The Navy's SSBN (Nuclear Powered Ballistic MissileSubmarine) force enjoyed a unique relationship withCharleston. Operating from here with other submarines-the SS's (Diesel powered subs) and SSN's(Nuclear powered subs), these SSBN's, each with a BlueCrew and a Gold Crew, relied on the CharlestonNaval Complex to provide in a timely manner thevast array of weapons, supplies and trainingrequired for the successful conduct of theirrepetitive 70 day submerged patrols in the oceans ofthe world. The first SSBN, the USS George Washington(SSBN 598), sailed from Charleston with her 16 PolarisMissiles onboard in 1960. By 1967, forty of her sisterships were at sea and, until replaced by the TridentSubmarines, these 41 SSBN's and their Fleet BallisticMissile Tender "Mother Ships", USS Proteus(AS19), USS Hunley (AS31), USS Simon Lake (AS33) and USSCanopus (AS34), operating out of Holy Loch Scotland, Rota Spain, Guam, Charleston and Kings Bay,Georgia, comprised the Navy's Afloat StrategicDeterrent Force during the tension-filled yearsof the Cold War.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  North Charleston, SC  |  Charleston County  |  29405  |  South Carolina  |  United States of America

The Gator Navy
Greyhounds Of The Fleet
Greater Charleston Naval Base Memorial
Wooden Ships And Iron Men
The Navy Base
Charleston Naval Yard Officers' Quarters Historic District
Charleston Navy Yard Historic District
Charleston Naval Hospital Historic District
Park Circle
Union Heights / Howard Heights

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.