USS John Adams (SSBN-620)

USS "John Adams" (SSBN-620), a "Lafayette"-class ballistic missile submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for John Adams (1735–1826), the second President of the United States, and his son John Quincy Adams, the 6th president of the United States. Both names were used, with the Blue crew using "John Quincy Adams" as the name of the boat when their captain was in command.

The contract to build her was awarded to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine on 23 July 1960 and her keel was laid down on 19 May 1961. She was launched on 12 January 1963 sponsored by Mrs. James C. Manny, and commissioned on 12 May 1964, with Commander Lando W. Zech, Jr. in command of the Blue Crew and Commander Paul J. Early in command of the Gold Crew.

She then completed sixteen Polaris Deterrent Patrols while assigned to the Atlantic Fleet prior to entering Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, for overhaul and modernization in August, 1968. She completed overhaul August 10th, 1969 and returned to sea as a unit of the Pacific Fleet. It was the Gold Crew that shot two Polaris missiles at DASO (Demonstration and Shakedown Operation) following the overhaul, and then transited the Panama Canal to deliver the boat the Blue Crew waiting in Hawaii.

Upon completion of her thirty-second patrol, "John Adams" entered Portsmouth Naval Shipyard at Kittery, Maine, for her second overhaul and conversion to the Poseidon Missile system. She completed the overhaul and returned to sea once again as a unit of the Atlantic Fleet.

After completing an additional forty-three patrols, from both her homeport in Charleston, South Carolina and Holy Loch, Scotland, "John Adams" transited the Panama Canal to again enter the Puget Sound Navy Shipyard, this time in preparation for inactivation after a long and distinguished career.

At the time of her decommissioning she was the second oldest Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine still on active duty in the Navy, having completed 75 strategic deterrent patrols.

"John Adams" was decommissioned on 24 March 1989 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 24 March 1989. Ex-"John Adams" entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, and on 12 February 1996 ceased to exist.

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