USS Simon Lake AS 33 – History of the U.S. Navy's Submarine Tender & Navy Decals

USS Simon Lake AS 33 – History, Service Record & Navy Decals

The USS Simon Lake (AS-33) was a Hunley-class submarine tender that served the United States Navy during the Cold War, providing comprehensive basing, repair, and support services to the fleet ballistic missile submarine force. Named for Simon Lake — one of the most brilliant and prolific submarine inventors in American history, and the great rival of John Philip Holland in the race to build the world’s first practical military submarine. Born in Pleasantville, New Jersey in 1866, Simon Lake was fascinated by submarines from childhood, inspired by Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea — and he went on to become one of the most innovative and influential submarine designers the world has ever seen.

While Holland won the U.S. Navy contract with his Holland (SS-1), Lake’s submarine designs were arguably more technically sophisticated in many respects. His submarine Argonaut, built in 1897, was the first submarine to operate successfully in open ocean waters, and his invention of the even-keel diving principle — allowing submarines to dive and resurface on an even keel rather than at an angle — became standard in virtually all subsequent submarine design worldwide. Lake’s hydroplanes, his air lock for underwater exit and entry, and his periscope improvements were all fundamental contributions to submarine technology that navies around the world adopted. Russia, Austria-Hungary, Germany, and other naval powers purchased Lake’s submarine designs when the U.S. Navy chose Holland’s, and his technical contributions shaped the development of the submarine as a weapon of war across multiple navies. Simon Lake may not have won the U.S. Navy’s first submarine contract, but his contributions to submarine technology rival those of Holland himself — and USS Simon Lake (AS-33) honored that legacy of innovation throughout her Cold War career.

Keel, Launch & Commissioning

Simon Lake’s keel was laid down on January 7, 1963, at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. She was launched on February 8, 1964, and commissioned into the U.S. Navy on November 7, 1964, as the third ship of the Hunley class under hull designation AS-33.

Class & Design

USS Simon Lake was one of the Hunley-class submarine tenders — purpose-built during the Cold War specifically to support the Navy’s fleet ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) force. At approximately 599 feet in length and displacing approximately 18,300 tons fully loaded, she was equipped with the specialized facilities required to support nuclear-armed ballistic submarines — missile handling equipment, nuclear weapons support facilities, sophisticated electronics repair shops, nuclear propulsion system maintenance capability, and all the highly specialized technical capabilities that Polaris and Poseidon SSBNs required for sustained deterrent operations.

Cold War Polaris & Poseidon Submarine Support

Commissioned in November 1964, USS Simon Lake was immediately assigned to support the Navy’s fleet ballistic missile submarine force at the height of the Cold War. Homeported at Holy Loch, Scotland, she joined USS Hunley in providing comprehensive basing, maintenance, missile handling, and support services to the Atlantic Fleet’s Polaris ballistic submarines conducting patrols in the North Atlantic.

Holy Loch was the most strategically important submarine forward operating base in the world during the Cold War — the forward base from which Atlantic Fleet SSBNs maintained the continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent that guaranteed America’s ability to respond to any Soviet nuclear first strike with devastating force. USS Simon Lake was one of the two tenders that sustained that deterrent at Holy Loch, providing the comprehensive technical and logistical foundation that kept the submarines armed, maintained, and ready for their world-altering mission.

As the Polaris A-3 missile was succeeded by the more capable Poseidon C-3 system, USS Simon Lake adapted her support operations to the upgraded submarines, continuing to provide comprehensive missile handling and maintenance services through the transition and throughout the Poseidon era of the Cold War.

Later in her career, Simon Lake was reassigned to support submarines from La Maddalena, Sardinia, Italy — the U.S. Navy’s Mediterranean submarine operating base — extending American SSBN deterrent coverage into the Mediterranean theater and supporting fast attack submarine operations in one of the most strategically important waters in the world.

Decommissioning

USS Simon Lake was decommissioned on November 1, 1999, after 35 years of commissioned service — one of the longest careers among Cold War-era submarine tenders. Her decommissioning marked the end of forward-deployed submarine tender operations in the Mediterranean as the post-Cold War Navy restructured its support infrastructure.

Legacy

For the sailors and submarine specialists who served aboard Simon Lake — the nuclear-trained technicians, missile handling specialists, and submarine maintenance professionals who kept Atlantic Fleet and Mediterranean ballistic submarines armed and ready through 35 years of Cold War and post-Cold War service — she represents a career at the very center of American strategic deterrence. Named for one of the great submarine innovators in history — the man whose even-keel diving principle, hydroplanes, and ocean-going submarine designs helped shape the submarine as a weapon of war for navies around the world — USS Simon Lake honored Simon Lake’s legacy of technical innovation with every year of distinguished service.

Shop USS Simon Lake AS 33 Navy Gifts & Decals

Honor your service or give a meaningful gift to a USS Simon Lake veteran with our full line of USS Simon Lake AS 33 products:

• USS Simon Lake AS 33 Aluminum License Plate — Show your Navy pride on the road.
• USS Simon Lake AS 33 License Plate U.S. Flag — A patriotic twist on the classic plate.
• USS Simon Lake AS 33 Vinyl Decal Oval U.S. Flag — Perfect for cars, trucks, and RVs.
• USS Simon Lake AS 33 Vinyl Silhouette Decal 11.75" x 28" — A striking large-format silhouette decal for trucks and RVs.
• USS Simon Lake AS 33 Vinyl Silhouette Decal 4.75" x 11.5" — A compact silhouette decal for any vehicle.
• USS Simon Lake AS 33 License Plate Frame (Metal or Plastic) — Pair with your license plate for a complete look.
• USS Simon Lake AS 33 License Plate Frame All-State Metal — Heavy-duty metal frame built to last.
• USS Simon Lake AS 33 Aluminum Street Sign Blue/White — A one-of-a-kind display piece for any veteran’s home.
• USS Simon Lake AS 33 Parking Sign Blue/White — Reserve your spot in style.
• USS Simon Lake AS 33 Parking Sign Red/White — Another great option for the garage or driveway.

All products ship from the USA. Custom options available — contact us for details.