USS Ohio (SSGN-726)

USS "Ohio" (SSGN-726), the lead ship of her class of nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarines, was the fifth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 17th state. She was commissioned with the hull designation of SSBN-726, and with her conversion to a conventional missile submarine she was re-designated SSGN-726.

The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 1 July 1974 and her keel was laid down on 10 April 1976 by Mrs. Robert Taft, wife of Senator Taft. On 2 February 1978, the Precommissioning Unit was formed with Commander A. K. Thompson as its Commanding Officer. "Ohio" was launched on 7 April 1979 sponsored by Mrs. Annie Glenn, wife of Senator John H. Glenn.

In the summer of 1981, sea trials were held to test the equipment and systems, and the submarine was delivered to the US Navy on October 28, 1981. On November 11, 1981, "Ohio" was commissioned. The principal speaker, George H. W. Bush, Vice President of the United States, remarked to the 8000 assembled guests that the ship introduced a "new dimension in our nation's strategic deterrence," and Admiral Hyman G. Rickover noted that the "Ohio" should "strike fear in the hearts of our enemies." On that day, command of the two crews (designated Blue and Gold) of the USS "Ohio" was assumed by Captain A. K. Thompson (SSBN 726)(BLUE) and Captain A. F. Campbell (SSBN 726)(GOLD).

Following Post Shakedown Availability at Electric Boat Division, "Ohio" left the Atlantic and transited to her new home port, Bangor, Washington, by way of Cape Canaveral where she tested her missile launch systems and the Panama Canal, arriving on August 12, 1982. During August and September 1982, the first loadout of Trident C-4 missiles and a predeployment refit were conducted. "Ohio" and her Blue Crew departed on the first Trident Submarine Strategic Deterrent Patrol in October 1982.

From June 1993 to June 1994 "Ohio" underwent overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, receiving extensive upgrades to sonar, fire control, and navigation systems. "Ohio" resumed strategic deterrent patrols in January 1995 as part of Submarine Squadron Seventeen, Submarine Group Nine, Pacific Submarine Force.

Original plans called for "Ohio" to be retired in 2002. However, "Ohio" and three sister ships have been modified and remain in service as conventional missile submarines (SSGNs). (See the discussion of the entire "Ohio" class for details.) In November 2002 "Ohio" entered drydock, beginning a 36-month refueling and conversion overhaul. Electric Boat announced on 9 January 2006 that the conversion had been completed. "Ohio" rejoined the fleet on 7 February 2006. On 21 January 2007, the Gold Crew departed Naval Base Kitsap for Hawaii to conduct a forward-deployed crew exchange, the first such forward-deployed swap in approximately 20 years. [cite news |author=Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW/NAC) Eric J. Rowley, Fleet Public Affairs Center Detachment Northwest |coauthors= |title=USS Ohio Sailors Depart NBK for Historic Forward Deployed Crew Swap |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=27392 |work=Navy Newsstand |id=NNS070122-09 |date=2007-01-22 |accessdate=2007-01-22 |quote=USS Ohio (SSGN 726) (Gold) Sailors departed (NBK), Bangor, January 21, for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to conduct a crew swap with USS Ohio (Blue) crew. The boat left with her Blue crew from Bremerton for duty in the Pacific Ocean October 14, 2007, ultimately destined for Guam. ]

The "Ohio" left for her first mission on October 15, 2007. The Blue crew underwent several tests and inspections before completing a mission sometime in December. The Ohio is also the first one of the class to complete a mission.

Awards

* Acting Navy Secretary Robert B. Pirie, Jr. announced the 2001 winners of the Navy Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Awards and the Marine Corps Major General W.P.T. Hill Memorial Awards for outstanding food service in the Navy and Marine Corps. The formal presentation of the awards was made during the International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA) conference on Saturday, March 3, 2001, in Anaheim, California. The afloat galley first place winner in the Pacific fleet was the USS Ohio (SSBN-726) (blue). [This award was prior to her conversion from SSBN to SSGN]

References

This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register.
*cite web
last = Cole
first = William
date = October 23, 2007
url = http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071023/NEWS01/710230337/1001/NEWS01
title = Tricked-out sub stops at Pearl Harbor
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work = Honolulu Advertiser
accessdate = 2007-10-25