USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657)

USS "Francis Scott Key" (SSBN-657), a "Benjamin Franklin"-class ballistic missile submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Francis Scott Key, the author of the poem "The Defense of Fort McHenry", which became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner".

The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 29 July 1963 and her keel was laid down on 5 December 1964. She was launched on 23 April 1965 sponsored by Mrs. Marjory Key Thorne & Mrs. William T. Jarvis, and commissioned on 3 December 1966, with Captain Frank W. Graham in command of the Blue Crew and Lieutenant Commander Joseph B. Logan in command of the Gold Crew.

"Francis Scott Key" was decommissioned on 2 September 1993 with Commander Carl D. Olson in command, and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 2 September 1993. Ex-"Francis Scott Key" entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, and on 1 September 1995 ceased to exist.

References

Based on data from the Naval Vessel Register.

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08657.htm navsource.org: USS "Francis Scott Key"]
* [http://www.ssbn657.com/index.htm SSBN 657 USS Francis Scott Key Crew Home Page]