USS SKATE (SSN-578)

      In January 1974, I was picked up by, and assigned to, the USS Skate (SSN-578), the first boat in the Skate Class. As a new member of Machinery Division ("M-Div") and a "NUB" (Non-Useful Body), I was first assigned to the deck gang while we were still tied up to the tender. Lots of chipping and painting were involved; it was pretty mundane, but, even at that, was better than the last job I had in 38 Shop on the tender which was, ironically, the hull and backup valves in the Skate's forward Sanitary Tank...a literally "crappy" job!!! We got underway shortly, though, and, in February 1974, I arrived in Groton, CT, for the first time. By this time, I was already a somewhat productive crew member since I qualified to stand the ERLL (Engine Room Lower Level) watch; I still had Feed Station, ERUL (Engine Room Upper Level), ERS (Engine Room Supervisor), and EWS (Engineering Watch Supervisor) ahead of me, though, and their achievement was, necessarily, an effort that was coincident with general Submarine Qualifications. She was a "Hot-Steamin'" boat, though, so we spent a lot of time at sea; within 9 months I was Submarine-Qualified and had my engineering quals completed through ERUL. By the end of my first year on board I was also qualified ERS! As it turns out, the pace was as fast as it was because most of the crew that was onboard when I came aboard were from the yard crew, had just taken the Skate through a major overhaul/refueling, and most were on their way elsewhere and needed replacements. I remained on the Skate until early '78, during which time we averaged 75-80 days/year at home (I lived in Preston), made two Med-Runs, a number of trips to Florida (With the entire augment crew along, we were able to get a week off each trip!), a UNITAS run to South America, lots of weekly ops, and, finally, a home-port change to Pearl Harbor where we were again scheduled for a refueling overhaul.