USS Scranton, Pacific Fleet’s oldest fast-attack sub, gifted with storied game of Navy legend ...0

A San Diego-based submarine has received a unique Navy honor, with a history dating to World War II.

The crew of the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Scranton (SSN 756) received the storied O’Kane cribbage board from USS Key West (SSN 722) as the oldest in-service fast-attack submarine in the Pacific Fleet.

Commissioned in Norfolk, Virginia in 1991, and now the oldest attack submarine in the Pacific, Scranton recently marked its 34th year of service, coinciding with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy and the 125th anniversary of the U.S. Submarine Force.

Scranton, one of four Los Angeles-class submarines assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron 11, calls Naval Base Point Loma home.

The O’Kane cribbage board traces its roots to the Pacific Theater during World War II.

Then-Lt. Richard O’Kane, executive officer of USS Wahoo (SS 283) and commanding officer Lt. Cmdr. Dudley “Mush” Morton, as legend has it, led a patrol that was the first in the area in the Yellow Sea in April 1943. To ease tensions, O’Kane and Morton played cribbage, a time-honored submarine tradition.

During the game, Morton dealt O’Kane a rare perfect hand, 29 points, a good omen to Wahoo’s crew. Wahoo went on to sink two Japanese freighters the same night. In another game a few days later, Morton dealt a 28-point hand and Wahoo’s crew sank three more enemy ships.

O’Kane went on to command USS Tang (SS 306), a legendary WW II submarine. During five war patrols, Tang was credited with sinking more than 30 ships, displacing over 118,000 tons, by far the most ships and highest tonnage sunk in the war by one submarine.

At the end of her fifth war patrol on Oct. 25, 1944, Tang was struck by her own torpedo and O’Kane and eight other survivors were captured as prisoners of war.

At his retirement in 1957, O’Kane was advanced to the rank of Rear Adm., with a Medal of Honor, three Navy Crosses and three Silver Star awards to his name. The crew of the second USS Tang (SS 563) presented a cribbage board to O’Kane to replace the one he lost in 1944; his wife gifted it the Submarine Force upon his death in 1994.

“Scranton’s crew is proud to carry on this incredible legacy as the holders of the O’Kane cribbage board,” said Cmdr. Jeff Ransom, Scranton’s commanding officer, upon receiving the honor during a February ceremony presided over by Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. “This ship has had generations of capable and professional Submariners, and we are excited to continue to add to 34 years of history here on Scranton.”

The submarine and her crew continue to prepare for post-dry dock sea trials and a return to operations in the Indo-Pacific.

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