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History of USS Mariano G Vallejo (SSBN-658)

USS Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) was a Benjamin Franklin-class fleet ballistic missile submarine commissioned by the United States Navy in 1966. Named after the Californian military leader and statesman Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, the vessel conducted strategic deterrent patrols armed with Polaris and later Poseidon ballistic missiles during the height of the Cold War. Over nearly three decades of service, she completed numerous patrols as part of the U.S. Navy's nuclear deterrence mission. USS Mariano G. Vallejo was decommissioned in 1995 and subsequently scrapped under the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program.

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ABOUT 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.

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