Say "Good-bye" to the Dolphin

Small ship, tight crew and a parting of the ways as set out here:

USS Dolphin (AGSS 555) completed her final cruise Sept. 9 when she tied to the pier at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego.

During the underway, the diesel-electric powered test and research submarine made her 1,560th and final dive to a depth exceeding 3,000 ft.

"It's bittersweet," said Chief of the Boat, Master Chief Missile Technician Joe Eller. "Last night, we sat up on the bridge and today we drove her in. We had a good cry this morning down in the engine room. I didn't think I would miss it, but I will miss it."

The submarine was commissioned in 1968 and is the sixth oldest ship in the fleet. Dolphin was designed for research, development, test and evaluation and is one of the worldís deepest diving submarines with a maximum operating depth in excess of 3,000 ft.