USS GEORGE WASHINGTON

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (SSBN-598) was the United States Navy's first ballistic missile submarine, commissioned on December 30, 1959. As the lead ship of her class, she played a pivotal role in the early years of the U.S. nuclear deterrent during the Cold War, conducting 55 deterrent patrols between 1960 and 1985. The submarine was equipped with Polaris ballistic missiles, significantly enhancing the Navy's strategic capabilities. USS GEORGE WASHINGTON was decommissioned on January 24, 1985, marking the end of an era for the original fleet ballistic missile submarines.