Click on the pictures to enlarge!

Courtesy Darryl Baker	Courtesy Darryl Baker
Early morning view of the USS SARGO (SSN 583) preparing to get underway for sea trials on 3 Aug 1958 at Mare Island. YTL-592 is alongside. [U.S. Navy Photo NY9 40450-8-58]	Senior trials members aboard the USS SARGO (SSN 583) on 3 Aug 1958. Left to Right: I.H. Whitthorne, Senior Yard Manager; RADM Hyman G. Rickover; and RADM Edward J. Fahy, Shipyard Commander. [U.S. Navy Photo NY9 40466-8-58]

Courtesy Darryl Baker

Naval pioneers in the field of atomic propulsion joined the Sargo skipper Comdr. Daniel P. Brooks, USN, right, and his crew for the successful maiden voyage Sunday of the submarine under atomic power. The trio included Rear Adm. Hyman G. Rickover, USN, third from the left, often termed the "father of the Nuclear Navy." With him are Eugene P. Wilkinson, USN, original skipper of Nautilus, first nuclear sub ever built, and Comdr. Edward E. Kintner, USN, left, nuclear powered superintendent at Mare Island. [U.S. Navy Photo NY8 40449-8-58]

Courtesy Darryl Baker	Courtesy Darryl Baker
The USS SARGO (SSN 583) is shown departing Mare Island for her first sea trials on 3 Aug 1958. [U.S. Navy Photo NY9 40452-8-58]	The USS SARGO (SSN 583) is shown departing Mare Island for her first sea trials on 3 Aug 1958. [U.S. Navy Photo NY9 40453-8-58]

Courtesy Michael Hacking

Courtesy Michael Hacking

The USS SARGO (SSN 583) is shown returning to Mare Island from her first sea trials on 05 Aug 1958.

8/5/58 - SAN FRANCISCO: The nuclear-propelled submarine Sargo, 1st A-sub to be built in Pacific waters, cruises thru bay with San Francisico skyline in background enroute to its base at Mare Island, Calif. 8/5 She returned after 3 days trials at sea under nuclear power. It is the4th nuclear-powered sub in the world to become operational. Its predecessors are, Nautilus, Seawolf, & Skate. UPI TELEPHOTO.-tf-

Courtesy Scott Koen	Courtesy Scott Koen
5 August 1958, Sargo's (SSN-583) is shown returning from her first set of sea trials.	Sargo's (SSN-583) return from a successful Sea Trials.

The return of the USS SARGO (SSN 583) following her intial sea trials was covered by the local newspaper:

Courtesy Vallejo Times Herald

Courtesy Vallejo Times Herald

FIRST PHOTO - SARGO UNDERGOES SEA TRIALS  "The Mare Island-built Sargo, first nuclear-powered sub to be constructed on the West Coast and the world's fourth A-submarine, is shown returning to the shipyard yesterday after initial sea trials, described as "highly successful," were concluded. The Sargo trials began Sunday. Members of her crew line the deck as the boat returns to the Mare Island waterfront."

ABOARD FOR TRIUMPHAL HOMECOMING  "Top Navy nuclear power experts, Mare Island department heads and key civilians line the deck of the submarine Sargo as the atomic-powered sub returned to the shipyard yesterday afternoon, following the two-and-one-half days of rigorous, successful sea trials. From the left are G. R. Johnstone, Mare Island chief pilot; and unidentified sail; Capt. Lowell T. Stone, USN, Commander, Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet Administration, Mare Island; Irvin Whitthorne, Master of Shop 56 and president of the Mare Island Masters and Foremans Association; Rear Adm. H. G. Rickover, USN, assistant chief of the Bureau of Ships for nuclear propulsion; Capt. E. J. Fahy, USN, Mare Island Production Officer; Alfred M. Garland, head of nuclear quality control branch, Mare Island; Carl S. Knudsen, head nuclear engineer, nuclear power division; Capt. Ralph A. Smith, USN, repair and shipbuilding superintendent, and Leroy Ingles, Sargo senior petty officer."

And the newspaper story that followed:

SARGO TRIALS HELD SUCCESS "'It looks like Mare Island has built another real good sub.' "Those were the words of Comdr. Daniel P. Brooks, USN, skipper of the submarine Sargo, upon his return to Mare Island yesterday from the first sea trials of the West Coast's first nuclear-powered sub. "The trials, which began early Sunday and lasted until yesterday afternoon, must have been fabulously successful, even beyond the hopes of the officers and civilians who led the Sargo project, and of Rear Adm. Hyman Rickover, USN, famed pioneer of naval nuclear power who was on board for the tests. “For, although the only official word was Brooks brief wire to Mare Island: ‘Trials very successful,’ he had this to say last night: ’We really put her through her paces and we didn’t find a single bug.’ “A performance of that kind is nothing short of amazing, as any Navy skipper will agree, for a ship of any type making her maiden sea trial. “There are a thousand things that can go wrong, from malfunction of parts to leaks in the bilges, but the youthful Sargo skipper maintained the rigorous trials turned up no defect even remotely worthy of mention. “’The ship worked so well, we hated to go to bed at night,’ he laughed. “Aside from his ringing praise of the quality of work turned out by Mare Islanders in their first assignment of building a nuclear-powered submersible, Commander Brooks had some very kind words for his crew. ‘They really performed like old pros,’ he declared. ‘I’d have to rank their response to this challenge right alongside the fine job done by Mare Island.’ “For the record, Commander Brooks reported the Sargo made five dives during the 60-hour test period in which it ranged over a designated area of the Pacific west of the Farallon Islands. “’We were submerged a total of 34 hours and 57 minutes,’ Brooks said, recalling the figures from the boat’s log. The Sargo remained submerged all night Sunday, then conducted other test maneuvers Monday and yesterday. “Admiral Rickover, whose official title is assistant chief of the Bureau of Ships for Nuclear Power, was reported by Commander Brooks to have expressed himself as ‘extremely pleased’ both with the performance of Mare Island workmen in building the Sargo, and with the crew. The crew has been familiarizing itself with the Sargo’s propulsion plant, reactor and other features of its operation since last September. They have worked aboard the ship almost daily since it was launched on October 10. “Many of the Sargo hands are veterans of service in the Nautilus, first nuclear sub to be built for the fleet, and some have had duty in the Seawolf, as well. “So successful was the initial test, Commander Brooks said, that probably only one more will be necessary before the Sargo is finally commissioned and turned over to the Pacific Fleet as that unit’s first A-sub. The commissioning ceremony, incidentally, tentatively planned for early October. “’But, sometime between now and the, we’ll go to sea in order to prove out a few more things that need to be tested,’ Brooks said, without elaborating on their nature. “’But right now, we’re all too tired to think about the next trial, even though we’re mighty happy with our boat,’ Commander Brooks concluded.