USS Jack (SSN-605)

The USS Jack (SSN-605) was a Thresher-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the United States Navy. She was the second ship of the Navy to be named for the jack, a large saltwater fish of the family Carangidae.

Her keel was laid down on 16 March 1961 by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on 24 April 1964, sponsored by Mrs. Thomas H. Kuchel, and commissioned on 31 March 1967, with Commander Philip A. Beshany in command.

The Jack's service was marked by significant advancements in submarine quieting technology. She was specifically modified and equipped to test and evaluate methods for reducing submarine noise, which was crucial for improving the stealth and survivability of the U.S. submarine fleet. These extensive modifications resulted in a significantly quieter vessel than her sister ships, making her an invaluable asset in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) research and development.

Throughout her career, Jack participated in numerous exercises and operations, contributing greatly to the understanding of underwater acoustics and submarine signatures. Her data and findings directly influenced the design and construction of subsequent generations of U.S. Navy submarines.

USS Jack was decommissioned on 11 February 1990 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 2 March 1990. She was disposed of through the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program (NPSSRP) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.