About this Unit
**USS Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618)** was a Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarine commissioned in 1963. She conducted numerous strategic deterrent patrols during the Cold War, carrying Polaris and later Poseidon missiles, before being decommissioned in 1985.
**USS John C. Calhoun (SSBN-630)** was also a Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarine, commissioned in 1964. Like her sister ships, she played a key role in the United States’ nuclear deterrent strategy throughout the Cold War, operating until her decommissioning in 1994.
**HQ AFNORTH (Headquarters Allied Forces Northern Europe)** was a major NATO command based in Oslo, Norway, from 1952 until 1994. It was responsible for coordinating the defense of Northern Europe, particularly Norway, Denmark, and northern Germany, against potential Warsaw Pact aggression during the Cold War.
Historical Facts
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USS Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618):
• First Polaris Patrol: USS Thomas Jefferson completed her first strategic deterrent patrol in 1964, carrying Polaris A-2 ballistic missiles as part of the United States’ nuclear triad during the Cold War.
• Name Change: Originally commissioned as SSBN-618, the ship was later redesignated as SSN-618 in 1981 after being converted to an attack submarine and having her missile tubes deactivated.
• Presidential Namesake: The submarine was named after Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and principal author of the Declaration of Independence.
• Dual Crew System: Like other ballistic missile submarines, Thomas Jefferson operated on a Blue and Gold crew rotation to maximize patrol time and readiness.
• Deactivation and Recycling: The submarine was decommissioned in 1985 and scrapped in 1998 as part of the Navy’s Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington.
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USS John C. Calhoun (SSBN-630):
• Namesake Controversy: The submarine was named after John C. Calhoun, the seventh Vice President of the United States, a prominent statesman and proponent of states’ rights and slavery, making her one of the more controversial namesakes in Navy history.
• Polaris to Poseidon: She was originally equipped with Polaris missiles, later converted to carry the more advanced Poseidon C3 ballistic missiles, increasing her deterrence capability.
• Strategic Deterrence: USS John C. Calhoun performed more than 70 strategic deterrent patrols during her service from 1964 until her decommissioning in 1994, making her one of the longest-serving “41 For Freedom” boats.
• Unusual Nickname: The crew often referred to the boat as “Big John” or “Calhoun’s Crew” during her decades of service.
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HQ AFNORTH (Allied Forces Northern Europe), Oslo, Norway:
• Cold War Headquarters: HQ AFNORTH was the NATO command responsible for the defense of northern Europe, including Norway, Denmark, and northern Germany during the Cold War.
• Location and Bunker: The headquarters was located in Kolsås, just outside Oslo, in a massive underground bunker designed to withstand nuclear attack and ensure command continuity in crisis.
• Multinational Staff: The staff at HQ AFNORTH was multinational, with officers from several NATO member nations working together to plan and coordinate defense efforts in the region.
• Disbanded in 1993: Following the end of the Cold War and NATO restructuring, HQ AFNORTH was deactivated in 1993, marking the end of an era in northern European defense.
• Historic Legacy: The site of HQ AFNORTH remains a symbol of Norway’s and NATO’s commitment to collective defense, and the Kolsås bunker is now used for other military purposes.
