How It Was Improved
The Grayback was a bit more than 27 feet across the beam and 273 feet long, but she was eventually updated to 317 feet. Not only was it equipped with Regulus I missiles that could carry nuclear warheads, but it also came with eight regular torpedo tubes. Of these, two had been positioned towards the stern. The remaining six were located at the bow. As it sailed from Pearl Harbor, the sub embarked on a number of cruises. This included wading through the waters of Japan and Alaska. The sub was almost on constant patrol until 1963. It spent a lot of time below the water in those days. In the end, the touch schedule took a toll on the systems of the vessel.
How It Was Improved
After All Of The Action It Saw
In August 1963, the years of active service finally took a toll on the submarine. That was the month that it cruised close to the surface for a battery recharge. Suddenly, it was caught in turbulent waters. The force of the waves led to a main battery fault that then caused a fire to break out in the sleeping quarters of the crew. A submariner died during this incident, which also injured five others. After several weeks of repairing it, however, it was in active service once more.
After All Of The Action It Saw