| The USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617) was a Lafayette class, United States Navy ballistic missile submarine. The USS Alexander Hamilton was the third ship to be named after Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804). He was the first Secretary of the Treasury and had a key role in the creation of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Navy. Laid down on 26 June 1961 in Groton (Connecticut), by the Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics Corporation, the USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617) was launched on the 18th of August 1962. The submarine was sponsored by Mrs. Valentine Hollingsworth, Jr., (the great-great-great granddaughter of Alexander Hamilton). The ballistic missile submarine was commissioned on the 27th of June 1963 under the command of Commander Norman B. Bessac (Blue Crew) and Commander Benjamin F. Sherman, Jr. (Gold Crew). The USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617) departed on her shakedown cruises on 28th of June 1963, after each crew made a shakedown cruise the submarine returned to port on the 18th of October. In early 1964 after conducting several trials she was dispatched to Rota, Spain, her new base of operations. The first mission was to conduct deterrent patrols as a unit of Submarine Squadron (SubRon) 16. After only a few months in early 1965 she is assigned to Submarine Squadron (SubRon) 14 with the base of operations at Holy Loch, Scotland. In 1967 more precisely on the 2nd of June she returns to the United States, to Charleston, South Carolina and later to New London, Connecticut to the Electric Boat yard, where she arrived on the 18th of June to begin the first nuclear refueling and overhaul.The overhaul was completed on the 28th of June 1968 and the USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617) started some post-overhaul trials and inspections followed by a shakedown training. In November 1968 she was sent back to Rota, Spain to continue the deterrent patrols as unit of Submarine Squadron 16. In November 1972 after finishing the 31st deterrent patrol she was ordered back to Charleston to begin her second refueling overhaul. This overhaul was combined with a conversion that had the purpose to allow the USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617) to carry Poseidon missiles. The overhaul was completed after two years at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. A few months later the USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617) departed for a shakedown cruise followed by training and post overhaul trials. In early 1976 the submarine conducted several deterrent patrols (32, 33, 34, 35, 36) from Holy Loch, Scotland. During her 36th deterrent patrol the USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617) visited Port Canaveral, Florida and later New London, Connecticut. The deterrent patrol was concluded in March 1977 at Charleston, South Carolina. After a short period of refitting and training she departed in July to Holy Loch to conduct deterrent patrols 39 and 40. These patrols were concluded in 1978 with deterrent patrol 41 in Charleston. |
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| Awarded: | 22 July 1960 | Displacement: | 7,250 tons surfaced, 8,250 tons submerged |
| Laid down: | 26 June 1961 | Length: | 425 ft (129.6 m) |
| Launched: | 18 August 1962 | Beam: | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Commissioned: | 27 June 1963 | Draught: | 32 ft (9.6 m) |
| Fate: | submarine recycling | Propulsion: | S5W reactor |
| Stricken: | 23 February 1993 | Speed: | 16–20 knots surfaced, 22–25 knots submerged |
| Complement: | two crews of 13 officers and 130 men each | ||
| Armament: | 16 Polaris or Poseidon missile tubes, four 21-inch torpedo tubes |
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