As a enlisted sailor in the U.S. Navy during the cold war I worked on submarines for over 12 years. I was stationed on the ship pictured, the U.S.S. McKee (AS41) which has since been decomisssioned, leaving the Navy only two of these ships to perform this vital role. Three deployments to Alaska were made during my 7 years onboard the McKee. One was to Cold Bay another to Seward during which the McKee had the great pleasure of having the U.S.S. Alaska SSBN 732 along side in July 1987 for a short maintenance period. The trip we made to Adak Alaska was interesting in the fact we were shadowed by a Soviet Intelligence gathering ship or AGI. The U.S. Coast Guard sent a C-130 which buzzed the Soviet AGI when we  reached out territorial waters and the AGI turned away.

The McKee was built to perform submarine repairs and upkeeps at remote locations which we did in Monterey Bay California inn 1987 for two Los Angless Class fast attack submarines. Work on submarines, their removed components or other equipment  went a round the clock onboard the McKee. There were 75+ repair shops/facilities that could manufacture, repair or replace almost any item found on a nuclear powered submarine. We also had one of the last diesel/electric boats in the Navy, the U.S.S. Blueback SS-571. The McKee Repair Department personnel worked to complete every job which the submarine submitted, whether large or small during every upkeep period. This enabled these submarine crews to poerform their vital deterent missions to keep Amerca safe from our adversaries. Silent Warriors and submarine tender crews kept America safe during the cold war and continue to do so today, if in reduced numbers. Plus Ultra Plurimum!