USS George Washington (SSBN-598)

USS George Washington (SSBN-598) was the world's first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, commissioned on December 30, 1959, under the command of Commander James L. Osborne. The submarine was named after the first President of the United States, George Washington, and was the lead boat of her class, which included the USS Patrick Henry (SSBN-599), USS Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600), USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601), and USS Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602). The development of the Polaris missile and the George Washington class submarines was a significant milestone in the Cold War, as it provided the United States Navy with a nuclear deterrent capability. The United States had been working on the development of nuclear-powered submarines since the early 1950s, with the Nautilus (SSN-571) being the first nuclear-powered submarine to be commissioned in 1954, under the command of Commander William R. Anderson.

● Introduction

The USS George Washington (SSBN-598) was a significant innovation in submarine design, as it was the first submarine to be equipped with ballistic missiles. The submarine was designed to carry 16 Polaris A1 missiles, which had a range of over 1,200 nautical miles. The development of the George Washington class submarines was a major achievement for the United States Navy, and it marked a significant shift in the Navy's strategy, as it moved from a focus on conventional warfare to a focus on nuclear deterrence. The United States had been working closely with the United Kingdom on the development of nuclear-powered submarines, and the Royal Navy had also developed its own nuclear-powered submarine, the HMS Dreadnought (S101). The Soviet Union had also been developing its own nuclear-powered submarines, including the Hotel-class submarine and the Yankee-class submarine, which were equipped with R-13 and R-21 missiles.

● Design and Construction

The USS George Washington (SSBN-598) was designed by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics, and it was constructed at the Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island. The submarine was powered by a S5W reactor, which provided a significant increase in power and endurance compared to earlier submarines. The George Washington class submarines were also equipped with a Polaris missile system, which included 16 missile tubes and a fire control system. The development of the Polaris missile system was a major achievement for the United States Navy, and it was developed in collaboration with the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company and the United States Army. The Polaris missile was a two-stage rocket that used a solid-fuel rocket motor and a stern-mounted rocket motor. The United States had also been working on the development of other ballistic missiles, including the Minuteman (missile) and the Titan II.

● Operational History

The USS George Washington (SSBN-598) was commissioned on December 30, 1959, and it began its first deterrent patrol on November 15, 1960, under the command of Commander James L. Osborne. The submarine was based at the New London Submarine Base in Connecticut, and it conducted numerous deterrent patrols during the Cold War. The George Washington class submarines played a significant role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, as they provided a nuclear deterrent capability that helped to prevent a nuclear war. The United States Navy had also been working on the development of other submarine classes, including the Ethan Allen-class submarine and the Lafayette-class submarine, which were also equipped with Polaris missiles. The Soviet Union had also been developing its own submarine classes, including the Delta-class submarine and the Typhoon-class submarine, which were equipped with R-29 and R-39 missiles.

● Decommissioning and Disposal

The USS George Washington (SSBN-598) was decommissioned on January 24, 1985, after 25 years of service. The submarine was then converted into a training ship and was used to train United States Navy personnel. The submarine was eventually scrapped in 1998, as part of the United States Navy's Ship-Submarine Recycling Program. The United States Navy had also been working on the development of new submarine classes, including the Ohio-class submarine and the Virginia-class submarine, which are equipped with Trident missiles and Tomahawk missiles. The United Kingdom had also been developing its own submarine classes, including the Vanguard-class submarine and the Astute-class submarine, which are equipped with Trident missiles and Tomahawk missiles.

● Specifications

The USS George Washington (SSBN-598) had a length of 381 feet 1 inch, a beam of 33 feet 1 inch, and a draft of 29 feet 1 inch. The submarine had a displacement of 5,900 tons and a speed of over 20 knots. The submarine was equipped with 16 Polaris A1 missiles, which had a range of over 1,200 nautical miles. The submarine was powered by a S5W reactor and had a crew of 12 officers and 100 enlisted men. The United States Navy had also been working on the development of other submarine systems, including the AN/BQQ-2 sonar system and the Mk 113 fire control system. The Soviet Union had also been developing its own submarine systems, including the MGK-300 sonar system and the D-2 fire control system. Category:United States Navy submarines