USS Holland (AS-32)

USS "Holland" (AS-32) was launched by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Company in Pascagoula, Mississippi on 19 January 1963. She was sponsored by Mrs. John C. Stennis, wife of US Senator John C. Stennis and delivered to the Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, South Carolina. "Holland" was commissioned on 7 September 1963, with Captain Charles W. Styer, Jr. in command.

"Holland" departed Charleston on 14 October for shakedown training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, returning to Charleston on 19 November. She commenced post-shakedown availability on 25 November.

While "Holland" was neither a submersible nor a combatant ship, she was a vital link in support of the United States first line of deterrence, the Navy's Polaris Weapons System. She was capable of making any submarine repair other than major overhaul, including servicing and maintaining the nuclear power plants of Polaris firing submarines.

The opening of 1964 found "Holland" at Charleston, South Carolina, making preparations for deployment to the Polaris replenishment anchorage at Rota, Spain. She arrived in Rota 1 April and relieved USS|Proteus|AS-19|3 as the FBM submarine tender shortly thereafter. "Holland" continued her vital service to the Polaris submarines until relieved 4 November 1966. "Holland" arrived at Charleston 22 November. There, she tended submarines of the Atlantic Fleet into 1969. In March of that year she returned to Rota for another tour of duty.

"Holland" was decommissioned on 30 September 1996.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h7/holland-iii.htm