USS George C. Marshall

USS George C. Marshall
Pre-commissioning photo of George C. Marshall (SSBN-654), underway off Newport News, VA, 31 March 1966
Pre-commissioning photograph of USS George C. Marshall (SSBN-654) underway off Newport News, Virginia, on 31 March 1966
History
United States
NamesakeGeneral of the Army George C. Marshall (1880-1959), U.S. Secretary of State (1947-1949) and U.S. Secretary of Defense (1950-1951)
Ordered29 July 1963
BuilderNewport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia
Laid down2 March 1964
Launched21 May 1965
Sponsored byKatherine Tupper Marshall
Commissioned29 April 1966
Decommissioned24 September 1992
Stricken24 September 1992
Motto
  • Patience, Not Weakness
  • Crew's unofficial motto: "Patience, My Ass"
FateScrapping via Ship and Submarine Recycling Program completed 28 February 1994
General characteristics
Class and typeBenjamin Franklin-class fleet ballistic missile submarine
Displacement
  • 7,300 long tons (7,417 t) surfaced
  • 8,250 long tons (8,382 t) submerged
Length425 ft (130 m)
Beam33 ft (10 m)
Draft31 ft (9.4 m)
Installed powerS5W pressurized-water nuclear reactor
Propulsion
SpeedOver 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Test depth1,300 feet (400 m)
ComplementTwo crews (Blue Crew and Gold Crew) of 120 men each
Armament

USS George C. Marshall (SSBN-654), a Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for General of the Army George C. Marshall (1880-1959), who served as U.S. Secretary of State from 1947 to 1949 and as U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1950 to 1951.