Ordered 6 June 1977 Sponsored by Ms. Anna Marie Jackson Construction started 19 January 1981 | Laid down 19 January 1981 Commissioned 6 October 1984 Launched 15 October 1983 | |
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Name Rhode Island (1981–1983)
Henry M. Jackson (1983–) Namesake U.S. Senator Henry M. Jackson (1912–1983) Builder General Dynamics Electric Boat | ||
USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN-730), is a United States Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine that has been in commission since 1984. She is the only U.S. Navy ship to have been named for United States Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson (1912–1983) of Washington and the only Ohio-class submarine not named after a U.S. state.
Contents
Construction and commissioning
Henry M. Jackson originally was to have been named Rhode Island. The contract to build Rhode Island was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation at Groton, Connecticut, on 6 June 1977 and her keel was laid down there on 19 January 1981. Shortly after Senator Jackson suddenly died in office on 1 September 1983, Rhode Island was renamed Henry M. Jackson, and the name Rhode Island was transferred to another Ohio-class submarine, USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740).
Henry M. Jackson was launched on 15 October 1983, sponsored by Senator Jackson's daughter, Ms. Anna Marie Jackson, and commissioned on 6 October 1984, with Captain R. Tindal in command of the Blue Crew and Captain M. A. Farmer in command of the Gold Crew.
Public affairs
The crew of Henry M. Jackson is very active in volunteer work, and has adopted a highway and donated time to the Salvation Army, among many other activities.