The Blueback, a Barbel-class diesel-electric submarine, was commissioned in 1959. She was the last non-nuclear submarine to join the United States Navy and in 1990 was the final conventionally powered combat capable submarine to be decommissioned, leaving the United States Navy with a fully nuclear submarine fleet. Visit the 'Related Web Page' link above for more information.
This is also the site of two Submarine Memorials. Look for the submarine's huge propeller near the walkway and the museum building. It was removed and installed outside the museum as a National Submarine Memorial and is encircled in bricks inscribed with the names of US submarines. The other was placed to remember our submariners "on eternal patrol" by WWII submarine veterans.
The USS Blueback earned two battle stars for her Vietnam War service. She appeared in the 1990 movie The Hunt for Red October, and the 1970's television series Hawaii Five-O.
The submarine, curated by OMSI and on display here since 1994, is inspected annually by the US Navy.
To claim credit for this virtual cache: Enjoy the view of the submarine from the walkway above, or descend the ramp for a closer view. Send me a message with the following 3 pieces of information: 1) The highest two-digit number from the depth marking (vertical column of numbers) on the nose of the submarine. 2) The highest two-digit number from the depth marking on the rudder at the rear of the submarine. 3) The full date cut into the memorial stone at the top of the ramp (see waypoint). Please keep this info out of your log.
Photos are nice but are not required.
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.