There is an interesting story that goes with the Insurv Board messages in the pile. The routine is that the Insurv Board must find a ship unfit for further service before it can legally be disposed of. Spinax was inspected by a Sub-Board of Inspection and Survey and the 192159Z Sep 69 message from that board says "Hey, she is in excellent material condition and is fit for further naval service." The (main) Insurv Board 291737Z Sep 69 message then effectively says "Yeah, but it would take too much money to bring her up to Guppy IIA standards, so lets strike her just as we planned to do [you dummies)!" I was serving in OPNAV in the Submarine Warfare Division when that happened and got quite a kick out of it. The excellent material condition of Spinax at the time she was decommissioned reflected the efforts of the Spinax officers and men over a long period of time. All of us who served in her can take a great deal of pride in her performance and condition.

Jack O'Connell