USS Lewis & Clark (BN-644)

• Designation Clarification: There is no official record of a U.S. Navy vessel with the hull number "BN-644". However, there is the USS Lewis and Clark (SSBN-644), a ballistic missile submarine, and the USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE-1), a dry cargo ship. The following facts pertain to USS Lewis and Clark (SSBN-644). • Namesake: USS Lewis and Clark (SSBN-644) was named after the famous explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, leaders of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806). • Class: She was a Benjamin Franklin-class fleet ballistic missile submarine, part of the "41 for Freedom" program during the Cold War. • Commissioning: The vessel was commissioned on 22 December 1965, after being launched by Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia. • Missile Armament: She was initially armed with Polaris A-3 ballistic missiles, later upgraded to Poseidon C-3 missiles, providing a crucial leg of the U.S. nuclear triad. • Patrol Record: During her 25 years of service, the USS Lewis and Clark completed over 60 strategic deterrent patrols, operating mainly in the Atlantic Ocean. • Notable Incident: In August 1972, the submarine suffered a major electrical fire while in port at Holy Loch, Scotland, but quick action by the crew prevented a disaster. • Dual Crews: Like other "boomer" subs, Lewis and Clark operated with alternating Blue and Gold crews to maximize patrol time at sea. • Decommissioning: She was decommissioned on 27 June 1991 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day, later dismantled via the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program. • Legacy: The ship's bell and other memorabilia are preserved at museums, and her name lives on with the USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE-1), a support ship launched in 2005.