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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

George Washington (SSBN-598)

Radio Call Sign: November - Hotel - Alpha - Papa

George Washington Class Ballistic Missile Submarine: Laid down as Scorpion (SSN-589), at Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT.; Renamed George Washington; Launched, 9 June 1959; Commissioned, USS George Washington (SSBN-598), 30 December 1959; Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 24 January 1985; Final Disposition, disposed of through NPSSRP (Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 5,995-6,019 t., Submerged: 6,709-6,888 t.; Length 381' 6" ; Beam 33'; Draft 29'; Speed, Surfaced 20 kts, Submerged 25 kts; Complement 101; Test Depth 700'; Armament, 16 missile tubes; six 21" torpedo tubes, Propulsion, S5W Pressurized Water Nuclear Reactor, 2 geared turbines at 15,000 shp, one propeller.

Size	Image Description	Source
124k	George Washington was born 22 February 1732 in Westmoreland County, Va. He was commissioned in the Virginia Militia in 1753, rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel the next year, and fought brilliantly in the French and Indian War. Entering the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1759, Washington was an early advocate of independence. In 1775 he was appointed Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, and demonstrated a profound appreciation of sea power as well as great military genius. After years of hardship and arduous struggle, he finally won a decisive victory at Yorktown. In directing Allied movements during this campaign, one of the great strategic operations of our history, Washington brilliantly employed the French Navy to cut off Lord Cornwallis from help by sea. He had sought a decisive combined operation like this for years, for he wrote "In any operations, and under all circumstances a decisive Naval superiority is to be considered as a fundamental principle and the focus upon which every hope of success must ultimately depend. The Treaty of Paris recognized American independence 20 January 1783. After attending the Annapolis Convention of 1786 and presiding over the Continental Convention of 1787, Washington was unanimously elected first President under the new Constitution and inaugurated 30 April 1789. His two terms in office laid the foundations for strong government under the Constitution. Returning to his home at Mount Vernon in 1797, Washington was recalled briefly to command the American army when war with France threatened in 1798. He died at Mount Vernon 14 December 1799.	Photo from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540, courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
158k	George Washington (SSBN-598), sliding down the ways at Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT., 9 June 1959.	Courtesy of Maurizio Brescia.
58k	Commemorative postal cover marking the George Washington's (SSBN-598) launching 9 June 1959.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
60k	Rear Admiral William F. Rayborn, USN (left), and Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN, Chief of Naval Operations, examine a cutaway model of the ballistic missile submarine George Washington (SSBN-598), in July 1959.	Official U.S. Navy Photograph # USN 710496, courtesy of the USNHC.
73k	George Washington (SSBN-598), is being completed at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT. November 1959.	Courtesy of The Floating Drydock, "Fleet Subs of WW II" by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
610k	"Inaugural cruise for missile submarine. The Nuclear powered submarine George Washington (SSBN-598), a submersible missile launcher, cruises through waters of Long Island Sound on first builders trials. After two days of successful operations off the east coast, the submarine returned 16 November 1959 to Builder's docks at General Dynamics Shipyard, Groton, Connecticut. The submarine, launched 9 June will be equipped to fire Polaris Ballistic missiles from submerged positions at sea. On baord the *George Washington* during trials was Vice Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, USN, Assistant Director Naval Reactors, Divison of Reactor Development, US Atomic Energy Commission, and Assistant Chief of The Bureau of Ships for Nuclear Propulsion."	USN photo # USN 710591 courtesy of Cdr. Thomas B. Ray formerly of Essex CV-9 via Chris Stanley.
110k	A mushroom like tower of water rises from one of the 16 missle tubes on the George Washington (SSBN-598) during tests of the Polaris missle firing system at Groton, CT. on 11 Dec. 1959. A small one-ton cylinder fired from the tube is completly obscured by the column of water. The tube was flooded with water for the test.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of San Francisco Examiner via David S. Smith. Photo added 03/17/09.
104k	A sailor paints out the sail number of the George Washington (SSBN-598), prior to her first patrol in the Atlantic in 1960.	USN photo courtesy of NARA.
86k	The atomic powered ballistic missle submarine George Washington (SSBN-598) fires a dummy missle in a geyser of water 9 April 1960 after sailing into Long Island Sound with her newly commissioned sister ship, the Patrick Henry (SSBN-599). The operation is part of a month long observance of the 60th anniversary of the submarine service.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of San Francisco Examiner via David S. Smith. Photo added 03/17/09.
88k	James B. Osborn (2R), Skipper of Atomic Submarine George Washington (SSBN-598) at New London, CT., October 1960. At least three of the four personnel shown in this photo are enlisted. They are Fire Control Technicians (FTG's) and are in a shore based training facility probably at the Naval Submarine Base, Groton. CT. The man 2nd from the right is a Chief Petty Officer and the two on the outboard sides are 2nd Class Petty Officers. The man 2nd from the left could be an officer, but may also be a CPO.	Photographer: Al Fenn, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.Text i.d. courtesy of Dave Johnston.
123k	Operations room of Atomic Sub George Washington (SSBN-598). This photo is also in a training facility at the Submarine Base, Groton and shows what we called the "Drive and Dive" simulator.	Photographer: Al Fenn, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life. Text i.d. courtesy of Dave Johnston.
88k	The George Washington (SSBN-598) arriving w. officers & crew. The Skipjack (SSN-585) is alongside, October 1960.	Photographer: Al Fenn, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
179k	Submarine Silhouettes of 1960: Nautilus (SSN-571), Seawolf (SSN-575), Skate (SSN-578), Skipjack (SS-585), Triton (SSRN-586), Halibut (SSGN-587), Thresher (SSN-593), Tullibee (SSN-597), George Washington (SSBN-598), & Ethan Allen (SSBN-608) classes.	U.S. Navy Photograph submitted by Ron Titus, courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand. Corp.
187k	Nuclear Submarine Profiles 1960: Nautilus (SSN-571), Seawolf (SSN-575), Triton (SSRN-586), Skate (SSN-578) & Skipjack (SS-585) classes, Halibut (SSGN-587) & Tullibee (SSN-597) classes, George Washington (SSBN-598) & Thresher (SSN-593) classes.	US Navy photo courtesy of Ron Titus courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand. Corp. Photo i.d. courtesy of Dave Johnston.
85k	Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of the first visit to Holy Loch, Scotland, of the George Washington (SSBN-598), April-May 1961, after second submerged Atlantic cruise.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
39k	George Washington (SSBN-598) in floating dry dock at Holy Loch, Scotland, as seen through the periscope of the Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602) in 1961.	Photo courtesy of RJ Rutkowski, FTM2(SS)& plank owner Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602).
21k	George Washington (SSBN-598), cut out of the SSBN class.	Courtesy of globalsecurity.org
37k	George Washington (SSBN-598), entering the Charleston S.C. yard in June of 1962 for minor repairs.	USN photo courtesy of Robert Hall.
116k	George Washington (SSBN-598) entering Holy Loch, Scotland sometime before May 1963.	Photo courtesy of Ken Robarge, STS2 SS, GW Gold Crew 1963-1964.
422k	George Washington (SSBN-598) entering Holy Loch, Scotland sometime before May 1963.	Photo courtesy of Ken Robarge, STS2 SS, GW Gold Crew 1963-1964.
69k	George Washington (SSBN-598), date and place unknown.	US Navy photo courtesy of US Naval Historical Center.
88k	Encased missile being loaded aboard a Polaris sub in 1970.	Photographer: Bill Ray, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
38k	Commemorative wall plauqe of the George Washington (SSBN-598).	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
119k	George Washington (SSBN-598) passes the *Arizona Memorial* on her way out on a patrol after being classified as a attack submarine, probably circa early 1980's.	US Navy photo courtesy of Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr.
683k	An aerial view of a section of the Ship Intermediate Maintenance Facility at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on 17 May 1993. One submarine tender and 16 decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines are shown including the Seawolf (SSN-575); six *George Washington, and Lafayette* class SSBN's (with their missile sections cut out) plus several *Skate, Skipjack, Permit* and *Sturgeon* class SSN's. All are awaiting scrapping. Bottom row, from left to right Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), Skipjack (SS-585), Snook (SSN-592), Henry Clay (SSBN-625), Lapon (SSN-661), Dace (SSN-607), Skate (SSN-578), Swordfish (SSN-579), Sargo (SSN-583) , Seadragon (SSN-584). Across the pier are Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618), and not in view, Patrick Henry (SSBN-599), George Washington (SSBN-598),Barb (SSN-596) & Sea Devil (SSN-664).	Official U.S. Navy Photograph # DN-ST-95-01863, by Calvin Larsen, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. Photo i.d. courtesy of David Johnston (USN).
291k	"Sign of the times." March 1994 photo of Nuclear submarines at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard waiting in line for scrapping. Top row left to right are Ethan Allen (SSBN-608), Seawolf (SSN-575), Plunger (SSN-595), Shark (SSN-591), Nathanael Greene (SSBN-636), Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN-685) alongside Sperry (AS-12), with Triton (SSRN-586) across the pier from the *Sperry* . Bottom row, from left to right Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), Skipjack (SS-585), Snook (SSN-592), Henry Clay (SSBN-625), Lapon (SSN-661), Dace (SSN-607), Skate (SSN-578), Swordfish (SSN-579), Sargo (SSN-583) , Seadragon (SSN-584). Across the pier are Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618), and not in view, Patrick Henry (SSBN-599), George Washington (SSBN-598),Barb (SSN-596) & Sea Devil (SSN-664). There are so many submarines at PSNSY that the yard is running out of pier space.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
83k	Trench 94, Hanford Site, Washington, 1994. Hull sections containing defueled reactor compartments of decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines are put in disposal trenches. Once full, the trench will be filled with dirt and buried. The compartments are expected to retain their integrity for more than 600 years.	USN photo & partial text courtesy of home.flash.net/~tomj/tunny/chop/rx. & submitted by Jack Treutle.
569k	Sealed reactor compartments are shipped by barge out of Puget Sound Naval Base down the coast and along the Columbia River to the port of Benton. There the radioactively-contaminated hull sections are transferred to special multiwheeled high-load trailers for transport to the Hanford Reservation in Washington State. Pictured below is the burial ground for spent fuel of the following 77 nuclear reactor submarines as of March 2003: Patrick Henry (SSBN-599), Snook (SSN-592), George Washington (SSBN-598), Scamp (SSN-588), Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601), Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618), Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600), Dace (SSN-607), John Adams (SSBN-620), Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602), Barb (SSN-596), Ethan Allen (SSBN-608), Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), Pollack (SSN-603), Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN-685), James Monroe (SSBN-622), Skipjack (SS-585), Nathan Hale (SSBN-623), Plunger (SSN-595), Shark (SSN-591), Lafayette (SSBN-616), Sam Houston (SSBN-609), Jack (SSN-605), Haddo (SSN-604), Tinosa (SSN-606), Guardfish (SSN-612), Permit (SSN-594), Queenfish (SSN-651), Ulysses S. Grant (SSBN-631), John Marshall (SSBN-611), George C. Marshall (SSBN-654), Flasher (SSN-613), Guitarro (SSN-665), Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617), George Washington Carver (SSBN-656), Tecumseh (SSBN-628), Halibut (SSGN-587), Will Rogers (SSBN-659), Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655), Daniel Boone (SSBN-629), Greenling (SSN-614), John C. Calhoun (SSBN-630), Casimir Pulaski (SSBN-633), Skate (SSN-578), Sargo (SSN-583), Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657), Sturgeon (SSN-637), Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640), Swordfish (SSN-579), Seadragon (SSN-584), Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634), Simon Bolivar (SSBN-641), Hammerhead (SSN-663), Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) , Tullibee (SSN-597), Lewis & Clark (SSBN-644), Pargo (SSN-650), Seahorse (SSN-669), Gurnard (SSN-662), Flying Fish (SSN-673), Gato (SSN-615), Puffer (SSN-652), Seawolf (SSN-575), Baton Rouge (SSN-689), Bergall (SSN-667), Whale (SSN-638), Henry Clay (SSBN-625), James Madison (SSBN-627), Finback (SSN-670), Spadefish (SSN-668), Sunfish (SSN-649), George Bancroft (SSBN-643), Grayling (SSN-646), Pintado (SSN-672), Tunny (SSN-682), Archerfish (SSN-678), & Woodrow Wilson (SSBN-624).	USN photo & partial text courtesy of home.flash.net/~tomj/tunny/chop/rx. & submitted by Jack Treutle.
72k	George Washington (SSBN-598), sail on display at the sub base, New London Ct., 2009.	Courtesy of Larry Backus.
109k	George Washington (SSBN-598), sail on display at the sub base, New London Ct., 2009.	Courtesy of Larry Backus.