About this Unit
USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659) was a Benjamin Franklin-class fleet ballistic missile submarine commissioned by the United States Navy in 1967. Named after the American humorist Will Rogers, she conducted strategic deterrent patrols throughout the Cold War, primarily armed with Polaris and later Poseidon ballistic missiles. The submarine operated mainly from forward bases in Scotland, playing a critical role in maintaining the U.S. nuclear deterrent. USS Will Rogers was decommissioned in 1993 following the end of the Cold War and subsequently scrapped under the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program.
Historical Facts
• Namesake: USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659) was named after Will Rogers, the famous American humorist, actor, and social commentator. She is the only ship in the US Navy to bear his name.
• Commissioning: The submarine was commissioned on April 1, 1967, at Groton, Connecticut, marking it as the final boat of the "41 for Freedom" fleet ballistic missile submarines.
• 41 for Freedom: Will Rogers was the 41st and last of the US Navy’s "41 for Freedom" ballistic missile submarines, a major force in America’s nuclear deterrent during the Cold War.
• Polaris and Poseidon Missiles: Originally equipped with Polaris A3 ballistic missiles, Will Rogers was later converted to carry Poseidon C3 missiles, reflecting the technological advancements in submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
• Dual Crews: Like other SSBNs, she operated with Blue and Gold crews to maximize deterrent patrol time, a unique aspect of ballistic missile submarine operations.
• First Patrol: The submarine began her first deterrent patrol in October 1967, just a few months after commissioning, underscoring the urgency of the Cold War nuclear deterrence mission.
• European Operations: In the later years of her service, Will Rogers operated out of Holy Loch, Scotland, a key overseas base for US SSBNs during the Cold War.
• Deactivation: Will Rogers was deactivated in 1991 and decommissioned in 1992 following the end of the Cold War and the downsizing of the US ballistic missile submarine fleet.
• Recycling: The submarine was scrapped via the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Bremerton, Washington, with the process completed in August 1994.
• Unique Legacy: Will Rogers’ legacy is not just military; she represents a bridge between American cultural history (her namesake) and the strategic history of the Cold War, symbolizing the blend of American humor and deadly serious deterrence.
