USS Lapon (SSN-661)

The USS Lapon (SSN-661) was a Sturgeon-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the United States Navy. Named after the lapon, a fish found off the coast of southern Africa, she was commissioned on October 14, 1967, and decommissioned on November 2, 1992.

The Lapon was built by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia. Throughout her service, she conducted a variety of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, and special operations support.

While specific details of many of her missions remain classified, the Lapon earned a reputation as a reliable and capable vessel within the submarine force. She was known for her participation in Cold War operations, frequently patrolling the Atlantic and Arctic oceans.

After decommissioning, the Lapon was disposed of through the Navy's Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. The recycling process involved removing the nuclear reactor and other hazardous materials, followed by dismantling the submarine hull. The Lapon no longer exists as a complete vessel.