USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN-636)

USS "Nathanael Greene" (SSBN-636), a "James Madison"-class submarine, was one of three ships of the United States Navy to be named for Major General Nathanael Greene, who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Both ships of the name USS General Greene were also named for him.

Her keel was laid down on 21 May 1962 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. She was launched 12 May 1964 sponsored by Mrs. Neander W. Wade, a descendant of General Nathanael Greene, and commissioned on 19 December 1964 with Commander Robert E. Crispin in command of the Blue Crew and Commander William M. Cossaboom in command of the Gold Crew.

"Nathanael Greene" departed Portsmouth for shakedown on 30 December 1964, with her Gold Crew embarked. They were relieved 1 February 1965 by the Blue Crew. Her shakedown period was followed by availability at Portsmouth, after which the submarine, with Blue Crew embarked, departed Portsmouth for a missile loadout and her initial Polaris missile deterrent patrol.

On 13 March 1986 "Nathanael Greene" ran aground in the Irish Sea, suffering severe damage to her rudder and ballast tanks. Deactivated while still in commission in May, she was decommissioned on 15 December and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 31 January 1987.

"Nathanael Greene's" grounding was the first serious accident involving an American nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, but her removal from service allowed the United States to easily comply with the missile limits of the SALT II Treaty.

ex-"Nathanael Greene" began the Navy's Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, on 1 September 1998. On 20 October 2000, she ceased to exist.

"Nathanael Greene's" sail has been restored and is now on display in Port Canaveral, Florida as a memorial to the original 41 fleet ballistic missile submarines.

References

* This article includes information collected from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
* [http://www.ssbn636.org/ SSBN636.org]
* [http://www.ussvi.org/mem/state-fl.htm United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.]

External links

* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/SSBN636.htm NVR SSBN-636]