ADMIRAL HYMAN G. RICKOVER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 11/14/1966 - HFSID 173934

HYMAN G. RICKOVER
Rickover signed this typed letter at sea on USS Sturgeon letterhead in 1966 to Congressman William F. Ryan on the ship's sea trials.
Typed letter signed "H.G. Rickover". 1 page, 8x10½, on letterhead of the USS Sturgeon, New York, New York. Written "At Sea/North Atlantic", Nov. 14, 1966. Addressed to The Honorable William F. Ryan, U.S. House of Representatives. In full: "Dear Mr. Ryan: We are returning from the first sea trials of the USS STURGEON (SSN 637), our twenty-sixth attack type submarine. The ship completed all tests, including full power operation, both surface and submerged. The STURGEON was build by the Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, Connecticut. This is the third United States submarine of this name. The first, SS 25, was commissioned 15 February 1912 and decommissioned 20 October 1921. The second, SS 187, commissioned 25 June 1938 and stricken from the Naval Register in 1946, won ten battle stars during eleven war patrols in World War II. She was responsible for sinking nine Japanese ships for a total of 41,350 tons. In addition to the twenty-six attack nuclear submarines, we also have forty Polaris type submarines, making a total of sixty-six nuclear submarines in operation. When all nuclear submarines presently authorized by Congress are completed, the United States will have a nuclear submarine fleet of forty-one Polaris and sixty-two attack submarines, and a small submarine capable of exploring the ocean bottom. Respectfully, H. G. Rickover". Lightly toned and creased. ¾x¾-inch paper loss at upper left blank corner. Lightly torn at bottom edge and lower left corner. Paper clip impression and rust stain at upper edge. Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition. Accompanied by: Original mailing envelope on Rickover's personalized stationery from the USS Sturgeon. Postmarked Groton, Connecticut, Nov. 14, 1966. With one 5¢ American flag stamp affixed. Addressed to the Honorable William F. Ryan, U. S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Lightly toned and creased. Paper clip impression and rust stain at right edge. Staple holes in upper left corner in stamp. Envelope was neatly opened at top edge. Otherwise in fine condition. The USS Sturgeon, which had been launched on February 26, 1966, was commissioned on March 3, 1967, four months after this letter. The lead ship of 37 nuclear fast attack submarines in the Sturgeon-class, the submarine was decommissioned on August 1, 1994, after 27 years of distinguished service. Head of the United States Navy's electrical division in World War II, HYMAN G. RICKOVER (1900-1986, born in Makov, Russia) moved to the Atomic Energy Commission in 1947 and developed the first nuclear-powered submarine, the Nautilus, in 1954. He presided over the build-up of the U.S. nuclear-powered Navy. He also presided over the construction of the one-of a kind, super-secret NR-1 nuclear submarine. Despite cost overruns during its development, which earned the wrath of the General Accounting Office, the NR-1 fulfilled Rickover's fondest hopes. The story of the craft has now been told in Dark Waters: An Insider's Account of the NR-1, the Cold War's Undercover Nuclear Submarine by Don Davis and original crewmember Lee Vyborny (2002). Rickover was promoted to rear admiral in 1953, vice-admiral in 1959 and admiral in 1973. In 1984, the USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-709) was launched, one of the few Navy vessels named for a living person. Democrat WILLIAM FITTS RYAN (1922-1972, born in Albion, New York) was a U.S. Representative from New York from 1961 until his death in office in 1972. An Army veteran of WWII, Ryan was the first member of the U.S. House to speak out against the Vietnam War.