ADMIRAL HYMAN G. RICKOVER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 256819

HYMAN G. RICKOVER
During first sea trials of the Navy's 35th attack type nuclear submarine.
TLS: "H.G. Rickover", 1p, 8x10½. On stationery of the U.S.S. Hammerhead, At Sea, North Atlantic, 1968 April 22. To Mrs. Fern Bernstein, Naval Ship Systems Command, Washington, D.C. In part: "We are returning from the first sea trials of the uss hammerhead (ssn663), our 35th attack type nuclear submarine. The ship completed all tests, including full power operation, both surface and submerged. The hammerhead, second United States submarine to bear this name, was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia...The new hammerhead's primary wartime mission is to destroy enemy submarines. The characteristics of high speed, endurance, and environmental independence provided by nuclear propulsion; her deep submergence capability; an advanced sonar system; and the latest in submarine weapons systems combine to make hammerhead one of the Navy's most effective antisubmarine weapons. In addition to the 35 attack type nuclear submarines, we also have 41 Polaris submarines, making a total of 76 nuclear submarines in operation...." The USS Hammerhead was launched on April 14, 1967 and was commissioned on June 28, 1968, following completion of sea trials. Rickover has written this letter as the Hammerhead completed its first sea trials. The Hammerhead was host to Vice President Agnew following the Apollo 10 launch, participated in an under-ice scientific mission, spending a then-record time under the ice, became the first submarine to fire a warshot Harpoon missile and was the first nuclear powered warship to moor pierside in Haifa, Israel. She was decommissioned in 1996. Fine condition.