USS George Washington (SSBN-598)

USS George Washington (SSBN-598) was the lead ship of the George Washington-class submarine and the first operational ballistic missile submarine of the United States Navy. Commissioned on 30 December 1959, it successfully conducted the first submerged launch of a Polaris missile on 20 July 1960, a pivotal moment in Cold War nuclear deterrence. The submarine's development and deployment marked a fundamental shift in strategic nuclear weapon delivery, providing a secure, second-strike capability for the United States.

Design and construction

The design of *George Washington* was a rapid adaptation of the existing Skipjack-class submarine hull, necessitated by the urgent need to field the Polaris missile system. The project, overseen by the Special Projects Office under Rear Admiral William Raborn, involved inserting a 130-foot missile section, housing 16 Polaris A-1 missiles, into the hull of the *Skipjack*-class attack submarine USS Scorpion (SSN-589). This major conversion was executed at the Electric Boat division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut. The keel was laid on 1 November 1957, and the boat was launched on 9 June 1959, sponsored by Mamie Eisenhower, wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Operational history

Following its commissioning, *George Washington* joined the Atlantic Fleet and commenced its first deterrent patrol on 15 November 1960 from New London, Connecticut. This 66-day patrol, ending at Kings Bay, Georgia, established the pattern for the United States Navy's SSBN force. The submarine and its alternating Blue and Gold crews conducted numerous patrols in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea throughout the 1960s. In 1964, it was upgraded to carry the longer-range Polaris A-3 missile. A significant incident occurred on 9 April 1981, when *George Washington* collided with the Japanese merchant vessel Nissho Maru in the East China Sea, resulting in the sinking of the freighter and two fatalities.

Strategic significance

The entry of *George Washington* into service fundamentally altered the strategic balance of the Cold War. Its ability to remain hidden for months while carrying thermonuclear weapons created a survivable second-strike force, a cornerstone of the doctrine of Mutual assured destruction. This capability directly countered the perceived missile gap and the threat posed by the Soviet Union's land-based Intercontinental ballistic missiles, such as the R-7 Semyorka. The success of the *George Washington* and its Polaris missile validated the Fleet Ballistic Missile program and spurred a massive construction program for the *George Washington*-class and subsequent *Ethan Allen*-class and *Lafayette*-class SSBNs.

Decommissioning and legacy

After over 25 years of service, *George Washington* was decommissioned on 24 January 1985 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. Its nuclear reactor was defueled, and the submarine entered the Ship-Submarine Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on 30 September 1997. The recycling process was completed on 30 September 1998. The submarine's sail was preserved and is now on display at the Submarine Force Library and Museum in Groton, Connecticut. *George Washington*'s legacy is profound, as it pioneered the sea-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad and set the standard for all subsequent Ballistic missile submarine operations worldwide.

See also

* List of submarines of the United States Navy * History of submarines * Nuclear navy * Strategic Air Command

Category:George Washington-class submarines Category:Submarines of the United States Navy Category:Cold War submarines of the United States