USS James Madison (SSBN-627)

• Namesake: USS James Madison (SSBN-627) was named after James Madison, the fourth President of the United States and one of the Founding Fathers. • Class and Role: She was a James Madison-class fleet ballistic missile submarine, designed for nuclear deterrence during the Cold War. • Commissioning: The submarine was commissioned on July 28, 1964, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Virginia. • Dual Crews: Like other "boomers," she operated with two rotating crews, Blue and Gold, to maximize time at sea while maintaining crew readiness. • Patrols: USS James Madison conducted over 70 strategic deterrent patrols, spending much of her career on alert in the Atlantic Ocean. • Missile Systems: She was originally equipped with Polaris A-3 missiles, later upgraded to Poseidon C-3, and ultimately Trident C-4 missiles, reflecting advances in ballistic missile technology. • 1974 Accident: In November 1974, while submerged off Holy Loch, Scotland, the submarine struck a submerged object, damaging her bow, but was able to return safely for repairs. • Women Aboard: In 1978, a group of female civilians embarked on a historic overnight cruise aboard the submarine, marking the first time women were allowed to stay overnight on a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine. • Deactivation and Decommissioning: She was deactivated in 1991 and officially decommissioned on November 20, 1992, following the end of the Cold War and arms reduction treaties. • Final Disposition: USS James Madison was scrapped through the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Bremerton, Washington, with recycling completed in 1997.