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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch at left contributed by Mike Smolinski

Kamehameha (SSBN-642) (SSN-642)
Fitting Out - Commissioning

Radio Call Sign: November - Sierra- Kilo- Uniform

To Additional Pages

Keel Laying - Launching
Active Service- Decommissioning

Benjamin Franklin Class Ballistic Missile Submarine: Laid down, 2 May 1963, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 16 January 1965; Commissioned, USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642), 10 December 1965; Reconfigured for special warfare operations and redesignated, Attack Submarine (SSN-642), in July 1992; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 2 April 2002; Final Disposition, undergoing disposal through the NPSSRP (Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA.

SSBN Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 7,325 t., Submerged: 8,251 t.; Length 425'; Beam 33'; Draft 29'; Speed, Surfaced 16 kts, Submerged 21 kts; Depth limit 1,300'; Complement 140 (each crew, blue and gold); Armament, 16 missile tubes; four 21" torpedo tubes, forward, MK 14/16 Anti-ship Torpedo MK 37 Anti-Submarine Torpedo, MK 45 ASTOR Nuclear Torpedo MK 48 Anti-Submarine Torpedo ; Combat Sensors, BPS-11A or BPS-15 surface-search radar, BQR-7 sonar, BQR-15 towed-array sonar, BQR-19 sonar, BQR-21 sonar, BQS-4 sonar Propulsion, S5W nuclear reactor two geared steam turbines, 15,000 SHP, one propeller.

Size	Image Description	Source
200k	A sabot is fired from one of Kamehameha's (SSBN-642) missle tubes at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 22 Aug 1965 while she was being outfitted.	US Navy photo # MSA 69846-8-65, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
22k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the Kamehameha's (SSBN-642) commissioning, 10 Dec 1965.	Courtesy of Frank Cramer.
315k	The senior enlisted cooks of the Kamehameha (SSN-642) are ready for the commissioning luncheon at Mare Island on 10 December 1965.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 08/26/08.
278k	Mess decks crew of Kamehameha (SSN-642) at Mare Island on 10 December 1965.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 08/26/08.
241k	Four crew members are waiting on the mess decks for the submarine's commissioning at Mare Island on 10 December 1965.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 08/26/08.
233k	Crew member in berthing compartment aboard Kamehameha (SSN-642) on the day of her commissioning at Mare Island on 10 December 1965.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 08/26/08.
242k	Department heads and Commanding Officer of the Gold Crew, CDR Robert W. Diskieson, USN standing by in the wardroom for the submarine's commissioning at Mare Island on 10 December 1965.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 08/26/08.
297k	Two officer waiting in the wardroom for the submarine's commissioning at Mare Island on 10 December 1965.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 08/26/08.
154k	Bow view of Kamehameha (SSBN-642) in dry dock #3 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 10 Dec 1965 during her commissioning.	US Navy photo # MSA 70893-12-65, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
197k	Stern view of Kamehameha (SSBN-642) in dry dock #3 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 10 Dec 1965 during her commissioning.	US Navy photo # MSA 70895-12-65, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
200k	View of the Kamehameha (SSBN-642) in dry dock #3 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 10 Dec 1965 during her commissioning.	US Navy photo # MSA 70896-12-65, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
166k	Honors are rendered to ADM Roy L. Johnson, Commander-in-Chief, US Pacific Fleet during the commissioning ceremony for the Kamehameha (SSBN-642) at Mare Island on 10 Dec 1965.	US Navy photo # MSA 70897-12-65, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
195k	Colors are raised aboard the Kamehameha (SSBN-642) in dry dock #3 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 10 Dec 1965 during her commissioning.	US Navy photo # MSA 70902-12-65, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
53k	Commissioning party for the Kamehameha (SSBN-642) at Mare Island on 10 Dec 1965; from left to right Radm Edward J. Fahy (Shipyard Commander), CDR Robert W. Diskieson (CO Gold Crew), CDR Roth S. Leddick (CO Blue Crew), and LCDR Charles H. Pitts, CHC, USN.	US Navy photo # MSA 70912-12-65, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
50k	ADM Roy L. Johnson, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet addresses the guests at the commissioning of Kamehameha (SSBN-642) at Mare Island on 10 Dec 1965.	US Navy photo # 70909-12-65, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
169k	Crew list of Kamehameha (SSBN-642) Gold Crew at the time of commissioning.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
169k	Crew list of Kamehameha (SSBN-642) Blue Crew at the time of commissioning.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.