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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch on left contributed by Mike Smolinski, Decal on right by unlimiteddetails.com

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 re designated, 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.
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For Full Size Image		SizeImage DescriptionSource
Kamehameha209kPre construction crew of the Kamehameha (SSBN-642), 1965, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
The contributor's father, Fred Baker was the HMC on the Gold crew.		US Navy photo courtesy of David Baker.
Kamehameha1.40kKamehameha (SSBN-642) at her outfitting berth at Mare Island on 1 July 1965.US Navy photo # MSA 68808-7-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Kamehameha200kA 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 L. Baker.
Kamehameha1.10kKamehameha's (SSBN-642) on builder trials on 5 November 1965. USN photo # 70426-11-65 TH courtesy Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Photo added 07/03/12.
Kamehameha733kThe submarines' commanding officer and ship's sponsor are seen at the reception following the Kamehameha's (SSBN-642) commissioning at Mare Island on 10 December 1965. Left to right: CDR R. W. Dickinson (Gold), Mrs. Samuel Wilder King (Ship's Sponsor) and CDR Roth S. Leddick (Blue). USN photo # 70915-12-65 TH courtesy Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Photo added 07/03/12.
Kamehameha315kThe 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 L. Baker.
Kamehameha278k Mess decks crew of Kamehameha (SSN-642) at Mare Island on 10 December 1965. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Kamehameha241k 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 L. Baker.
Kamehameha233k 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 L. Baker.
Kamehameha242k 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 L. Baker.
Kamehameha297kTwo officer waiting in the wardroom for the submarine's commissioning at Mare Island on 10 December 1965. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Kamehameha154k Bow view of Kamehameha (SSBN-642) in dry dock #3 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 10 December 1965 during her commissioning.US Navy photo # MSA 70893-12-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Kamehameha197kStern view of Kamehameha (SSBN-642) in dry dock #3 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 10 December 1965 during her commissioning.US Navy photo # MSA 70895-12-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Kamehameha200kView of the Kamehameha (SSBN-642) in dry dock #3 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 10 December 1965 during her commissioning. US Navy photo # MSA 70896-12-65,courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Kamehameha166k 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 December 1965.US Navy photo # MSA 70897-12-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Kamehameha195k Colors are raised aboard the Kamehameha (SSBN-642) in dry dock #3 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 10 December 1965 during her commissioning.US Navy photo # MSA 70902-12-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Kamehameha53k Commissioning party for the Kamehameha (SSBN-642) at Mare Island on 10 December 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 L. Baker.
Kamehameha50kADM 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 December 1965.US Navy photo # 70909-12-65, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Kamehameha169k Crew list of Kamehameha (SSBN-642) Gold Crew at the time of commissioning.US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Kamehameha169k Crew list of Kamehameha (SSBN-642) Blue Crew at the time of commissioning.US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Kamehameha22k Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the Kamehameha's (SSBN-642) commissioning, 10 December 1965. Courtesy of Frank Cramer.
There is no DANFS History currently available for Kamehameha (SSBN/SSN-642) at the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site, the main archive for the DANFS Online Project.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS KAMEHAMEHA SSBN-642
Official US Navy Web Site - USS Kamehameha (SSN-642)
FAS - SSBN-640 Benjamin Franklin-Class Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines
HISTORIC SUBMARINE DOCUMENTARY AND TRAINING FILMS
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