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USS *Tennessee* (SSBN-734)
	USS Tennessee (SSBN-734)
History
United States
Namesake	The U.S. state of Tennessee
Ordered	7 January 1982
Builder	General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down	9 June 1986
Launched	13 December 1986
Sponsored by	Mrs. Landess Kelso
Commissioned	17 December 1988
Homeport	Kings Bay, Georgia
Motto	America at Its Best
Status	in active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine
Displacement	16,764 long tons (17,033 t) surfaced; 18,750 long tons (19,050 t) submerged;
Length	560 ft (170 m)
Beam	42 ft (13 m)
Draft	38 ft (12 m)
Propulsion	1 × S8G PWR nuclear reactor (HEU 93.5%); 2 × geared turbines; 1 × 325 hp (242 kW) auxiliary motor; 1 × shaft @ 60,000 shp (45,000 kW);
Speed	Greater than 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Test depth	Greater than 800 feet (240 m)
Complement	15 officers; 140 enlisted;
Armament	MK-48 torpedoes; 20 × Trident II D-5 ballistic missiles;

USS Tennessee (SSBN-734) is a United States Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine that has been in commission since 1988. She is the fourth ship and first submarine of the U.S. Navy to be named for Tennessee, the 16th state.^[a]

Construction and commissioning

Tennessee's construction was authorized in fiscal year 1980, and the contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 7 January 1982. Her keel was laid down there on 9 June 1986. She was launched on 13 December 1986, sponsored by Mrs. Landess Kelso, and commissioned on 17 December 1988, with Captain Dennis Witzenburg in command of the Blue Crew and Captain Kenneth D. Barker in command of the Gold Crew.

The Tennessee was the first Ohio-class submarine commissioned capable of launching the Trident II ballistic missile (D5). On 21 March 1989, off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, the Tennessee attempted the first submerged launch of the D5 which failed four seconds into the flight. Once the problem was understood, relatively simple changes were made and the first successful submerged test launch of a D5 missile was completed on 2 August 1989 by the Tennessee's Gold Crew.

Service History

In 2021, Tennessee entered drydock to undergo a major overhaul at TRF Kings Bay, one that the facility says is the longest and most extensive work package it has executed in its history.

In December 2022, Tennessee conducted a training exercise in the Atlantic with HMS Victorious (S29).

Commander of the United States European Command, General Christopher G. Cavoli, embarked the Tennessee in July 2023 alongside William J. Houston who, at the time, held the position of Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic. They were given a formal tour by the crew.

In July 2023, Tennessee made a scheduled port visit to HMNB Clyde in Scotland. Simultaneously, the USS Kentucky (SSBN-737) pulled into the Busan Naval Base in South Korea. This was allegedly conducted as a show of force and to show the capabilities of the U.S. SSBN Fleet. The following year, July 2024, the Tennessee made yet another port call to HMNB Clyde. Prior to this, it had conducted operations in the Norwegian Sea alongside the USS Normandy (CG-60), where it was reported that the Norwegian Flag Commodore Trond Gimmingsrud embarked Tennessee for a demonstration of SSBN operations.

In popular culture

In Tom Clancy's 1994 novel Debt of Honor, Tennessee is one of several submarines sent to deal with a Japanese invasion of the Northern Mariana Islands. She is used as a "slow-attack" submarine, relying on her stealthiness and her torpedo tubes in combating Japanese forces. Tennessee is also used as a refueling point for a group of attack helicopters.

Notes

^ Two ships of the Confederate States Navy were named CSS Tennessee.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "SSBN-726 Ohio-Class FBM Submarines". Federation of American Scientists. 9 February 2000. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Frost, Peter. "Newport News contract awarded". Daily Press. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
^ "US study of reactor and fuel types to enable naval reactors to shift from HEU fuel". Fissile Materials. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
^ Brendan Patrick Hanlon (July 2015). Validation of the Use of Low Enriched Uranium as a Replacement for Highly Enriched Uranium in US Submarine Reactors (PDF) (Master thesis). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Submarine Frequently Asked Questions". Chief of Naval Operations Submarine Warfare Division. Archived from the original on 13 July 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2011.

This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.