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USS CUSK
U.S. Navy's First Guided Missile
Submarine
On February 12, 1947 off the coast of Point Mugu,
California, USS Cusk made submarine history and became
the "Mother of all Boomers" when she successfully
launched a guided missile called the "Loon" from her
newly installed launch platform.
The Loon missile was similar to the German V1 "Buzz Bomb."
Later redesignated as LTV-N-2
missile, it was the forerunner of the most lethal
submarine weapon of all--the underwater launched
ballistic missile.
On May
3, 1950, the USS Cusk again made submarine history when she
launched her Loon, then submerged to periscope depth and
guided the missile for a distance of 105 miles using
her AN/BPQ-2 equipment.
The keel of the Cusk was laid by the Electric Boat
Company in Groton, Connecticut on May 25, 1944. She was
launched on July 28, 1945 and commissioned on February
5, 1946. In 1947, the Cusk was fitted with a tubular
hangar and a missile launching ramp just aft of her
sail.
USS Cusk
underwent a Guppy II conversion in the Mare Island Naval
Shipyard in 1954. She remained in the missile program
because of the special guidance equipment located in her
"Missile Center" - an area just below the mess hall that
was later utilized to house the sonar equipment.
In June of 1969, the Secretary of Defense, in an effort
to reduce military spending and compensate for the
escalating cost of the war in Vietnam, ordered that 100
of the Navy's oldest ships be decommissioned. Subsequently, the Cusk
submarine set sail for the last time
in September of 1969 for Hunter's Point Shipyard in San
Francisco. On
September 24, 1969, the USS Cusk submarine was decommissioned and
removed from Naval service.
This primarily wood USS CUSK model comes in three sizes:
19" long
x 8" tall x 3" wide
(1/100 scale)
$1,670  Shipping
and insurance in the contiguous USA included.
Other countries: $200 flat rate.
This model is in stock and can be shipped within 5
business days.
Note that for safe shipping, the tall antenna and
telescopes are taken off. Installing them is easy.
26" long
(1/144 scale)
$1,990 Shipping
and insurance in the contiguous USA included.
Other countries: $250 flat rate.
38" long
(1/100 scale)
$2,990 Shipping
and insurance in the contiguous USA included.
Other countries: $400 flat rate.
Learn more about the
USS Cusk submarine here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Cusk_(SS-348)
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