USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617)

USS "Alexander Hamilton" (SSBN-617), a "Lafayette"-class ballistic missile submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Alexander Hamilton (1755–1804), the first Secretary of the Treasury, who was instrumental in the formation of both the United States Coast Guard and the United States Navy.

Her keel was laid down on 26 June 1961 at Groton, Connecticut, by the Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics Corporation. She was launched on 18 August 1962 sponsored by Mrs. Valentine Hollingsworth, Jr., the great-great-great granddaughter of Alexander Hamilton, and commissioned on 27 June 1963 with Commander Norman B. Bessac commanding the Blue Crew and Commander Benjamin F. Sherman, Jr., commanding the Gold Crew.

Operational history

Between 28 June and 18 October, "Alexander Hamilton" carried out two shakedown cruises, one for each of her crews. Following those operations, she conducted post-shakedown availability. After trials early in 1964, she departed the East Coast on 16 March to deploy to Rota, Spain, her base of operations. She conducted deterrent patrols out of that port for the remainder of the year as a unit of Submarine Squadron (SubRon) 16. In January 1965, the fleet ballistic missile submarine transferred to SubRon 14 and based at Holy Loch, Scotland. Her cycle of patrols from there lasted until 2 June 1967 at which time she returned to the United States at Charleston, South Carolina. Later that month, she moved north to New London, Connecticut, and thence into the Electric Boat yard on 18 June to begin her first overhaul and nuclear refueling.

"Alexander Hamilton" completed the overhaul on 28 June 1968 and conducted post-overhaul trials, inspections, and shakedown training until early October. In November, she was deployed to Rota and conducted a deterrent patrol en route to her new base where she arrived on 30 December. For the next four years, the submarine operated from that Spanish port as a unit of SubRon 16. At the conclusion of her 31st deterrent patrol she returned to Charleston in November 1972 and, in January 1973 began her second refueling overhaul, combined with a conversion to carry Poseidon missiles, at the yard of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. The work on those two modifications lasted for over two years. The submarine carried out shakedown in April 1975 and devoted the remainder of the year to training and various post overhaul trials. She conducted deterrent patrols 32 and 33 in the early part of 1976. "Alexander Hamilton" concluded the latter patrol at Holy Loch, Scotland, in May 1976 and conducted her next three patrols from that base. While on patrol 36, the fleet ballistic missile submarine visited Port Canaveral, Florida, and New London, Connecticut, before concluding that patrol at Charleston, South Carolina, in March 1977. During March and April, she completed refit and conducted refresher training. In July, she departed Charleston for another deterrent patrol which ended with her arrival at Holy Loch in September.

From that Scottish base, the fleet ballistic missile submarine conducted deterrent patrols 39 and 40. She departed Holy Loch in May 1978 for patrol 41 and concluded it at Charleston in July. The warship remained there until August when she got underway for New London. She arrived at New London early in September and, after exchanging crews, embarked upon deterrent patrol 42 later that month. She ended that patrol at Holy Loch in October. Over the next year, she made four patrols from the base in Scotland. On 31 October 1979, "Alexander Hamilton" departed Holy Loch on her 46th deterrent patrol, ending it at Charleston on 7 December. Early in January 1980, the ballistic missile submarine departed Charleston on deterrent patrol 47. She concluded that patrol at Holy Loch on 17 March 1980 and; for the remainder of the year, operated from that base.

Deactivation and reprieve

"Alexander Hamilton"'s deterrent patrols out of Holy Loch continued until 1986. At that time, she was to have been decommissioned in order to remove her from the fleet as a gesture of goodwill in accordance with the terms of the unratified SALT II strategic arms limitation treaty. Upon her arrival in Groton early in 1986, the ballistic missile submarine began preparations for deactivation. The grounding of USS|Nathanael Greene |SSBN-636, however, forced the Navy to change its plans. What had been a deactivation overhaul quickly became a four-week maintenance availability to get "Alexander Hamilton" ready for active service. In April, the warship sailed to Charleston, South Carolina, for further work conducted in the floating drydock "Alamogordo" (ARDM-2). While at Charleston, she also served at sea occasionally as a training platform. In mid-June, the warship returned to Groton. During the summer of 1986, "Alexander Hamilton" participated in training cruises for United States Naval Academy and NROTC midshipmen.

In August, she learned that her refueling overhaul would be conducted by the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine departed Groton on 1 October to begin the voyage to Bremerton, Washington. Steaming by way of the Panama Canal, she arrived at her destination late in November. "Alexander Hamilton" formally began her refueling overhaul on 30 November 1987.

Decommissioning

Decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 23 February 1993, "Alexander Hamilton" was disposed of through the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Recycling was finished on 28 February 1994.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a6/alexander_hamilton-iii.htm