The USS Gurnard (SSN-662) was a Sturgeon-class nuclear-powered attack submarine constructed for the United States Navy. Its keel was laid at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California on December 22, 1964, following the contract award on October 24, 1963. Launched on May 20, 1967, and sponsored by Mrs. George P. Miller, the vessel was commissioned into service on December 6, 1968. Designated as a fast, deep-diving submarine, Gurnard played a significant role in Cold War operations. One notable event in its service was its involvement in a rescue mission on July 8, 1972. During a typhoon near Guam, Gurnard responded to the sinking of a B-52 bomber after its crew bailed out amid severe storm conditions. The submarine demonstrated exceptional seamanship by surfacing in violent waves, locating and rescuing five airmen from life rafts, and bringing them safely back to Guam. The rescue effort earned the crew the Meritorious Unit Commendation, with individual awards for bravery, including the Navy and Marine Corps Medal awarded to Torpedoman Jon Hentz. Gurnard also contributed to Arctic operations, operating under the polar ice cap from September to November 1984 alongside USS Pintado (SSN-672). It became the third submarine to surface at the North Pole, surfacing together with Pintado on November 12, 1984. Further Arctic missions included a winter submerged transit of the Bering Sea in March 1990 and surfacing at the North Pole again on April 18, 1990, in company with USS Seahorse (SSN-669). Decommissioned on April 28, 1995, Gurnard was subsequently scrapped at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard by October 15, 1997. A piece of the vessel, a diving plane, was preserved and displayed in Magnuson Park, Seattle, as part of a sculpture titled "The Fin Project: From Swords into Plowshares," symbolizing its service and the transition from war to peace.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.