USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN 640), the lead ship of her class of ballistic missile submarine, was the only submarine of the United States Navy to be named for Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.a

USS Benjamin Franklin puts out to sea
USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640) puts out to sea
History
United States
NameUSS Benjamin Franklin
NamesakeBenjamin Franklin (1706–1790), an American journalist, publisher, author, philanthropist, abolitionist, public servant, scientist, librarian, diplomat, inventor, and Founding Father
Ordered1 November 1962
BuilderGeneral Dynamics Electric Boat
Laid down25 May 1963
Launched5 December 1964
Sponsored byMrs. Francis L. Moseley and Mrs. Leon V. Chaplin
Commissioned22 October 1965
Decommissioned23 November 1993
Stricken23 November 1993
FateScrapping via Ship and Submarine Recycling Program completed 21 August 1995
General characteristics
Class and typeBenjamin Franklin-class fleet ballistic missile submarine
Displacement
  • 7,300 long tons (7,417 t) surfaced
  • 8,250 long tons (8,382 t) submerged
Length425 ft (130 m)
Beam33 ft (10 m)
Draft31 ft (9.4 m)
Installed power15,000 shp (11,185 kW)
PropulsionOne S5W pressurized-water nuclear reactor, two geared steam turbines, one shaft
SpeedOver 20 knots
Test depth1,300 feet (400 m)
ComplementTwo crews (Blue Crew and Gold Crew) of 120 men each
Armament

Construction and commissioning

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The contract to build Benjamin Franklin was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 1 November 1962 and her keel was laid down there on 25 May 1963. She was launched on 5 December 1964, sponsored by Mrs. Francis L. Moseley and Mrs. Leon V. Chaplin, great, great, great, great, great-granddaughters of Benjamin Franklin,[1] and commissioned on 22 October 1965, with Captain Donald M. Miller commanding the Blue Crew and Commander Ross N. Williams commanding the Gold Crew.

Service history

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On 6 December 1965, the Gold Crew successfully launched a Polaris A-3 ballistic missile in close coordination with an orbital pass of the Gemini 7 astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell.[2]

History needed for 1965–1993.

Decommissioning and disposal

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Benjamin Franklin was decommissioned on 23 November 1993 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. Her scrapping via the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, was completed on 21 August 1995.

Notes

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^a Five other ships in the United States Navy have been named for Franklin.

References

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  1. ^ "Welcome Aboard USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640) [14 pages]" (PDF). NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive. NavSource History.
  2. ^ USS Benjamin Franklin – SSBN 640, retrieved 25 September 2011