Thanks to www.navsource.org and Darryl L. Baker for use of these photos and descriptions

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Hull section for USS SARGO (SSN 583) being fabricated in the structural shop at Mare Island on 19 Jan 1956. Photo captions: "Assembled frame installed in shell plates on saddles." U.S. Navy Photo #27754-1-56 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

The first Hull section for USS SARGO (SSN 583) being placed in shipping saddles for transport to the building ways at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 13 Feb 1956. U.S. Navy Photo #28121-2-56 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

The first hull section of the USS SARGO (SSN 583), Mare Island Naval Shipyard's first nuclear submarine, is seen being moved from the Structural Shop on a double flatbed trailer on 14 Feb 1956. U.S. Navy Photo #NY9-28124-2-56 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

NAVY'S LATEST - Forty-four ton steel cylinder was lowered into position yesterday (20 Feb 1956) at Mare Island in keel laying ceremony for USS Sargo, the Navy's fifth atomic-powered sub, first to be built on the west coast. San Francisco Examiner Photo Courtesy Mike Hacking

RADM John R. Redman, USN, Commandant 12th Naval District delivers the main address during the keel laying of the USS SARGO (SSN 583) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 21 Feb 1956. The shipyard's volunteer civilian band is seen below the VIP stand. U.S. Navy Photo #NY9-28179-2-56 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

Honors rendered during the keel laying of the USS SARGO (SSN 583) at Mare Island on 21 Feb 1956. CAPT E. A. Wright, shipyard Production Officer, is on the platform and Honorary Keel Layers are from left to right are Master Shipfitter Charles H. Butler and Rigger Master, E. W. Martinez. U.S. Navy Photo #NY9-28181-2-56 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

Crowd at the keel laying of the USS SARGO (SSN 583) at Mare Island on 21 Feb 1956. U.S. Navy Photo #NY9-251786-2-56 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

It took 3 Admirals and a Captain to plant the Sequoia Redwood tree to mark the keel laying of Mare Island's first nuclear submarine Sargo (SSN 583) on 21 Feb 1956. From left to right: RADM Martin J. Lawrence, USN (Shipyard Commander), RADM John R. Redman (Commandant 12th ND), RADM F. I. Entwistle, USN (Mare Island Base Commander) and Capt R. A. Davidson, CEC, USN (Public Works Officer Mare Island). U.S. Navy Photo #NY9-28182-2-56 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

This is a photo taken on 9 May 2003 on the now closed Mare Island Naval Shipyard of the Sequoia tree planted to mark the keel laying of the Sargo (SSN 583). The tree was used as the Shipyard Christmas tree in the 1980s and 1990s. U.S. Navy Photo Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

Bow view of USS GRAYBACK (SSG 574) on the ways at Mare Island on 3 Apr 1956. Note that she is configured as an attack submarine at this date. The USS SARGO (SSN 583) is under construction on the ways to the right. U.S. Navy Photo #30138-7-56 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

Stern view of USS GRAYBACK (SSG 574) on the ways at Mare Island on 3 Apr 1956. The USS SARGO (SSN 583) is under construction on the ways to the left. U.S. Navy Photo #30139-7-56 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

Shipyard welders working on a hull section for USS SARGO (SSN 583) at berth 15 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 14 May 1956. U.S. Navy Photo #29304-5-56 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

A hull section for USS SARGO (SSN 583) at berth 15 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard is being flipped from its horizontal to a vertical position for transport to building ways on 6 Jun 1956. The hull section is being lifted by YD-33 (boom just visible) while the dock crane D-2 (behind the hull section) will flip the section and then remove the handle cradle. U.S. Navy Photo #29647-5-56 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

Photo of winches and cable installation used to pull and lower hull section into place for USS SARGO (SSN 583) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 19 Jun 1956. U.S. Navy Photo #29802-6-56 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

Greasing the skids. Shop 72 workers are shown lubricating the steel slide at building ways in preparation to pulling section 3 up the ways during the building of the USS SARGO (SSN 583). Photo taken on 19 Jun 1956 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. U.S. Navy Photo #NY9-29803-6-56 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

Section 3 of the USS SARGO (SSN 583) is shown being moved up the building ways at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 19 Jun 1956. The USS GRAYBACK (SSG 574) is shown on the building ways to the right. U.S. Navy Photo #NY9-29805-6-56 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

Bow view of USS GRAYBACK (SSG 574) on the ways show that the bow is being modified for her missle hanger at Mare Island on 9 Jan 1957. The USS SARGO (SSN 583) is under construction on the right. U.S. Navy Photo #32690-1-57 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

Stern view of USS SARGO (SSN 583) on the building ways at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 2 Apr 1957. U.S. Navy Photo #33742-4-57 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

Stern view of the USS GRAYBACK (SSG 574) on the ways the day before her launching at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 1 Jul 1957. The USS SARGO (SSN 583) is on the ways to the left. U.S. Navy Photo #34939-7-57 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

The spectators gathered for the launching of the USS GRAYBACK (SSG 574) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 2 Jul 1957. The yard's first nuclear submarine USS SARGO (SSN 583) is seen on the ways to the right. U.S. Navy Photo #35033-7-57 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

USS GRAYBACK (SSG 574) is shown half way down the building ways at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 2 Jul 1957. The USS SARGO (SSN 583) is shown on the ways to the right. U.S. Navy Photo #35073-7-57 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

USS GRAYBACK (SSG 574) is shown at the end of the building ways at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 2 Jul 1957. The USS SARGO (SSN 583) is shown on the ways to the right. U.S. Navy Photo #35061-7-57 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker

Allen Bullock, a former crew member of USS SARGO (SS 188) views the USS SARGO (SSN 583) on the building ways at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 8 Oct 1957. U.S. Navy Photo #NY9-36929-10-57 Courtesy Darryl L. Baker