About USS Frank Cable

USS FRANK CABLE (AS 40) was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle, WA. The ship was christened on January 14, 1978 by Mrs. Rose A. Michaelis, wife of Admiral F. H. Michaelis, then Chief of Naval Material. Commissioned on October 20, 1979, FRANK CABLE was designed to tend the nuclear-powered Los Angeles-class attack submarines. The ship spent 1980 until 1996 as the repair ship for Submarine Squadrons FOUR and EIGHTEEN in Charleston, South Carolina, tending Sturgeon-class attack submarines and Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarines. FRANK CABLE began decommissioning in 1996, but was reactivated and refitted to replace the USS HOLLAND (AS 32) in the Western Pacific as Commander Seventh Fleet’s mobile repair and support platform.

Since arriving in Guam, FRANK CABLE has visited many Western Pacific cities in support of U.S. forces. A few of those included are Brisbane, Australia; Hong Kong; Singapore; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Vladivostok, Russia; Subic Bay, Philippines and Yokosuka, Japan.

In 1997, the ship was heavily involved with the rescue and recovery efforts following the Korean Airline Flight 801 crash on Guam, and also in the recovery and clean-up efforts following Super Typhoon Paka. FRANK CABLE received a Humanitarian Service Medal for support provided in recovery efforts on Guam following Super Typhoon Pongsona in 2002.

From 1980 to 2012, FRANK CABLE has garnered awards as a unit of both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, including nine Meritorious Unit Commendations, thirteen Battle Efficiency "E" awards and four Golden Anchor Awards.

The crew continues to reach out to the local community through a variety of causes including assistance t o the elderly, working with children and supporting local animal shelters.

Who was Frank Cable?

Frank Taylor Cable (1863-1945) was an early pioneer in submarine development for the U.S. Navy. He was the civilian commander of the developmental submarine USS HOLLAND (SS-1), before it was accepted for U.S. Navy service and commissioned in 1900. As an associate of the inventor John Holland, Frank Cable specialized in the design and production of propulsion machinery, including diesel engines and electric motors. He was one of the founders of the Electric Boat Company. General Dynamics- Electric Boat continues in existence today, constructing our nation's most modern nuclear powered submarines of the SEAWOLF and VIRGINIA classes.