- USS John Marshall (SSBN-611)
USS "John Marshall" (SSBN/SSN-611) was an "Ethan Allen"-class
submarine , the only ship of theUnited States Navy to be named forJohn Marshall (1755–1835), theChief Justice of the United States .Her keel was laid down on
4 April 1960 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company ofNewport News, Virginia . She was launched on15 July 1961 sponsored by Mrs.Robert F. Kennedy , wife of theAttorney General of the United States , and commissioned on21 May 1962 with Commander Robert W. Stecher commanding the Blue Crew and Commander Robert D. Donavan commanding the Gold Crew.SSBN, 1962 – 1980
"John Marshall" began her sea trials on
8 April 1962 . On21 May 1962 , "John Marshall" joined the Atlantic Fleet as a unit of Submarine Squadron 14 (SubRon 14). Ten days later the boat began its shakedown cruise, which culminated on12 July with the successful firing of two A-2Polaris missile s offCape Canaveral, Florida . On31 December 1962 , "John Marshall" sailed for its first Polaris patrol. Manned by the Blue crew, it became the ninth operational Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine.From
4 April 1963 to30 November 1966 , the Blue and Gold crews conducted a total of seventeen deterrent patrols fromHoly Loch ,Scotland .On
13 December 1966 , the boat started its first major overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding. The overhaul was completed in April 1968. After the post-overhaul shakedown, the boat loaded missiles atCharleston, South Carolina , and in September 1968 began patrol eighteen. Patrols nineteen through twenty-five were conducted from Holy Loch, Scotland, from October 1968 through June 1970. In June 1970, the boat became a unit of SubRon 16 and began operations from Rota,Spain .Patrols twenty-six through thirty-seven were conducted from Rota. The boat was awarded its first
Meritorious Unit Commendation as a result of an operation conducted in March 1971 that demonstrated the effectiveness and dependability of the Fleet Ballistic Missile System. In June 1973, the boat returned toNew London, Connecticut , for a dependent's cruise, thenconducted two patrols fromCharleston, South Carolina .On
1 November 1974 , "John Marshall" began its second refueling overhaul atMare Island Naval Shipyard . During this overhaul, the missile systems were converted to support the Polaris A-3 system. The overhaul was completed in May 1976 and the ship commenced strategic deterrent patrols in February 1977 as a unit of SubRon 15. Patrols forty through fifty-four were conducted fromApra Harbor ,Guam . The final deterrent patrol concluded with the boat's arrival atPearl Harbor ,Hawaii , on28 December 1980 .SSN, 1981 – 1992
On
12 January 1981 , "John Marshall" was givenhull classification symbol SSN-611 and began operations as anattack submarine fromPearl Harbor . The lastPolaris missile was removed inBangor, Washington , on1 June 1981 . The boat arrived inCharleston, South Carolina , on20 July 1981 and began operations as a unit of SubRon 4. On28 December 1981 , the ship departed for its first deployment to theMediterranean Sea . The deployment included several major fleet exercises and visits toLa Maddalena ,Italy ;Tangiers ,Morocco ; andLisbon ,Portugal . The ship returned to Charleston on21 May 1982 , twenty years to the day after it was commissioned.In September 1983, "John Marshall" again returned to the Pacific Fleet and arrived at
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on29 September to start its third overhaul. The boat was modified to support operations withDry Deck Shelter s capable of deployingSwimmer Delivery Vehicle s. Post-overhaul sea trials were conducted in September 1985 and the boat joined SubRon 6 inNorfolk, Virginia , in November 1985.On
15 December 1986 , the boat, equipped with aDry Deck Shelter , began its transit for its second deployment to theMediterranean Sea . The deployment included several exercises and a demonstration of the boat's unique special warfare capability and visits toToulon ,France , andLa Maddalena ,Italy . The boat returned toNorfolk, Virginia , on29 May 1987 . In September 1987 a Special Operational Demonstration was conducted nearPuerto Rico withSEAL Team Two . Battlegroup exercises, Special Acoustic Trials, and Dry Deck Shelter operations continued through 1988.25 October 1988 marked the 1000th dive of the boat, offPuerto Rico .On
1 May 1989 , after conducting a variety of exercises with carrier battlegroups and other submarines, the boat departed for its third Mediterranean deployment. This was the first time a submarine had deployed anywhere in the world with two Dry Deck Shelters on board, adding a unique flexibility and endurance to the Fleet Commander for special warfare operations. Embarked on board when the ship departed Norfolk was the largest special warfare detachment in the Atlantic or Mediterranean. During the 1989 deployment, the boat's response to contingency operations, providing forward area support of a unique nature on extremely short notice, as well as the boat's success with ASW operations, was recognized in the award of theMeritorious Unit Commendation . The boat returned to Norfolk in September 1989.The boat conducted three special warfare training exercises in the
Caribbean Sea in 1990, including a highly successful exercise that featured the employment ofSubmarine Launched Mobile Mines .On
26 January 1991 , the boat departed Norfolk for its fourth and final deployment to the Mediterranean. Equipped once again with two Dry Deck Shelters, the boat operated in direct support ofOperation Desert Storm and provided significant capability options to the Sixth Fleet Commander. The boat visitedToulon ,France ;Gibraltar ; andLa Maddalena ,Italy , returning to Norfolk on22 June 1991 .In September 1991, "John Marshall" served as flagship for the largest submarine special warfare exercise since
World War II . Over 191 personnel, including three flag officers andUnited States Navy SEAL andUnited States Army special forces , embarked to conduct joint special operations duringExercise Phantom Shadow ."John Marshall" transited to the Pacific in early 1992 to begin the deactivation process at
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard where she was decommissioned and struck from theNaval Vessel Register on22 July 1992 and disposed of through the Nuclear PowerShip and Submarine Recycling Program on29 March 1993 .Trivia
The Bell of the USS John Marshall is currently on display at
Marshall University inHuntington, West Virginia .References
This article includes information collected from the
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .
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