USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635)

USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635) was a James Madison-class fleet ballistic missile submarine named for Sam Rayburn (1882–1961), Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1940–1947, 1949–1953, and 1955–1961). Sam Rayburn was in commission 2 December 1964 to 31 July 1989 carrying the Polaris missile and later the Poseidon missile. Following decommissioning, ex-Sam Rayburn was converted into a moored training ship for use at the Naval Nuclear Prototype Training Unit at Goose Creek, South Carolina.

USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635)
USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635) off the United States East Coast, probably while on sea trials in 1964.
History
United States of America
Namesake: Sam Rayburn (1882–1961), Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1940–1947, 1949–1953, and 1955–1961)
Ordered: 20 July 1961
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia
Laid down: 3 December 1962
Launched: 20 December 1963
Sponsored by: Mrs. S. E. Bartley and Mrs. W. A. Thomas
Commissioned: 2 December 1964
Decommissioned: 31 July 1989
Reclassified: Moored training ship, MTS-635, 31 July 1989
Stricken: 31 July 1989
Nickname(s): Mr Sam
Status: Moored training ship at Nuclear Power Training Unit, Goose Creek, South Carolina.
General characteristics
Class and type: Lafayette Class-class submarine
Displacement: 6,700 long tons (6,808 t) light
Length: 425 ft (130 m)
Beam: 33 ft (10 m)
Draft: 32 ft (9.8 m)
Installed power: S5W reactor
Propulsion: 2 × geared steam turbines, one shaft 15,000 shp (11,185 kW)
Speed: Over 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Test depth: 1,300 feet (400 m)
Complement: Two crews (Blue and Gold) of 120 men each
Armament:

Construction and commissioning

The contract to build Sam Rayburn was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 20 July 1961 and her keel was laid down there on 3 December 1962. She was launched on 20 December 1963, sponsored by Mrs. S. E. Bartley and Mrs. W. A. Thomas, and commissioned on 2 December 1964, with Captain Oliver H. Perry, Jr., in command of the Blue Crew and Commander William A. Williams III in command of the Gold Crew.[1]

Service history
Sam Rayburn c. 1964, with her missile hatches showing their "billiard ball" livery

Sam Rayburn conducted demonstration and shakedown operations on the Atlantic Missile Range, first manned by her Blue Crew and then by her Gold Crew. She joined Submarine Squadron 18 at Charleston, South Carolina, before her first Polaris ballistic missile deterrent patrol in the summer of 1965. In August 1965, she joined Submarine Squadron 16 and made seven deterrent patrols out of Rota, Spain, before rejoining Submarine Squadron 18 at Charleston in December 1966. During 1967, Sam Rayburn completed her 8th through 11th deterrent patrols. During 1968, she completed her 12th through 14th deterrent patrols.[1]

During 1969, Sam Rayburn operated continuously with Submarine Squadron 18 until commencing overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard at Kittery, Maine, in December 1969. Upon completion of overhaul on 27 May 1971, she operated along the United States East Coast for the remainder of 1971 and into 1972.[1]

In 1972, Sam Rayburn departed Groton, Connecticut, and arrived at Charleston before departing Charleston on an extended period of special operations. In June 1974, she remained engaged in those special operations.[1]

Deactivation, decommissioning, and disposal
Sam Rayburn being dismantled prior to her 31 July 1989 decommissioning.

On 10 June 1985, the U.S. Navy announced plans to dismantle a fleet ballistic missile submarine so as to remain within the SALT II strategic arms limitation treaty ceiling on MIRVed ballistic missiles. Sam Rayburn was selected and was deactivated on 16 September 1985, with missile tubes filled with concrete and tube hatches removed.[2] Her missile compartment was later dismantled and the two halves (bow and stern) of the ship were pulled together and welded in place for use as a training ship.

Sam Rayburn was decommissioned on 31 July 1989 and reclassified a moored training ship (MTS) with hull number MTS-635.[3][4] Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 31 July 1989,[5] she arrived at the Naval Nuclear Prototype Training Unit at Goose Creek, South Carolina, in August 1989 after achieving initial criticality in her new role on 29 July 1989. Her modifications included special mooring arrangements, including Water Brake, a mechanism to absorb power generated by her main propulsion shaft. She is scheduled to operate as a moored training ship until 2020 while undergoing shipyard availabilities for repairs and alterations at five-year intervals.

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References
  1. "USS Sam Rayburn". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command.
  2. "SSBN-616 Lafayette-Class FBM Submarines". Global Security. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  3. Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, USA: Naval Institute Press. p. 612. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  4. Polmar, Norman (2005). The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet. Naval Institute Press. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-59114-685-8.
  5. "USS Sam Rayburn". Naval Vessel Register.
  • "Texas Navy". Retrieved 25 September 2011. – Includes maps, sketches, a list of ships of the Texas Navy, and a chronology. Also includes photographs of 20th-century U.S. Navy ships named after Texans or Texas locations, including photographs of Sam Rayburn.

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