(AS-33: dp. 12,686; l. 644'; b. 85'; dr. 30'; s. 20 k.; cpl. 1,420; a. 4 3"; cl. Simon Lake)
Simon Lake, born in Pleasantville, N.Y., on 4 September 1866, was a mechanical engineer and naval architect. He was the inventor of even-keel type submarines and built Argonaut, in 1897, which was the first submarine to operate successfully in the open sea. He also invented submarine apparatus for locating and recovering sunken vessels and their cargoes, and a heavy-oil internal combustion engine for marine use. Lake died on 23 June 1945.
Simon Lake (AS-33) was laid down on 7 January 1963 by the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash.; launched on 8 February 1964; sponsored by Mrs. Cecil Ford and Mrs. Herbert Diamond; and commissioned on 7 November 1964, Capt. James B. Osborn in command.
Simon Lake sailed from Bremerton on 16 January 1965 for Pearl Harbor on her shakedown cruise and returned to Bremerton on 17 February for a six-week yard availability period. The Polaris submarine tender stood out of Bremerton on 16 April and proceeded to Charleston, S.C., via the Panama Canal.
Simon Lake arrived at Charleston on 1 May and tended submarines there until 11 July 1966. On that date, she sailed for Holy Loch, Scotland, where she relieved Hunley (AS-31) as tender for Submarine Squadron (SubRon) 14. She operated from there until 24 May 1970 when she got underway for Charleston. In June, she sailed for Bremerton for her first overhaul since commissioning. The tender was in the yard from6 July 1970 to March 1971 and, while there, was also converted to Poseidon missile capability.
Simon Lake returned to Charleston on 3 April and tended submarines there until 19 November 1972 when she sailed for Rota, Spain, as the relief for Holland (AS-32). Into September 1974, Simon Lake is still operating from Rota.
