The contract to build Barbel was awarded to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine on 24 August 1955 and her keel was laid down on 18 May 1956.

[citation needed] In 1966 Barbel accidentally rammed and sank North Vietnam's largest freighter while trying to determine what type of war-related cargo it was carrying.

[citation needed] During the 1950s and 1960s, the early classes of nuclear submarines suffered propulsion plant reliability problems, and occasionally were unable to complete their assigned missions.

It was noted by the control room watch standers at that time that there should be some sort of recognition badge, similar to the recently authorized "Polaris Patrol Pin", for diesel boats required to fill in for a broken down nuclear submarine.

[citation needed] In 1973 Barbel's weapons division set a SUBPAC record for successfully shooting 118 torpedoes that year.

The submarines opposed the transit of the oiler USNS Navasota, which was escorted by the destroyers John Young (CTF 75 embarked) and Elliot, and frigates Gray, Whipple, Lang, Ramsey and through the narrow straits.

After the sail, superstructure and induction piping were removed, the scrapper discovered the boat's interior was filled with painted-over asbestos insulation.

She was towed from the berth in San Pedro, Los Angeles and on 30 January 2001 she was sunk as a target off the California coast in 1,972 fathoms (3,606 m)[4]