Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) (SSN-600)
Launching

Radio Call Sign: November - Papa - Yankee - Sierra

To Additional Pages

Mockup - Keel Laying
Construction
Commissioning - Decommissioning

George Washington Class Ballistic Missile Submarine: Authorized as Scamp (SSN-588); Laid down as Scamp (SSN-600), 20 May 1958, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.; Renamed and redesignated Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600), 6 November 1958; Launched, 3 October 1959; Commissioned, USS Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600), 13 February 1961; Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 1 December 1982; Final Disposition, disposed of through NPSSRP (Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 24 March 1995.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 5,946 t., Submerged: 6,700 t.; Length 382'; Beam 33'; Draft 29'; Speed, Surfaced 16 kts, Submerged 20+ kts; Complement 139; 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
92k	Col. Theodore Roosevelt, 1st Cavalry, U.S.V. Ca. 1898.	Photo by Rockwood, NARA FILE #: 111-SC-89751, & # HD-SN-99-01956 from the WAR & CONFLICT BOOK #: 65, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
75k	Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of the launching of the Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600), 3 Oct. 1959.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
132k	Pages 1 & 2 of the launching program the Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600), 3 October 1959.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
129k	Pages 3 & 4 of the launching program the Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600), 3 October 1959.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
530k	Stern view of Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) on the ways at Mare Island prior to launching, 3 October 1959.	U.S. Navy photo # NY9 45957-10-59, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
283k	The arrival of Mrs. Alice Roosevelt Longworth (Sponsor) and Mrs. Anina Woods (Matron of Honor) for the launching of Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) at Mare Island, 3 October 1959.	U.S. Navy photo # NY9 45958-10-59, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
301k	Deputy Secretary of Defense Thomas S. Gates receives honors during launching ceremonies of Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) at Mare Island, 3 October 1959.	U.S. Navy photo # NY9 45959-10-59, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
342k	Building ways at Mare Island on the launching day of Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600), 3 October 1959.	U.S. Navy photo # 48863-10-59, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
535k	Building ways at Mare Island on the launching day of Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600), 3 October 1959. The only color photo of the *Theodore Roosevelt* launching at Mare Island I have located.	U.S. Navy photo # 48863-9-60c, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 11/03/06.
233k	Crowd at the building on launch day for Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) at Mare Island on 3 Oct 1959.	U.S. Navy photo # 45960-10-59, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 11/03/06.
301k	Mrs. Alice Roosevelt Longworth Christens the Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) at Mare Island, 3 October 1959.	U.S. Navy photo # NY9 45966-10-59, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
151k	Mrs. Alice Roosevelt Longworth after launching the Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) at Mare Island. Here is the story of this picture from the shipyard newspaper. "She didn't do it, but she was supposed to -- break the champagne bottle on the bow of the *Theodore Roosevelt*, first Polaris submarine built on the West Coast, and launched at Mare Island on October 3, 1959. Mrs. Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of the late President for whom the ship was named, was the sponsor. She was also the first, and last, Mare Island sponsor who declined a dress rehearsal for the launching ceremony. She missed the ship when she swung the bottle, and in desperation threw the bottle at the ship and missed again. Fortunately, a member of the crew up on the ship pulled the bottle up by the attached cable, and quickly smashed the bottle on the bow before the ship hit the water. He did a fine job as evidence by the broken bottle held by the tearful sponsor."	U.S. Navy photo # NY9 45983-10-59, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
118k	Mrs. Roosevelt Longworth waves to the Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) which had just been launched at Mare Island. Left to right: Mrs. Roosevelt Longworth, Capt. L. L. Schock (Production Officer, Mare Island) and RADM L. V. Honsinger (Shipyard Commandant, Mare Island).	U.S. Navy photo # NY9 45982-10-59, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
516k	Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) going down the building ways at Mare Island, 3 October 1959.	U.S. Navy photo # 45982-10-59, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
583k	Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) at the end of the building ways Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 3 October 1959.	U.S. Navy photo # NY9 45979-10-59, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
513k	Bow view of Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) waterborne after launching at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 3 October 1959.	U.S. Navy photo # NY9 45969-10-59, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
365k	The newly launched Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) is seen waterborne at Mare Island on 3 Oct 1959.	U.S. Navy photo # 45994-10-59, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 11/03/06.
492k	The new launched Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) is seen being pushed to her outfitting berth at Mare Island on 3 Oct 1959.	U.S. Navy photo # 45970-10-59, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 11/03/06.
105k	The Sponsor and Matron of Honor of Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) at the reception after launching of the submarine at Mare Island on 3 Oct 1959. Left to right: Mrs. Alice Roosevelt Longworth (Sponsor and daughter of TR) and Mrs. Anina Woods (Matron of Honor).	U.S. Navy photo # 45972-10-59, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 11/03/06.
161k	This bronze plaque of Theodore Roosevelt was presented to the submarine which carried his name by his daughter and the ship's sponsor Mrs. Alice Roosevelt Longworth.	U.S. Navy photo # 49986-12-60, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 11/03/06.