USS Permit (SSN-594)


USS Permit became the lead ship of her class of submarine when the former lead ship, was lost. She was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the permit, an intelligent and powerful game fish found in waters from North Carolina to Brazil.
The contract to build her was awarded to Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 27 January 1958 and her keel was laid down on 1 May 1959. She was launched on 1 July 1961, sponsored by Mrs. John A. McCone, and commissioned on 29 May 1962, with Lieutenant Commander Robert H. Blount in command.

Service history

She spent five weeks of trials in the Puget Sound area, and then three weeks at Mare Island for checkout of the SUBROC missile system. Off the California coast in spring 1962, about west of the Golden Gate, it collided with the hull of the Matson freighter Hawaiian Citizen on 9 May, damaging both vessels, which caused a change of command. During late-summer and early-fall, Permit underwent shakedown in the San Diego area. After final acceptance trials in January 1963, she participated in a thorough evaluation of the SUBROC missile, and on 28 March, became the first submarine to successfully fire one. During 1964 and 1965, Permit engaged in more testing and training of an advanced nature.
Permit underwent an overhaul at Mare Island during the winter of 1966. From May to July, she deployed to WestPac, and after a short stop at Pearl Harbor, returned to San Diego on 13 August. She spent the remainder of the year operating in local waters.
The submarine underwent overhaul at Mare Island in 1967. During this period, her homeport was changed to nearby Vallejo. By late November, Permit was ready for trials in Puget Sound, and a return to San Diego on 12 December. She operated off San Diego until 22 April, then departed for Special Operations in the Pacific, which lasted until 26 June. From 24 July to 1 October, she was engaged in another special assignment. Permit then resumed local operations off San Diego.
Permit was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 23 July 1991. Ex-Permit entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, on 30 September 1991 and on 20 May 1993 ceased to exist.