USS Nathan Hale SSBN 623 History, Patrols, Crews
Commissioning
The USS Nathan Hale, (SSBN-623: submarine, ballistic missile firing, nuclear-powered), was named in honor of American patriot Nathan Hale (1755-76), who was a captain in the Continental Army before being captured and hung as a spy by the British following the Battle of Long Island. Hale is best known for saying, “I only regret that I have but one life to give my country.” It was the sixth completed member of the Lafayette class of ballistic missile submarines (commonly referred to as “Boomers”). The Hale was designed to fire the second generation of the Polaris nuclear missile, though it would be upgraded in later life to fire the newer Poseidon ballistic missile.
The contract to build her was awarded to General Dynamics’ Electric Boat Division at Groton, Conn., on Feb. 3, 1961. Her keel was laid down on Oct 2, 1962. The ship was launched a mere four months later, on Jan. 12, 1963. The Hale and was given the motto, “Vis Unita Fortior.”
Underway
The Hale was quietly commissioned on Nov. 23, 1963, a day after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Commanders Joseph W. Russell (Blue Crew) and Commander Samuel S. Ellis (Gold Crew) were the first two commanders of the vessel.
After a shakedown cruise, the Hale officially joined the ranks of the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Fleet on May 21, 1964, and was stationed at Charleston, S.C. The Hale would carry versions of the Polaris missile for over a decade, until it was upgraded to carrying the new Poseidon missile during a refurbishment in the 1970s.
The Hale would complete 69 deterrence patrols without incident. It never fired a shot in anger.
Decommissioning
The USS Nathan Hale was decommissioned on Nov. 3, 1986 and struck from Naval Vessel Register on Jan. 31, 1987. It entered the Submarine Recycling Program at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., and was officially designated as scrapped on April 5, 1994.
Characteristics of the USS Nathan Hale (Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Type: Ballistic missile submarine
Displacement: 7,250 long tons (7,370 t) surfaced; 8,250 long tons (8,380 t) submerged Length: 425 ft (130 m)
Beam: 33 ft (10 m)
Draft: 31 ft 6 in (9.6 m)
Propulsion: 1 × S5W reactor
Speed: 20 knots (37 km/h) surfaced; -25 knots (46 km/h) submerged
Complement: Two crews (Blue/Gold) of 13 officers and 130 enlisted
Armament: • 4 × 21 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes for Mark 48 torpedoes
• 16 × vertical tubes for Polaris or Poseidon nuclear missiles
Timeline:
February 1961: Contract for construction of USS Nathan Hale awarded
October 1962: Keel laying of USS Nathan Hale
February 1963: USS Nathan Hale launched
November 1963: USS Nathan Hale is commissioned
May 1964: USS Nathan Hale joins the Atlantic fleet
April 1986: USS Nathan Hale completes its 69th and final patrol
November 1986: USS Nathan Hale is decommissioned
January 1987: USS Nathan Hale is removed from the Navy’s registry
April 5, 1994: The submarine ceases to exist.
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Crewmembers of the USS Nathan Hale:
An unofficial list of crew members that served on the USS Nathan Hale can be found on the unofficial navy website at: http://navysite.de. This list is compiled by former crewmembers that voluntarily register. Some quoted comments from former crewmembers are listed below; many more are available on the source website at the following web address: http://www.navysite.de/crewlist/commandlist.php?commandid=741.
Wellington Williams (Served from November 1981-June 1985): “Being part of the Nathan Hale helped me to learn to focus on what I wanted to do in life. I was immature, but I had fun.”
Gary Kahler (April 1981-October 1985): “First boat I was on. Went from E-4 to E-6 here. Great people and great times.”
Joe Touchton, (March 1981-March 1985): Nathan Hale was my first duty station – amazing times…Great memories.
Philip Hayhurst (August 1981-August 1985): “Hope everyone is doing better than the ship!”
