General Characteristics Crew List Memorabilia History Accidents aboard the Ship Image Gallery to end of page
USS James K. Polk (SSBN 645)
- later SSN 645 -
- decommissioned -
Commissioned as a ballistic missile submarine in April 1966, the USS JAMES K. POLK was converted to a special purpose, brown water attack submarine between 1992 and 1993. This conversion installed modifications including a deck shelter to support the surfaced and submerged deployment of Special Operations Forces. After the conversion the JAMES K. POLK was redesignated SSN 645. Both decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list on July 8, 1999, the JAMES K. POLK subsequently entered the Navy’s Nuclear Powered Ship and Recycling Program at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash. Recycling was completed on April 26, 2000.
| General Characteristics: | Awarded: November 1, 1962 |
| Keel laid: November 23, 1963 |
| Launched: May 22, 1965 |
| Commissioned: April 16, 1966 |
| Decommissioned: July 8, 1999 |
| Builder: Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT. |
| Propulsion system: one S5W nuclear reactor |
| Propellers: one |
| Length: 425 feet (129.6 meters) |
| Beam: 33 feet (10 meters) |
| Draft: 31.5 feet (9.6 meters) |
| Displacement: | Surfaced: approx. 7,250 tons
Submerged: approx. 8,250 tons | |
| Speed: | Surfaced: 16 - 20 knots
Submerged: 22 - 25 knots | |
| Armament as SSBN: 16 vertical tubes for Polaris or Poseidon missiles, four 21" torpedo tubes for Mk-48 torpedoes, Mk-14/16 torpedoes, Mk-37 torpedoes and Mk-45 nuclear torpedoes |
| Armament as SSN: four 21" torpedo tubes for Mk-48 torpedoes |
| Crew as SSBN: 13 Officers and 130 Enlisted (two crews) |
| Crew as SSN: 14 Officers, 15 Chief Petty Officers, 121 Enlisted + about 70 special forces personnel |
back to top go to the end of the page
Crew List:
This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS JAMES K. POLK. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.
- Click here to view the list.
back to top go to the end of the page
- Click here to see which USS JAMES K. POLK memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.
back to top go to the end of the page
About the Submarine's Name:
James K. Polk, 11th President of the United States, was born 2 November 1795, in Mecklenburg County, N.C. A leading Jacksonian Democrat in the Tennessee State Legislature, he was not yet 50 years old when inaugurated President of the United States 4 March 1845. He ably conducted the Mexican War following the annexation of Texas. The "Four Great Measures" he announced for his administration were all achieved: the reduction of tariff; the reestablishment of the Independent Treasury System; the settlement of the Oregon dispute with Great Britain; and the acquisition of California. More territory was added to the United States under Polk than any other President except Jefferson. Few presidents worked harder. His arduous and conscientious labor during his term so undermined his health that he died 15 June 1894, some 3 months after he left the White House..
back to top go to the end of the page
Accidents aboard USS JAMES K. POLK:
| Date | Where | Events |
|---|
| December 27, 1996 | La Maddalena, Italy | One of USS SIMON LAKE's (AS 33) mooring chains breaks during a storm with 90 to 100 knot wind gusts resulting in SIMON LAKE hitting the USS JAMES K. POLK, a LCM and a YFNB. All involved vessels experienced some scrapes to their hulls. Additional damage was caused to the pier and a light pole. |
back to top go to the end of the page
USS JAMES K. POLK Image Gallery:
As SSN 645:
back to top
Back to Ballistic Submarines list. Back to ships list. Back to selection page. Back to 1st page.
