USS Woodrow Wilson (SSBN-624)

USS "Woodrow Wilson" (SSBN-624), a "Lafayette"-class ballistic missile submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for
Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924), the 28th President of the United States.

The contract to build her was awarded to Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 9 February 1961 and her keel was laid down on 13 September 1961. She was launched on 22 February 1963 sponsored by Miss Eleanor Axson Sayre, and commissioned on 27 December 1963, with Commander Cleo N. Mitchell in command of the Blue Crew and Commander Walter N. Dietzen in command of the Gold Crew.

Operational history

USS "Woodrow Wilson" departed Mare Island Naval Shipyard at Vallejo, California, on 9 January 1964, bound for the east coast on a route, which would take her through the Panama Canal. After stopping briefly at San Diego, California, the submarine proceeded on to the Panama Canal, arriving on 19 January 1964 at the western end of the canal. Violent anti-American demonstrations and riots over a recent flag-displaying incident had resulted in an extremely tense atmosphere. As a result, the canal was transited in a record seven hours and ten minutes while combat-ready marines and soldiers guarded the locks. Making port at Charleston, South Carolina, on 5 February1964, USS "Woodrow Wilson" conducted a shakedown cruise off the lower eastern seaboard into March and underwent her post-shakedown availability into April. She put to sea at the end of May upon the conclusion of these repairs and alterations and commenced her first deterrent patrol out of Charleston, South Carolina in June.

USS "Woodrow Wilson" subsequently operated in the Atlantic until the autumn of 1968 conducting patrols from forward bases at Rota, Spain and Holy Loch, Scotland. After undergoing a 13-month overhaul and A3 Polaris Missile conversion at Newport News Shipbuilding, she was transferred to the Pacific via Charleston, SC and the Panama Canal, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 19 November 1969. The fleet ballistic missile submarine then continued on to the western Pacific, was based at Guam, and conducted deterrent patrols from Apra Harbor through 1972. In that year, she shifted back to the Atlantic and another overhaul with C3 Poseidon missile conversion at Newport News Shipbuilding. She was then home ported in Charleston, South Carolina for operations with the Atlantic Fleet.

After several overhauls in Charleston Naval Shipyard and 40 more deterrent patrols, the USS "Woodrow Wilson" was converted to the Attack Submarine "SSN-624" in 1990. Between 1990 and 1993 the "SSN-624" completed a series of Special Operations patrols. USS "Woodrow Wilson" was deactivated in September of 1993. Between 1964 and 1987 the USS "Woodrow Wilson" completed 71 successful strategic deterrent patrols.

Decommissioning

USS "Woodrow Wilson" was decommissioned on 1 September 1994 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 September 1994. Ex-"Woodrow Wilson" entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, on 26 September 1997 and on 27 October 1998 ceased to exist.

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