U.S.S. Tennessee (SSBN - 734)
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Career (U.S.)
Name: U.S.S. Tennessee
Namesake: The U.S. state of Tennessee
Ordered: 7 January 1982
Builder: General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down: 9 June 1986
Launched: 13 December 1986
Sponsored by: Mrs. Landess Kelso
Commissioned: 17 December 1988
Homeport: Kings Bay, Georgia
Motto: America At Its Best
Status: in active service, as of 2010
General characteristics
Class and type: Ohio class ballistic missile submarine
Displacement: 16,764 metric tons (16,499 long tons) surfaced, 18,750 metric tons (18,450 long tons) submerged
Length: 170.69 meters (560 feet)
Beam: 42 ft. (13 m)
Draft: 11.5 meters (38 ft.)
Propulsion: 1xS8G PWR nuclear reactor, 2x geared turbines, 1x325 hp (242 kW) auxiliary motor, 1 shaft @ 60,000 shp (45 MW)
Speed: 25+ knots (46+ km/h)
Test depth: 243.8+ meters (800+ ft)
Complement: 15 officers, 140 enlisted
Armament: MK-48 torpedoes, 24 Trident II D-5 ballistic missiles
The U.S.S. Tennessee (SSBN-734) is a United States Navy Ohio class ballistic missile submarine that has been in commission since 1988. She is the fourth ship and first submarine of the U.S. Navy to be named for Tennessee the 16th state.
Construction and commissioning
Tennessee's construction was authorized in Fiscal year 1980, and the contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 7 January 1982. Her keel was laid down there on 9 June 1986. She was launched on 13 December 1986, sponsored by Mrs. Landess Kelso, and commissioned on 17 December 1988, with Captain D. Witzenburg in command of the Blue Crew and Captain Kenneth D. Barker in command of the Gold Crew. She was the first submarine capable of firing the Trident II ballistic missile to be commissioned.
