USS Permit (SSN-594) became the
lead ship of
her class of
submarine when the former lead ship,
Thresher (SSN-593) was lost. She was the second ship of the
United States Navy to be named for the
permit, a food fish, often called "round pompano," 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. Bount in command.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. During late-summer and early-fall, Permit underwent shakedown in the
San Diego, California, 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.
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