USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640)

• Namesake: USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640) was named after Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, diplomat, inventor, and scientist. • Class and Role: She was the lead ship of the Benjamin Franklin-class of fleet ballistic missile submarines, designed primarily for nuclear deterrence missions. • Commissioning: USS Benjamin Franklin was commissioned on October 22, 1965, at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut. • First Patrol: The submarine began her first deterrent patrol on February 17, 1966, marking the start of decades of continuous service during the Cold War. • Missile System: Initially armed with Polaris A3 ballistic missiles, she was later retrofitted to carry the more advanced Poseidon C3 missiles, enhancing her strategic strike capability. • Dual Crew System: Like other “41 for Freedom” SSBNs, she operated with two alternating crews, Blue and Gold, to maximize patrol time at sea. • Longest Underway: During her operational tenure, she set records for extended submerged patrols, sometimes exceeding 70 days at sea without surfacing. • Medal Recognition: The submarine and her crews were awarded multiple Navy Unit Commendations and Battle Efficiency “E” Awards for excellence in performance and readiness. • Decommissioning: USS Benjamin Franklin was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on November 23, 1993, after nearly 30 years of service. • Final Fate: The submarine was disposed of under the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, with the process completed in August 1995.