USS Skipjack (SSN-585), the lead ship of her class of nuclear-powered attack submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named after the skipjack tuna. Construction and commissioning Sjipjack′s keel was laid down on 29 May 1956 by the Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics Corporation at Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on 26 May 1958, sponsored by Helen Mahon, wife of Representative George H. Mahon from the 19th District of Texas, and commissioned on 15 April 1959 with Commander W. W. Behrens, Jr., in command. Advances in submarine design On the Skipjack, there were many design changes that were products of new scientific insight into submarine design. The submarine industry, now with nuclear power, had wanted to make a "true" submarine. This required a design in its element underwater, not solely one theoretically able to remain submerged indefinitely. The greatest alteration was the new tear-drop hull, pioneered by the conventionally powered USS Albacore, and designed for optimum performance underwater. The Albacore was the world underwater speed record holder in 1966 at 34.8 knots, around 40 mph, outpacing all nuclear powered Subs. The new hull's only protrusions were the sail and diving planes. The 23-foot sail, resembling a shark's dorsal fin, rose at a point midway in the hull to keep the ship stable. The diving planes, similar in function to the wings of an airplane, were moved from the hull to this new sail, with the periscopes and antenna masts. Thus, they could be useful only when the submarine is in its natural environment—like the control surfaces on an airplane. Also, a single propeller behind the rudder now propelled Skipjack, making it more maneuverable. Other experiments in design also benefited Skipjack by allowing the vessel to be built with improved steel. Areas from the control room (featuring push-button control of pneumatic and trim systems), to the anchor (streamlined to reduce drag and flow noise) were changed in the development of the new submarine. To power the new class, the Westinghouse S5W reactor plant was introduced, the third generation of submarine reactors since the launch of the . The improved core life allowed the ship to travel at full power for 90,000 to . Nuclear power had already been employed on the Nautilus and the follow-on Skate class, but the 15,000 SHP plant was such an advance that it entirely changed a submarine's capability. Furthermore,