USS Tennessee (SSBN-734)

USS "Tennessee" (SSBN-734), an "Ohio"-class ballistic missile submarine, was the fourth ship and first submarine of the United States Navy to be named for the 16th state. There had also previously been two ships of the Confederate States Navy to bear the name.

Authorized in FY1980, the contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 7 January 1982 and her keel was laid down on 9 June 1986. She was launched on 13 December 1986 sponsored by Mrs. Landess Kelso, and commissioned on 17 December 1988, with Captain D. Witzenburg in command of the Blue Crew and Captain Kenneth D. Barker in command of the Gold Crew.

SSBN-734 was the first Trident II missile submarine to be commissioned.

"Tennessee" in fiction

*In Tom Clancy's novel "Debt of Honor", the "Tennessee" is one of several submarines sent to deal with the Japanese invasion of the Marianas Islands.
*In Tom Clancy's novel "Executive Orders", the "Tennessee" is one of the US navy's submarines monitoring Chinese fleet exercises.

References

External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/agency/ssbn-734.htm SSBN 734 Tennessee] at GlobalSecurity.org
* [http://thesaltysailor.com/ships/single85.htm Submarine and Ship Postal Covers] at TheSaltySailor.com
* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/SSBN734.htm USS Tennessee] at U.S. Naval Vessel Register