USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617)

• Namesake: USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617) was named after Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the first Secretary of the Treasury. • Commissioning: The submarine was commissioned on June 27, 1963, at Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, Connecticut. • Polaris Missile Submarine: It was a Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), designed to carry and launch Polaris nuclear missiles as a key part of America’s nuclear deterrent during the Cold War. • Dual Crews: Like most U.S. ballistic missile submarines, Alexander Hamilton operated with two alternating crews, Blue and Gold, to maximize its time on deterrent patrol. • First Patrol: The submarine’s first deterrent patrol began in early 1964, soon after commissioning, marking its active participation in nuclear deterrence. • Collision Incident: On December 29, 1973, USS Alexander Hamilton collided with a Soviet submarine (K-129) in the Barents Sea, an event that was kept secret for many years. • Missile Upgrade: Over its service life, the submarine was upgraded from Polaris A-2 to A-3 missiles, increasing its range and effectiveness. • Longest Patrols: Alexander Hamilton’s patrols could last up to 70 days underwater, with the crew only surfacing for personnel changes and resupply. • Decommissioning: The submarine was decommissioned on February 23, 1993, after nearly 30 years of service, and scrapped via the Navy’s Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program. • Legacy: The ship’s sail has been preserved and is on display at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, as a memorial to her service and crews.