USS James Madison

For the United States Revenue cutter, see USRC James Madison.

USS James Madison (SSBN-627)
USS James Madison SSBN-627
USS James Madison (SSBN-627) at sea
History
United States
NameUSS James Madison
NamesakeJames Madison
Ordered20 July 1961
BuilderNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
Laid down5 March 1962
Launched15 March 1963
Sponsored byMrs. A. S. "Mike" Monroney
Commissioned28 July 1964
Decommissioned20 November 1992
Stricken20 November 1992
FateScrapping via Ship-Submarine Recycling Program completed 24 October 1997
General characteristics
Class and typeJames Madison-class submarine fleet ballistic missile submarine (hull design SCB 216 Mod 3)[1][clarification needed]
Displacement
  • 7,320 long tons (7,437 t) (submerged)[2]
  • 8,240 long tons (8,372 t) (submerged)
Length425 feet (130 m)
Beam33 feet (10 m)
Draught32 ft (9.8 m)[2]
Installed powerS5W reactor
Propulsion
  • 2 × geared steam turbines 15,000 shp (11,000 kW)
  • 1 shaft, one 7-bladed screw
SpeedOver 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Test depthOver 400 ft (120 m)
ComplementTwo crews (Blue and Gold) of 15 officers and 132 enlisted each[2]
Armament4 × 21 inches (530 mm) Mark 65[2] torpedo tubes (bow; Mark 48 torpedoes, 16 vertical launch missile tubes amidships, various small arms

USS James Madison (SSBN-627), the lead ship of her class of ballistic missile submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Founding Father James Madison (1751–1836), the fourth President of the United States (1809–1817).

  1. ^ Adcock, Al. (1993), U.S. Ballistic Missile Submarines, Carrolltown, Texas: Squadron Signal, pp. 30, (4 also credits mythical interwar Albacore and Trout classes, however)
  2. ^ a b c d Adcock, Al. (1993), U.S. Ballistic Missile Submarines, Carrolltown, Texas: Squadron Signal, p. 30