USS Robert E. Lee

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USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601)
USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601)
USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601)
History
United States
NamesakeRobert E. Lee (1807-1870)
Ordered30 July 1958
Builder
Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company
Laid down25 August 1958
Launched18 December 1959
Sponsored byMrs. Hanson E. Ely, Jr
Commissioned15 September 1960
Decommissioned1 December 1983
Stricken30 April 1986
FateRecycling via Ship-Submarine Recycling Program completed 30 September 1991
General characteristics
Class and typeGeorge Washington-class submarine
Displacement
  • 5400 tons light[1]
  • 5959-6019 tons surfaced[1]
  • 6709-6888 Approx. tons submerged[1]
Length381.6 ft (116.3 m)[1]
Beam33 ft (10 m) [1]
Draft29 ft (8.8 m)[1]
Propulsion
Speed
  • 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) surfaced[1]
  • 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)+ submerged[1]
Rangeunlimited except by food supplies
Test depth700 ft (210 m)[1]
ComplementTwo crews (Blue/Gold) each consisting of 12 officers 100 enlisted
Armament

USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601), a George Washington-class fleet ballistic missile submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Robert E. Lee (1807–1870), the commanding general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War.

Her keel was laid down on 25 August 1958 by the

launched on 18 December 1959 sponsored by Anne Carter (Lee) Ely, a granddaughter of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and widow of Hanson Edward Ely, Jr., and commissioned on 16 September 1960 with Commander
Reuben F. Woodal commanding the Blue Crew and Commander Joseph Williams, Jr. commanding the Gold Crew.

Service history

Shakedown and training

The third

Polaris test missiles and on 22 December 1960 conducted her first missile launch. The Polaris flew "hot and true."[citation needed
]

In January 1961, Robert E. Lee conducted additional simulated missile launches and on 15 January 1961 departed for the

drydock on 3 February for a month of shipyard work. She departed Newport News on 17 March 1961, loaded torpedoes at Yorktown, Virginia, on 25 March, and got underway for Cape Canaveral, arriving on 9 April 1961.[citation needed
]

Robert E. Lee conducted "special operations" out of Cape Canaveral during May and June 1961, and in late June departed for Holy Loch, Scotland, where she joined Submarine Squadron 14 on 10 July 1961.[citation needed]

Holy Loch deployment, 1961-1965

She conducted practice torpedo firing during the first week of August and departed Holy Loch on 9 August 1961 on her first deterrent patrol. During the next two years she completed nine more deterrent patrols.[citation needed]

On 10 September 1963, Robert E. Lee entered the floating drydock Los Alamos (AFDB-7), then on 4 October 1963 resumed her normal patrol schedule. Continuing to operate out of Holy Loch into 1964, she got underway on 27 November 1964 for her 16th patrol, which terminated on 28 January 1965 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California.[citation needed]

First refit, 1965

On 22 February 1965, Robert E. Lee entered the Mare Island Division of the

refueling the reactor, reengineering of many ship systems to provide greater safety and reliability, modernization of the navigation system, and modification to the weapons system to give her the capability of launching the improved Polaris A3 missile.[citation needed
]

Emerging from overhaul after nearly a year and a half of work, Robert E. Lee got underway for

United States East Coast on 10 August 1966, Robert E. Lee transited the Panama Canal on 20 August and arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, on 4 September 1966.[citation needed
]

During the remainder of September and the first week of October, Robert E. Lee conducted

Undersecretary of the Navy on board as an observer, Robert E. Lee successfully fired a Polaris A-3 test missile. She returned to Charleston to commence a predeployment upkeep period at the Cooper River site in South Carolina where a failed rudder ram bolt was replaced. On 4 December 1966, she departed Charleston on her 17th deterrent patrol, which terminated at Holy Loch on 30 January 1967.[citation needed
]

Holy Loch, 1967-1971

By 4 October 1967, Robert E. Lee had completed three more patrols. After drydocking in Los Alamos for minor repairs and hull surveillance, she resumed her patrol schedule on 1 November 1967 and completed her 21st patrol before entering drydock on 22 November 1967 for two weeks of repairs. She departed Holy Loch on 26 December 1967 for another patrol.[citation needed]

Robert E. Lee remained attached to Submarine Squadron 14 throughout 1969 and 1970. Continuing to operate out of Holy Loch, she completed her 33rd deterrent patrol on 1 January 1971.[citation needed]

Second refit (1971)

Robert E. Lee was drydocked for her second overhaul on 27 January 1971 at

United States West Coast.[citation needed
]

United States East Coast operations, 1972-1973

In mid-August 1972, Robert E. Lee transited the Panama Canal and arrived in Charleston, South Carolina, on 14 September 1972. She continued normal operations, this time on the U.S. East Coast, throughout 1972 and for the first seven months of 1973.[citation needed]

Pacific operations, 1973-1977

Transiting the Panama Canal early in August 1973, she arrived in

Apra, Guam, and continued operations in that area into 1977, accomplishing several deterrent patrols in the Pacific.[citation needed
]

Third refit, 1977-1978

In early 1977, Robert E. Lee drydocked for her third and final overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard for nuclear reactor core refueling, equipment, and weapons upgrades. Sea Trials commenced in August 1978 and she went into operational status December, 1978.[citation needed]

Operations 1978-1983

The Gold Crew transited the Panama Canal January 1979. Transited to San Diego California, Bremerton, WA to Honolulu, HI. Turned over to the Blue Crew. In 1982-1983, Robert E. Lee's missiles were removed and she was redesignated SSN 601.[citation needed]

Decommissioning and disposal

Robert E. Lee was

Ship and Submarine Recycling Program. On 30 September 1991, it ceased to exist.[citation needed
]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "SSBN-598 George Washington-Class FBM Submarines". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 24 November 2012.

External links

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