George Washington

He was born in 1732 in Virginia and died on December 14, 1799 in Mt. Vernon.

Washington was appointed Commander in Chief of the Continental Army by the Second Continental Congress in 1775. He developed new tactics for a new land and led his Army to victory against the larger, more powerful British Army.

After the Revolutionary War, the Electoral College unanimously elected him as the County’s first President. He served as President from 1789 through 1797, and is considered to be “the Father of his Country”.  After guiding his Country through it formative years, he retired to his home in Mount Vernon. “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.”

USS George Washington
SSBN 598

In 1957, during the height of the Cold War, in New London, Connecticut, the keel was laid for a new submarine, named the USS Scorpion.  At that time, a new type of sea launched, solid propellant, nuclear ballistic missile was developed. A new class of submarines would be designed for these new Polaris missiles, but they would take time.  In order to get this new missile to sea as soon as possible, Scorpion’s keel was cut in half, and an additional 130’ missile section was inserted.  The boat was renamed USS George Washington.

The “Georgefish” was launched on June 9, 1959, and was sponsored by Mrs. Robert B. Anderson.  It was commissioned in December 1959. On July 20, 1960, the Washington made history when it became the first submarine to launch a Ballistic Missile while submerged. Later that year, the Washington left Charleston with a full complement of 16 Polaris missiles to conduct its first “Strategic Deterrence Patrol”.

On April 9, 1981, while surfacing in open waters, the Washington collided with a Japanese freighter, damaging the Washington, and sinking the Freighter. The ship was decommissioned in January 1985. Prior to disposal, the Sail was removed, and is on display in New London.

and the beat goes on

USS George Washington, SSBN 598, was decommissioned in January 1985. In August of the next year, construction was begun on USS George Washington, CVN 73, a Nimitz class aircraft carrier. The new George Washington was commissioned on the 4th of July, 1992.

For more information on the new George Washington, check out their official webpage:

USS George Washington CVN 73 Homepage