USS Mariano G Vallejo (SSBN-658)

• Namesake: USS Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) was named after Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, a Californio military commander and a key figure in California’s transition from Mexican to American control. • Class and Type: She was a Benjamin Franklin-class fleet ballistic missile submarine, part of the "41 for Freedom" submarines built to bolster the U.S. nuclear deterrent. • Commissioning: The submarine was commissioned on December 16, 1966, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California—the only fleet ballistic missile submarine launched and commissioned there. • Dual Crews: Like other SSBNs, she operated with two rotating crews—Blue and Gold—to maximize patrol time and strategic readiness. • Strategic Patrols: USS Mariano G. Vallejo performed over 80 strategic deterrent patrols during her service, mainly in the Pacific Ocean, helping to maintain continuous at-sea deterrence during the Cold War. • Missile Armament: She was initially equipped with Polaris A-3 ballistic missiles and later upgraded to Poseidon C-3 missiles, reflecting technological advances in U.S. sea-based nuclear capability. • Unique Artwork: Her crew painted a mustache on the bow planes as a playful tribute to General Vallejo, who was famous for his facial hair. • Deactivation: She was deactivated in March 1994 and officially decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on March 9, 1995. • Recycling and Legacy: The ship’s sail was preserved and is now on display at Mare Island, where the local community honors the submarine’s connection to the region and its namesake. • Cultural Reference: USS Mariano G. Vallejo was the namesake for one of the "Starfleet" starships in Star Trek: The Next Generation, a nod to her historical significance and her namesake’s legacy.