Poster submarine USS Parche

The U.S. "Parche" is part of the "Sturgeon" class nuclear attack submarine. This submarine has been modified several times in its career to perform special operations.

It was launched on January 13, 1973 and commissioned on August 17, 1974. It served in the Atlantic Submarine Force from 1974 to 1976 before being transferred to the Pacific Fleet in October 1976.

Once arrived at its new home port at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Valejo (California), the "Parche" is changed. It was then deployed for a training cruise from August to September 1978.

In 1979, he participated in Operation "Ivy Bell" which aims to place recording devices on a cable at the bottom of the Okhotsk Sea.

During his career, he participated among other things in the recovery of Soviet missile fragments after test launches. Much of its history has been to carry out missions of an underground nature.

From 1987 to 1991, the "Parche" underwent an overhaul at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard during which it was modified for research and development: an extension of 30 meters was added to the front of the massif. This section provides space for a larger crew and for additional equipment (antennas for signal collection, electronics, and engineering equipment). The modifications also added navigation aids, short range upward and forward sonars, and a closed circuit television system with exterior armored cameras for ice operations.

After completing its modifications in 1991, the "Parche" began a new mission as part of the development of Submarine Development Squadron 5.

In 1992, he resumed his activities in the Pacific Fleet. In November 1994 he was transferred to Naval Base Kitsap in Bangor. The "Parche" would also have recovered fragments of Chinese ballistic missiles.

On October 19, 2004, the U.S.S. "Parche" is laid up at the Puget Sound shipyard in Bremerton. It remains to this day the most decorated submarine in the US Navy.

The sail of U.S.S. "Parche" is on display in the Seaside Town Center Park in Bremerton.