returned to San Diego on 20 December 1962 and became flagship of Submarine Flotilla 1; and, in addition to that distinction, was awarded the Golden "E" for excellence in battle efficiency for the past five consecutive years, which rated her as the leading submarine of her division.
Salmon was the first submarine to earn a Golden "E" and was to better that record by winning hashmarks signifying retention of that status during 1963 and 1964.
Admiral Nitmiz himself awared us with the 5th Gold "E"
Who could ever forget the true guardians of freedom ... the USS Ethan Allen SSBN 608 class of boats. All gone now,
but the memories of 90 day patrols will always linger on from November 1966 to 1970 for three patrols.
