USS Blueback (SS-581)

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USS Blueback (SS-581) is a Barbel-class diesel-electric submarine that served in the United States Navy from 1959 to 1990. Today it rests as an interactive exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) in Portland, Oregon.

Namesake
Blueback’s name origin isn’t certain. Some say it comes from a deep-water form of rainbow trout found in Washington state, while others say it refers to blueback salmon. Both explanations mention a blue-backed fish, but the exact source is debated.

Construction and career start
Blueback was laid down on April 15, 1957, by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. It was launched on May 16, 1959, sponsored by Mrs. Virginia McManes, and commissioned on October 15, 1959, with Lt. Cmdr. Robert H. Gautier in command. It was the last non-nuclear submarine in the U.S. Navy and the last conventional combat submarine to be decommissioned, marking the transition to a fully nuclear fleet.

Service highlights
Blueback began trials in the Gulf of Mexico and soon sailed to San Diego, joining Submarine Force, Pacific. Throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, it carried out Western Pacific deployments, participated in 7th Fleet operations, and visited ports in Australia, Japan, and other locations. The submarine supported military activities during the Vietnam era, conducted many training exercises, and underwent several overhauls at Mare Island and Puget Sound. It frequently operated out of Pearl Harbor and San Diego, doing torpedo tests, ASW exercises, and special missions.

Decommissioning and preservation
Blueback was decommissioned on October 1, 1990, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on October 30, 1990. It was donated to OMSI and moved to Portland in February 1994, where it now serves as an exhibit. The propeller is displayed outside as a memorial, and the radio room has been restored by the USS Blueback Radio Club, with the call sign W7SUB. The submarine was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 18, 2008.

In media
Blueback appeared in the Hawaii Five-O episode “Samurai” (1970) and was featured in The Hunt for Red October (1990), though the famous ballast-tank blow scene was not filmed on this vessel. It also appeared in The Librarians series.