USS Parche

Most seagoing men have a favorite ship. For me, it was the USS Parche SSN-683. The USS Parche was the 34th of the 36 "Sturgeon" class nuclear powered hunter-killer fast attack submarines. Commissioned in August, 1974 the Parche was assigned to the Atlantic Submarine force, Submarine Squadron Four, home ported in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1975 Parche jointed the Sixth Fleet for a six month tour of duty in the Mediterranean.

In 1976 Parche was transferred to the Pacific where it joined Submarine Development Group One. Details of Parche’s classified missions have been reported in the press: 

"Commissioned in 1974, the Parche spent 30 years and 19 deployments as America's top espionage sub, reportedly tapping the undersea military communications lines of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, plucking lost Soviet weaponry from the ocean floor and gathering intelligence on other enemies afterward."

By Chris Barron, Sun Staff
October 4th, 2004

The USS Parche holds the distinction of being the most decorated ship in the history of the United States Navy having been awarded fourteen Expeditionary Medals, ten Naval Unit Citations and nine Presidential Unit Citations for Valor.

Navy Presidential Unit Citation

Rumors:
March 1968 | Halibut | Submarine Development Group

The Submarine:
Golf Submarine | Submarine Crew | Submarine Officers

CIA:
Project Jennifer | Glomar Explorer | Hughes Barge | Sea Wolf

Love Story:
Alexander and Irina | The Early Years | Today

About the Author Ken Sewell:
USS Parche | Ken Sewell Photos | Contact Ken Sewell | Book Tour Schedule | Autographed Books | Links