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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski
Radio Call Sign: November - Papa - Oscar - India

Thomas Jefferson (SSBN / SSN 618)


Ethan Allen Class Ballistic Missile Submarine: Laid down, 3 February 1961, at Newport New Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA.; Launched, 24 February 1962; Commissioned, USS Thomas Jefferson (SSBN 618), 4 January 1963; Reclassified Attack Submarine (SSN-618), 11 March 1981; Decommissioned, 24 January 1985; Struck from the Naval Register, 30 April 1986; Disposed of through Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program, 6 March 1998 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 6,700 t., Submerged: 7,600 t.; Length 410' ; Beam 33'; Draft 32'; Speed, Surfaced/Submerged 20+ kts; Complement 120; Test depth 1,300'; Armament, 16 Polaris missile tubes, four 21" torpedo tubes; Propulsion, S5W Pressurized Water Nuclear Reactor, two geared turbines at 15,000 shp, one propeller.
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Thomas Jefferson158k Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 – 4 July 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–1809), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776).Photo from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540, courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
Submarine Silhouettes 1960179kSubmarine 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.
USN photo submitted by Ron Titus, courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand. Corp.
Nuclear Submarine Profiles187kNuclear 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.
USN photo courtesy of Ron Titus courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand. Corp.
Photo i.d. courtesy of David Johnston
Thomas Jefferson531kThomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) a few days before her launching on 24 February 1962. The James Monroe (SSBN-622) is on the left.Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Thomas Jefferson161kMrs. Robert McNamara christens the Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) as William E. Blewett, Jr,, president of Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company stands behind her on 24 February 1962.Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Thomas Jefferson993kMrs. Robert McNamara has just christened the Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618), 24 February 1962. UPI photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Thomas Jefferson452kThe launching of Thomas Jefferson (SSN-618) at Newport News on 24 February 1962.Photo courtesy of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Thomas Jefferson143kThomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) sliding down Shipway 5 into the water. Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Thomas Jefferson181kCommemorative post mark on the occasion of the Thomas Jefferson's (SSBN-618) launching at Newport New Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA., on 24 February 1962.Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Thomas Jefferson252kThe trials of Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) on 17 December 1962. USN photo # NPC 1069067, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Thomas Jefferson350kThe trials of Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) on 17 December 1962. USN photo # NPC 1069069, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Thomas Jefferson422kSail boats above the sail of the Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) in this view on 17 December 1962. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Thomas Jefferson67kCommissioning Invitation for Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) on 4 January 1963. Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Thresher57k Navy ships circle in the vicinity of the site of Thresher's (SSN-593) sinking, 15 April 1963, five days after her loss. Ships are (left to right): Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618); Sunbird (ASR-15); Warrington (DD-843), group flagship; and Redfin (SS-272). Photographed by PHCS Parker.
Official USN photo # NH 97555, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Thomas Jefferson612kPort side view of Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) in this view on June 1965. USN photo NPC 1111769, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Thomas Jefferson1.07kView of the Thomas Jefferson (SSN-618) date and place unknown.
This photo appeared in 28 June 1974 edition of Mare Island's newsletter to mark the start of her overhaul at Mare Island.
Photo courtesy of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Wahoo882kMayor Florence E. Douglas presents Key to the City of Vallejo on 31 July 1974 to commanding officers undergoing overhaul at Mare Island: Left to right are: LCDR Ronald Doyle, [CO, Wahoo (SS-565)], CDR John Hummer [CO, Barb (SSN-596)], Mayor Florence E. Douglas and CDR Russell Knowles [CO, Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618)]. Photo MINSY 123X01-7-74 TH, from the files of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum, via Darryl L. Baker.
Thomas Jefferson
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2.34kEight submarines plus a deep-diving submersible were at Mare Island during March 1975. Skippers of the submarines are from the left CDR Noel B. Henderson, Flasher (SSN-613); LCDR Ronald J. Doyle, Wahoo (SS-565); CDR Russell Knowles, Jr., Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618); CDR Charles R. Larson, Halibut (SSGN-587) ; CDR John A. Webster, Jr., Seawolf (SSN-575); CDR Thomas H. Bond, John Marshall (SSN-611); CDR John J. Hummer, Barb (SSN-596); LCDR Roger B. Whitaker; Trieste II and CDR James D. Cossey, Snook (SSN-592). All vessels were under overhaul at the yard. Photo MINSY 128732-3-75, via Darryl L. Baker.
Thomas Jefferson567kMare Island was always dry docked constrained so the yard was good at using cofferdams to repair work under the waterline versus dry docking the ship. Here is a 3 photo PDF of a cofferdam being used to repair the sonar dome on the Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) in November 1975.USN photo # 133095-11-75 courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Thomas Jefferson623kAn aerial bow view of the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) underway on 14 June 1976. USN photo # DN-SC-86-00163 by PH1 A. Legare from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
Thomas Jefferson63kThomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) at Pearl Harbor with the Arizona Memorial in the background. The Thomas Jefferson was serving then as a unit of Submarine Squadron 15 throughout 1977 and 1978, at the end of which she completed her 44th deterrent patrol. USN photo courtesy of STSCS(SS) Robert Carlin.
Text courtesy of DANFS.
Thomas Jefferson489k Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) in the floating dry dock in Apra Harbor Guam in 1979 getting a hull cleaning while we were members of Squadron 15. Note the outer doors open on two of the torpedo tubes. Photo courtesy of Jeff Nieberding, ET1(SS) via Tom Kermen.
Thomas Jefferson51kThomas Jefferson (SSBN-618), underway, date and place unknown.USN photo courtesy of STSCS(SS) Robert Carlin.
Thomas Jefferson83kThomas Jefferson (SSBN-618), underway, date and place unknown.USN photo.
Thomas Jefferson213kThe Fulton-class submarine tender Orion (AS-18) services the Thomas Jefferson (SSN-618) on 15 August 1983. The Orion is berthed at the Italian island of Santo Stefano, located between the Sandinian coastal town of Palau and the island of La Maddalena. Official USN photo # DN-ST-84-07596 by PH3 Lange, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. & submitted by Bill Gonyo. Photo i.d. courtesy of Richard Watson, Orion Storekeeper 1983-1984.
Thomas Jefferson128kCommemorative post mark on the occasion of the Thomas Jefferson's (SSBN-618) commission on 4 January 1963 and her last day in commissioning, 24 January 1985. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
PSNSY 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 USN photo # 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.
PSNSY291k"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 (of blessed memory).
Spent Fuel569kSealed 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).
As time passes & more boats are retired from service and their reactors are brought here, so the numbers rise. In this photo dated November 2009, 98 nuclear submarines and six nuclear cruisers have been recycled. For an up to date view, click here
USN photo submitted by Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Insert link courtesy of wikimedia.org
Thomas Jefferson
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388k2 photo PDF of Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) at Gosport Park, located just a few blocks from Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. USN photos by Max Lonzanida from dvidshub.net via Yu Chu.

View the Thomas Jefferson (SSBN 618)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
FAS - SSBN-608 Ethan Allen Class FBM Submarines

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