Submarine Squadron 15 (also known as SUBRON 15) is a squadron of submarines of the United States Navy based at Naval Base Guam.
Fleet Ballistic Missile squadron 1963–1981
Submarine Squadron Fifteen was established on 1 September 1963 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The squadron was formed to take over responsibility for the submarine-based nuclear deterrent in the Pacific from Submarine Squadron 1, which at the time operated submarines carrying the Regulus cruise missile. Four of the seven submarines scheduled for this squadron were being built at the time, and the submarine tender USS Proteus (AS 19) was undergoing overhaul at the Charleston Naval Shipyard.
During the first few months, the squadron established headquarters at Pearl Harbor and laid groundwork for Polaris Operations in the Pacific. One of the most difficult tasks was establishing and executing the vast training program required for the Blue and Gold crews of each submarine. To meet this requirement, close cooperation with the officers in charge of various schools throughout the nation and Commanding Officers and crewmen of the submarines was necessary.
On 23 April 1964, (SSBN 629) was commissioned at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California. She then became the squadron flagship and the first fleet ballistic missile submarine assigned to the Pacific Fleet. In the early dawn of 27 May 1964, Daniel Boone surfaced off Diamond Head, Hawaii, after completing a submerged transit from the mainland, and steamed into Pearl Harbor, where she became the first Polaris submarine ever to enter the port. , , and were then commissioned in rapid sequence. Meanwhile, the squadron scheduled shakedown operations, type training and made ready for the first Polaris Patrol in the Pacific scheduled to commence in early 1965.
In October 1964, the permanent assignment of Commander Submarine Squadron Fifteen was changed from Pearl Harbor to Guam. A rear-echelon staff known as Commander Submarine Squadron Fifteen Representative was established in Pearl Harbor to handle the myriad of personnel and training functions connected with keeping the Polaris submarines crewed with the best-qualified and trained personnel possible.
On the morning of 29 November 1964, Proteus entered Apra Harbor, where she commenced setting up the third FBM replenishment site to support Polaris submarines. Subsequently, seven fleet ballistic missile submarines joined USS Proteus in Guam. and arrived in 1966. was commissioned and assigned to Submarine Squadron Fifteen in December 1966.
The year 1970 represented a significant period in the history of the squadron. During this period, the units of the 627/640 class completed Pacific service and departed for conversion to the Poseidon Weapons System, while 616 class overhaul units reported for duty as replacements in the Pacific Fleet strategic deterrent force.
On the morning of 14 October 1971, the submarine tender entered Apra Harbor, Guam and immediately upon mooring at Polaris Point, set about the complex chore of relieving Proteus. On 2 November 1971, Proteus departed Guam en route to the U.S. Naval Shipyard, Mare Island, California, for an extensive shipyard overhaul.
During 1972 Hunley served as Site III support tender and flagship for Commander, Submarine Squadron Fifteen. During the summer months of 1972, Hunley conducted refit work on numerous SSNs in addition to SSBNs normally assigned. This additional workload was in direct support of an increased national readiness condition.
In January 1973, Proteus returned to Guam and relieved Hunley, which departed Guam for conversion at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington. The return of Proteus to Guam marked the end of the first significant time period that Proteus had been absent from Guam since establishing SSBN REFIT Site III in 1964.
The replacement of 616-class SSBNs with 598/608-class SSBNs commenced in May 1973 when departed for conversion to the Poseidon Weapons System, and was relieved by . Later in 1973 and replaced and . The following units were assigned to the squadron: Proteus (flagship), George Washington, Patrick Henry, Robert E. Lee, , , Nathan Hale, , and .
During 1974, replacement of 616-class SSBNs was completed with the 598/608 class. The departure of , Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, and the arrival of resulted in the following units assigned to the squadron: Proteus (flagship), George Washington, Patrick Henry, Theodore Roosevelt, Robert E. Lee, Abraham Lincoln, Ethan Allen, , Thomas A. Edison, John Marshall and .