USS Shark (SSN-591), a Skipjack-class submarine, was the seventh ship of the United States Navy to be named for the shark. Construction and commissioning Shark′s keel was laid down on 24 February 1958 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia. She was launched on 16 March 1960, sponsored by Mrs. Louis Shane, Jr., and commissioned on 9 February 1961 with Lieutenant Commander John F. Fagan, Jr., in command. Operational history 1960s After preliminary testing and fitting out, Shark sailed to the Caribbean Sea in May 1961 for her shakedown cruise. The submarine returned to her building yard for post-shakedown repairs and final acceptance by the Navy. Shark sailed for the Mediterranean Sea and duty with the Sixth Fleet on 12 August 1961. This was the first deployment in the area for a nuclear submarine, and Shark was deployed there until 14 November 1961. In the September–October phase of the tour, Shark visited Athens, Greece (Piraeus) and hosted the entire Greek Royal family aboard for a cruise both above and underwater. On 29 January 1962, the submarine steamed to Bermuda in the British West Indies, for two weeks of type training. She was next deployed to the North Atlantic from 15 March to 23 May. During this period, Shark paid a one-week visit to Portsmouth, England. On 25 August, she departed for another two months in the North Atlantic. On her return trip to Norfolk, Virginia, she underwent an availability period that lasted until 7 January 1963. Shark participated in SUBFALLEX in the North Atlantic from 7 August to 24 October, with a week spent in Faslane, Scotland. The remainder of 1963 was either spent in port, in local operations, or conducting antisubmarine warfare exercises in the Caribbean. On 22 March 1964, Shark departed Norfolk to participate in SUBSPRINGEX and returned on 21 May. On 25 June 1964, she sailed to Charleston, South Carolina, for her first shipyard overhaul which lasted until 7 June 1965. On 7 April 1965, at the shipyard, Shark was presented the Navy Unit Commendation for meritorious service from 5 April to 9 May 1964, a period in which she "achieved results of great value and importance to the United States Navy in the field of antisubmarine warfare capabilities." The submarine put to sea for sea trials on 7 June. One month later, she suffered damage to the forward oxygen system