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

Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655)

Radio Call Sign: November - Tango - Oscar - Romeo
Benjamin Franklin Class Ballistic Missile Submarine: Laid down, 4 April 1964, at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT; Launched, 13 November 1965; Commissioned, USS Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655), 20 August 1966; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 5 May 1993; Disposed of through the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program, 28 February 1994 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 7,250 t., Submerged: 8,250 t.; Length 425' ; Beam 33'; Draft 32'; Speed, Surfaced/Submerged 20+ kts; Complement 120; Test depth 1,300'; Armament, 16 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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Henry L. Stimson 911k Five page PDF of a June 1955 DOD press release on the unveiling of a portrait of Stimson. Mrs. James Jules is the former Eleanor Standish Gamble, niece to Henry Stimson. Photo courtesy of Robert Hall.
Henry L. Stimson 175k Henry Lewis Stimson, born in New York City 21 September 1867, graduated from Yale in 1888. After graduate work and law school at Harvard, he entered the law firm headed by Elihu Root in 1891 and two years later became a partner. In 1906 President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Here he made a distinguished record prosecuting antitrust cases. After defeat as Republican candidate for governor of New York in 1910, Stimson was appointed Secretary of War in 1911. He continued the reorganization of the Army begun by Root, bringing it to high efficiency prior to its vast expansion in World War I.
Following the outbreak of war, he was a leader in the American effort to aid the stricken people of Belgium. After the United States became a belligerent, he served in France as an artillery officer reaching rank of Colonel in August 1918. His success in several important diplomatic assignments and as Governor-General of the Philippine Islands led to Stimson's appointment as Secretary of State in 1929. His management of the Nation's foreign affairs was highlighted by his strong opposition to Japanese occupation of Manchuria, the first aggressive step which led to World War II.
Returning to private life at the end of President Hoover's administration Stimson was an outspoken advocate of strong opposition to Japanese aggression. In 1941 President Roosevelt returned him to his old post at the head of the War Department and he skillfully directed the tremendous expansion of the Army to the force of over 10,000.000 men which crushed Axis ground forces in Europe and the Pacific.
Stimson retired from public office 21 September 1945 and died at Huntington, N.Y., 20 October 1950. 		Photo courtesy of Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
Henry L. Stimson 330k Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655) was sponsored by Mrs. Thomas J. Dodd, wife of Senator Dodd of Conn. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Henry L. Stimson 260k Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655) awaits her launching on 13 November 1965. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Henry L. Stimson 300k Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655) starts her slide down the ways, 13 November 1965. Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Henry L. Stimson 200k The Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655) slides down the ways at Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT;, 13 November 1965. USN photo by R.H.Weeks (PCO Gold) & submitted by Loree Riggs.
Henry L. Stimson 411k Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655) is waterborne on 13 November 1965. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Henry L. Stimson 261k Cover of the launching program of the Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655) on 13 November 1965. Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Henry L. Stimson 21k Commemorative postal cover marking the launching of the Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655), at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT; 13 November 1965. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Henry L. Stimson 19k Commemorative postal cover marking the commissioning of the Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655), 20 August 1966. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Henry L. Stimson 24k Admiral Rickover stands in the conning tower of the Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655) during sea trials at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT; November 1965. USN photo.
Henry L. Stimson 373k Admiral Ignatius J. Galantin at periscope of Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655), 17 March 1968. USN photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
Henry L. Stimson 163k Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655) cachet on her 15th anniversary of her commissioning, 20 August 1981. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Henry L. Stimson 139k The Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655) underway, 12 July 1984. USN photo submitted by Loree Riggs & pelicanharborsubvets.com.
Henry L. Stimson 338k The 22nd demonstration and shakedown operational launch of a Trident missile takes place from the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655). This is the 47th flight of the Trident on 15 December 1984. Official USN photo # DF-SC-85-12677 by Bob Duff, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.& submitted by Bill Gonyo.
Henry L. Stimson 90k The Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655), dockside, possibly at Charleston, S.C. USN photo courtesy of STSCS(SS) Robert Carlin.
Henry L. Stimson 122k Bows on view of the Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655), underway and undated. USN photo submitted by Loree Riggs.
Henry L. Stimson 47k The Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655), underway and undated. USN photo courtesy of STSCS(SS) Robert Carlin.
Henry L. Stimson 1.58k Undated port quarter view of the Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655). USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Henry L. Stimson 85k The Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655) cuts a swath through the seas in this undated photo. USN photo courtesy of Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr.
Henry L. Stimson 10.6k 47 photo PDF of life aboard Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655) between 1982-1987. DASO shot in 1984 after 2nd Overhaul in Newport News Photos courtesy of Steven Laughlin MM1/SS, SSBN-655(G), 1982-1987.
Henry L. Stimson 273k Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655) shows the flag on 12 July 1984. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Henry L. Stimson 270k Inside the Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655). USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Henry L. Stimson 910k Front cover of the 7 page decommissioning ceremony PDF for the Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655), 5 May 1993. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Henry L. Stimson 10k Commemorative wall plaque of the Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655). Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard625kAn aerial view of four boomers in the early stages of being scrapped out in a graving dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington, 17 May 1993.
Assuming the 17 May 1993 date is correct and based on recycling data in the June 1995 edition of Naval Proceedings, these are the likely submarines in the photo. Can’t tell which one is which.
On the top port side most likely is the Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617).
The rest are Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655),
George Washington Carver (SSBN-656) &
Will Rogers (SSBN-659).

Alexander Hamilton recycling start date was 1 October 1992 & recycling end date was 28 February 1994.
Henry L. Stimson start date was 2 November 1992, end date 28 February 1994.
George Washington Carver start date was 2 November 1992, end date was 12 March 1994.
Will Rogers start date was 2 November 1992, end date 12 August 1994.

Other Comments:
1. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard was only using one dry dock at this time for recycling. Therefore, four submarines in process was the limit.
2. Submarine on the upper left is defueled and the reactor patch is reinstalled. Missile tubes are SALT compliant.
3. Submarine on the lower left is defueled (top of defueling house is open). Missile tubes are SALT compliant.
4. Submarine on the upper right is likely in the process of being defueled. Missile tubes are not SALT compliant.
5. Submarine on the lower left has defueling house in place and maybe the next ship in line for defueling. Missile tubes are not SALT compliant.

Text I.d. courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
USN photo # DN-ST-95-01860 by Calvin Larsen, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
Reactor Compartments83kTrench 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 submitted by 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
View the Henry L. Stimson (SSBN 655)
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
USS Henry L. Stimson SSBN-655
FAS - SSBN-640 Benjamin Franklin Class FBM Submarines

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