- USS Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634)
USS "Stonewall Jackson" (SSBN-634), a "Lafayette"-class
ballistic missile submarine , was the third ship of theUnited States Navy to be named for GeneralThomas J. Jackson , CSA, though the earlier two were known simply as "Stonewall".The contract to build her was awarded to
Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, Calif. on21 July 1961 and her keel was laid down on4 July 1962 . She was launched on30 November 1963 sponsored by Miss Julia Christian McAfee, and commissioned on26 August 1964 , with Commander John H. Nicholson in command of the Blue Crew and Commander Richard A. Frost in command of the Gold Crew."Stonewall Jackson" got underway from Vallejo on
3 September for her shakedown cruise toCape Kennedy, Florida . The Blue Crew completed training with a successful missile firing on2 December and was relieved by the Gold Crew. Following the Gold Crew's successful missile launch on16 December , "Stonewall Jackson" returned to the Pacific Ocean to complete shakedown operations. The fleet ballistic missile submarine (FBM) entered post-shakedown availability on13 February 1965 , then made final preparations atBangor, Washington , for overseas movement. In April, she began her first strategic deterrent patrol.In June 1965, the Gold Crew relieved the Blue Crew at
Apra Harbor, Guam , and for the next five years the submarine conducted deterrent patrols from that port. In the spring of 1970, "Stonewall Jackson" was reassigned to the Atlantic Fleet. On23 April , she got underway fromPearl Harbor to conduct a special operation, before continuing on to thePanama Canal .She transited the canal on7 May and changed operational control from Submarine Flotilla 5 (SubFlot 5) to SubFlot 6, officially joining the Atlantic Fleet. Eight days later, she put intoNew London, Connecticut .She spent the second half of May in upkeep at New London; then headed south on
1 June . The submarine stopped at theUnited States Naval Academy from7 June to10 June for midshipman indoctrination tours, then put to sea for special operations. "Stonewall Jackson" enteredCharleston, South Carolina , to off-load missiles during the first week in July; then shaped a course for New London, arriving on the 10th. On15 July she entered the shipyard of theElectric Boat Division ofGeneral Dynamics atGroton, Connecticut , for conversion to thePoseidon C-3 missile system. The installation of the new missile system was completed by29 October 1971 when the Blue Crew began preparations to put to sea. Between October 1971 and March 1972, both Blue and Gold Crews conducted their shakedown cruises off the southeastern coast of theUnited States . She returned to Groton on4 March and, on8 March , commenced post-shakedown availability at the General Dynamics shipyard.On
7 April , she got underway for Charleston for a missile load-out in preparation for her first post-conversion and first Atlantic deterrent cruise."Stonewall Jackson" was decommissioned and stricken from the
Naval Vessel Register on9 February 1995 . Ex-"Stonewall Jackson" entered the Nuclear PoweredShip and Submarine Recycling Program inBremerton, Washington , and on13 October 1995 ceased to exist.See also
See USS "Stonewall" for other ships named for General Jackson.
References
Based on data from the
Naval Vessel Register
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.