USS Kentucky (SSBN-737)
{{short description|Submarine of the United States}}
{{Other ships|USS Kentucky}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
|+USS Kentucky (SSBN-737) {{Infobox ship image |Ship image=File:USS Kentucky (SSBN-737).jpg |Ship caption=USS Kentucky (SSBN-737) }} {{Infobox ship career |Ship country=United States |Ship flag={{USN flag}} |Ship name= |Ship builder=General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut |Ship ordered=13 August 1985 |Ship laid down=18 December 1987 |Ship launched=11 August 1990 |Ship sponsor=Carolyn Pennebaker Hopkins |Ship purchased= |Ship commissioned=13 July 1991 |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship captured= |Ship status={{Ship in active service}} |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship homeport=Bangor, Washington |Ship namesake=U.S. state of Kentucky |Ship badge=150px |Ship motto=Thoroughbred of the Fleet |Ship nickname= |Ship honors=*Gold Crew: Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Award First Place 2001
}} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Ship class={{sclass|Ohio|submarine|0}} ballistic missile submarine |Ship displacement={{Ohio class ballistic missile submarine displacement}} |Ship length={{Ohio class ballistic missile submarine length}} |Ship beam={{Ohio class ballistic missile submarine beam}} |Ship draft={{Ohio class ballistic missile submarine draft}} |Ship propulsion={{Ohio class ballistic missile submarine propulsion}} |Ship speed={{Ohio class ballistic missile submarine speed}} |Ship range= |Ship endurance= |Ship test depth={{Ohio class ballistic missile submarine depth}} |Ship capacity= |Ship complement={{Ohio class ballistic missile submarine complement}} |Ship troops= |Ship time to activate= |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament={{Ohio class ballistic missile submarine ssbn armament}} |Ship armour= }} |
USS Kentucky (SSBN-737) is a United States Navy {{sclass|Ohio|submarine|0}} ballistic missile submarine which has been in commission since 1991. She is the third U.S. Navy ship to be named for Kentucky, the 15th state.
Construction and commissioning
The contract to build Kentucky was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 13 August 1985 and her keel was laid down there on 18 December 1987. She was launched on 11 August 1990, sponsored by Carolyn Pennebaker Hopkins, who used a custom blend of Kentucky bourbon whiskey, mixed for the occasion, rather than the traditional bottle of champagne to christen Kentucky. She was commissioned on 13 July 1991, with Captain Michael G. Riegel commanding the Blue Crew and Captain Joseph Henry commanding the Gold Crew.
Service history
File:151107-N-ZZ999-001 - SLBM being launched from USS Kentucky.jpg
On 19 March 1998 south of Long Island, New York, Kentucky collided with the attack submarine {{USS|San Juan|SSN-751}}. No personnel suffered any injuries.{{cite news|title=2 U.S. submarines collide off Long Island|url=http://articles.cnn.com/1998-03-19/us/9803_19_briefs.pm_subs.collide_1_attack-submarine-collide-uss-kentucky?_s=PM:US|access-date=19 July 2023|work=CNN|date=19 March 1998|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100909172909/http://articles.cnn.com/1998-03-19/us/9803_19_briefs.pm_subs.collide_1_attack-submarine-collide-uss-kentucky?_s=PM:US|archive-date=9 September 2010}} The two submarines were conducting a joint training drill prior to deployment. One of Kentucky{{'}}s stern planes was slightly damaged; San Juan{{'}}s forward ballast tank was breached, but San Juan was able to surface and return to port. Kentucky returned to patrol the next day.{{citation needed|date=December 2011}}
In both 2001 and 2002, Kentucky{{'}}s Gold Crew won first place in the United States Atlantic Fleet in the Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Award Submarine Afloat Galley competition for outstanding food service.{{Cite web|title=ALNAV 006/01|url=https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/ALNAVS/ALN2001/aln01006.txt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216053351/https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/ALNAVS/ALN2001/aln01006.txt|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 February 2017|access-date=30 Dec 2020}}
Kentucky{{'}}s Blue and Gold Crews were awarded the Omaha Trophy for service as the best ballistic missile submarine in 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stratcom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/983634/uss-kentucky-awarded-omaha-trophy/|title=USS Kentucky Awarded Omaha Trophy|website=U.S. Strategic Command|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-29}}
On 12 October 2011, Kentucky had only her periscope above water, when she turned onto a new course that was blocked by the Totem Ocean ship Midnight Sun. The submarine came into close contact of about 800 meters with the freighter near British Columbia in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
{{cite news
|url=http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/12/navy-near-miss-cited-in-firing-of-kentucky-co-121911w/
|title=Near-miss cited in firing of sub CO
|first=Sam
|last=Fellman
|website=Navy Times
|date=21 December 2011
}}
In January 2012 USS Kentucky entered her Engineering Refueling Overhaul (ERO) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
{{cite web
|url = http://www.csg9.navy.mil/Subs_Squadrons/Squadron19/Squadron19.html
|title = Submarine Squadron 19
|website = Commander, Submarine Group 9
|access-date = 2013-06-17
|url-status=dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130617120207/http://www.csg9.navy.mil/Subs_Squadrons/Squadron19/Squadron19.html
|archive-date = 17 June 2013}}
On 7 November 2015, an unarmed missile launched from Kentucky during a test caused buzz on social media as it was mistaken for a UFO or meteor. The launch was also widely reported by the Southern California broadcast media.{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/navy-does-missile-test-off-coast-creates-streaking-040852172.html#|title=Naval missile test off California creates streaking light|date=8 November 2015|work=Yahoo News}}{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/people-freaking-over-bright-light-025327717.html|title=Everybody lost it when a Navy missile lit up the night sky over the West Coast|date=8 November 2015|work=Yahoo Finance}}
On 13 March 2016, following completion of her ERO, Kentucky deployed for the boat's first strategic deterrent mission since 2011.
{{cite web
|url=http://www.nkytribune.com/2016/03/uss-kentucky-ballistic-missile-submarine-returns-to-active-duty-after-40-month-overhaul/
|title=USS Kentucky ballistic-missile submarine returns to active duty after 40-month overhaul
|website=Northern Kentucky Tribune
|date=17 March 2016
|access-date=2016-03-17
}}
On July 18 2023, Kentucky made a port visit to the Busan Naval Base in South Korea, the first such visit in over forty years. Just days prior, USS Tennessee (SSBN-734) made a port visit to HMNB Clyde in Scotland. This was allegedly conducted as a show of force and to demonstrate the capabilities of the U.S. SSBN Fleet. During the visit, the President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee toured the submarine. U.S. General Paul LaCamera, commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, called the USS Kentucky a strategic American asset for extended deterrence, adding that the first visit by an American SSBN to Korea in over 40 years shows the "ironclad U.S. commitment to defending the Republic of Korea."{{cite web
|url=https://news.usni.org/2023/07/18/uss-kentucky-calls-in-south-korea-first-ssbn-visit-in-40-years|title=USS Kentucky Make Port Call in South Korea, First SSBN Visit in 40 years
|website=US Naval Institute News
|date=18 July 2023
|access-date=2023-07-18}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{Naval Vessel Register|{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=SSBN737}}}}
- {{Navsource|08/08737|USS Kentucky (SSBN-737)}}
- "Welcome Aboard" pamphlet provided to USS Kentucky tour visitors.
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|USS Kentucky (SSBN-737)|USS Kentucky (SSBN-737)}}
{{Ohio class submarine}}
{{1998 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kentucky (Ssbn-737)}}
Category:Ships built in Groton, Connecticut
Category:Ohio-class submarines
Category:Cold War submarines of the United States
Category:Nuclear submarines of the United States Navy
Category:United States submarine accidents