USS Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655)

• Namesake: USS Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655) was named after Henry L. Stimson, who served as U.S. Secretary of War under Presidents William Howard Taft and Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Secretary of State under Herbert Hoover. • Class and Role: The submarine was a Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), designed to carry and launch nuclear missiles as part of America's strategic deterrent during the Cold War. • Commissioning: She was commissioned on August 20, 1966, at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut. • First Patrol: The USS Henry L. Stimson began her first strategic deterrent patrol in November 1966, shortly after commissioning. • Two-Crew System: Like other SSBNs, she operated with a Blue Crew and a Gold Crew, allowing for maximum time at sea by alternating crews for patrols and training. • Missile System: Originally equipped with Polaris A3 missiles, she was later upgraded to carry Poseidon C3 ballistic missiles, increasing her firepower and range. • Patrols: Over her service life, USS Henry L. Stimson completed more than 70 deterrent patrols, making significant contributions to the United States’ nuclear triad. • Homeports: She operated out of both Rota, Spain, and Holy Loch, Scotland, during the height of the Cold War, providing forward deployment near Europe. • Decommissioning: The submarine was decommissioned on May 5, 1993, after nearly 27 years of service, and her scrapping was completed in 1994 as part of the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program. • Legacy: Crew members of the USS Henry L. Stimson have maintained a strong alumni network, holding regular reunions and sharing stories of their service aboard one of the nation’s most important Cold War submarines.