Work Text:
Background : The Skipjack-class was a class of attack submarines introduced to 1959-61. Under the designation of SCB-154, the boats were based on the one-off USS Albacore AGSS-569, featuring a teardrop hull and the new S5W nuclear reactor. This design, optimized for speed, vastly differentiated them from their predecessors of the Skate-class and made the Skipjacks the fastest submarine in the US Navy with 33 knots until the arrival of the Los Angeles-class.
The Skipjack-class presented many new features which set the standard for the subsequent classes. The bow planes were moved to the sail. The conning tower, control room and attack center were combined in a single space, thus conserving room and improving the coordination during combat operations. This combination was facilitated by the adoption of the "push-button" for ballast control. Another feature was adoption of a single screw, increasing underwater performance. The boat’s layout, consisting of five compartments – Torpedo Room, Operations Compartment, Reactor Compartment, Auxiliary Machinery Space (AMS) and Engine Room – would remain the same on the subsequent Thresher and Sturgeon-classes. The British attack submarine HMS Dreadnought would in fact take many features from the Skipjacks – even though it would still be its own design at the end.
Scamp was laid down in January 1959 and launched on 8 October 1960. She participated in the Vietnam War where she earned three battle stars and did several exercises with the Seventh Fleet. This routine was interrupted in the last days of December when the Soviet Navy scrambled its entire Northern Fleet to the Atlantic. The official reason was they wanted to rescue a submarine which had gone down as high-ranking members of the Party’s sons were present onboard. Nevertheless, the US deployed their own forces. Scamp , which was getting overhauled at the arsenal of Norfolk, was not part of the response force. Instead, she received the DSRV Avalon and was tasked to escort the aging ballistic submarine Ethan Allen to a location. Why ? They didn’t know, but the crews carried their orders nonetheless, enjoying fresh food instead of the usual cans during the trip.
When the location was reached, both boats began to circle, whilst the submarine rescue ship Pigeon was placing itself above them. A few moments later, the sonar operators noticed three submarines approaching. These were the Dallas and the Pogy escorting the rogue submarine Red October ( Krazniy Oktyabr ). Once the rogue vessel’s crew was evacuated, Scamp deployed the Avalon to pick up Allen 's own crew. The only thing they had to do now was to scuttle the ballistic submarine, which was done. A depth gauge was left on the site to fool the Russians when they came to inspect the wreck.
As Scamp does not return in the Ryanverse, she was most likely decommissioned in 1988 and recycled in Bremerton two years later.
Namesake : Scamp was named the Gato-class submarine Scamp, hull number SS-277, which earned seven battle stars during WW2 before being sunk on 28 April 1945.
Both boats are named after the Scamp grouper, a species of ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae, which itself is part of the family of the Serridenae. The scamp has an average length of 107 centimeters. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
Stats : Scamp sports an HP pool below average (C) with an excellent torpedo stat (A) and speed (B) with her 33 knots.
Personality : Due to her age and experience, Scamp is what could be described as an old master. Soft spoken and stoic, she is usually found in the amphitheaters of the naval base where she teaches for the younger generations of submarines and sailors. Constantly looking for new talents, Scamp also keeps an eye on surface combatants who show potential to join the Silent Service. She also smokes an old pipe from time to time.
Acquisition : I’m Scamp of the Sturgeon-class. I may look old, but I’m no pushover either. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions concerning the Silent Service. Dallas already gave you a few tips ? Good to hear. Alright, show me what you’ve got, kid.
Secretary (Idle 1) : What does the SAPS have to say about analysis ? [Chuckles] Congratulations, you have produced… a whale. Someone who knows a little more about sonar than you do, kid. Let’s try again.
Secretary (Idle 2) : I have observed surface units like Helena or Honolulu. I was thinking of proposing to them to join the Silent Service, they have potential. Hmm ? I don’t intend to steal them from you. I just simply want to offer them more… opportunities.
Secretary (Idle 3) : Alright, you’ve identified the contact. What’s your next move ? Do you tail them ? Do you sound general quarters ? Choose wisely.
Return from mission : Do not slack off, kid, we’re having another wargame situation.
MVP : I could read your tricks like an open book.
Low HP : Focus, you’ve done this enough times to do it in your sleep.
Defeated : Damnit ! Begin rescue operations. Leave no one behind !
Touch : Do you need help ?
Special touch : Hands off the merchandise, kid. Try your chance with Ranger, she’s more into that.
Affinity (Disappointed) : [Sighs] Boy, I will say it only once. If one of us has an accident, the responsibility will be on you. And you won’t simply lose your command, it will be the end of your career.
Affinity (Stranger) : Impressive record for a surface officer. Let’s see how you can handle the silence of the depths.
Affinity (Friendly) : The Red October Affair ? My part was to accompany Allen to the place where she was to be scuttled, that’s all. Dallas only told me about the rest once the Cold War was over. A story so crazy you’d think it comes from a novel or a movie.
Affinity (Like) : I’m impressed. Your analysis has identified the contact whereas the SAPS got fooled. Good call. As reliable as they are, machines can’t beat our intuition.
Affinity (Love) : [Sighs] For a surface officer, I never thought you would be this good. Bravo Zulu, you beat me.
Oath : [Rubs her temples] Sorry, I have a headache. I don’t know where they’re coming from, but it’s not important. Spending the rest of my career at your side and teaching the next generation is what matters to me, now.
Sortie with Dallas : And I’m Sheena, Queen of the Jungle. I’ve said it before : you will be wasting your potential in the civilian sector.
Sortie with V. K. Konovalov : I’ve heard a couple of things about you and your Captain. Let’s see if you can live up to your reputation.
Sortie with Pogy : Youngsters and their recklessness… The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Sortie with Red October : Allen was a good friend. Make her sacrifice worth it. That’s all.
Design : Scamp is depicted as a woman in her mid thirties. She sports bright pink hair tied in pigtails and blue eyes. Due to her age, her attire is slightly different from her younger peers. Thus, she wears a US Navy officer uniform on top of her diving suit, completed with a black overcoat similar to the Essex-class. The coat carries her hull number and the Union’s star, with one branch painted dark grey. The diving suit has her emblem visible on the shoulders. When she goes on a sortie, she takes off her uniform and dyes her hair in black.