USS Frank Cable (AS-40)

USS "Frank Cable" (AS-40) was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle, WA. The ship was christened on January 14, 1978 by Mrs. Rose A. Michaelis, wife of Admiral F. H. Michaelis, then Chief of Naval Material. She is named for Frank Taylor Cable, an electrical engineer who had worked as an electrician and trial captain for the USS "Holland" (SS-1). This was the first submarine of the US Navy built by the Holland Torpedo Boat Company at [Ret.] Navy Lt. Lewis Nixon's Crescent Shipyard in Elizabethport, New Jersey. The USS Holland was purchased on 11 April 1900 and officially commissioned for service in the United States Navy on 12 October 1900.

"Frank Cable" was designed to a Submarine tender of the "Los Angeles" class submarines. The ship spent 1980 until 1996 as the repair ship for COMSUBRON FOUR and EIGHTEEN in Charleston, South Carolina, tending "Sturgeon" class attack submarines and "Benjamin Franklin" class submarines. "Frank Cable" began decommissioning in 1996, but then was reactivated and refitted to replace the USS "Holland" (AS-32) in the Western Pacific as Commander Seventh Fleet’s mobile repair and support platform.

Since arriving in Guam, "Frank Cable" has visited many Western Pacific ports in support of U.S. forces. In 1997, the ship was heavily involved with the rescue and recovery efforts following the Korean Air Flight 801 crash on Guam, and also in the recovery and clean-up efforts following Typhoon Paka. From 1980 to 2003, "Frank Cable" garnered many awards as a unit of both the U.S. Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, including seven Meritorious Unit Commendations, nine Battle Efficiency "E" awards and three Golden Anchor Awards. "Frank Cable"’s most recent recognition was a Humanitarian Service Medal for support provided in recovery efforts on Guam following Super Typhoon Pongsona in 2002.

Accidents

On December 1 (Guam time), 2006, aboard the "Frank Cable" a steam line ruptured. Two sailors were killed and seven others injured. [ [http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,120247,00.html Sailor Killed in Accident ] ]

References

"This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register as well as various press releases and news stories."

External links

* [http://www.cable.navy.mil USS "Frank Cable" Navy site]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/3640.htm navsource.org: USS "Frank Cable"]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/crescent.htm] Cable worked as an electrician for John Holland's company at Crescent Shipyards.
* [http://www.gdeb.com/about/centennial/eb-100yrs-2.html] Official Electric Boat web site with information on Frank Cable.