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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Florida (SSGN-728)
Conversion to SSGN

Radio Call Sign: November - Foxtrot - Lima - Oscar

To Additional Pages

Keel Laying - Preconversion to SSGN

Ohio Class Ballistic Missile Submarine: Laid down, 6 May 1977, at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT.; Launched, 14 November 1981; Commissioned, USS Florida (SSBN-728), 18 June 1983; Converted to guided missile submarine,(SSGN-728), 25 March 2006. Florida is assigned to the US Atlantic Fleet and is homeported at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 16, 600 t., Submerged: 18,750 t.; Length 560' ; Beam 42'; Draft 38'; Speed, Surfaced/Submerged 20+ kts; Complement 153; Test depth 1,200'; Armament, 24 missile tubes, four 21" torpedo tubes; Propulsion, S8G Nuclear Reactor, two geared turbines at 60,000 shp, one propeller.

Size	Image Description	Source
94k	The ballistic missile submarine Florida (SSBN-728) undergoing a change of life during her conversion process from SSBN to SSGN.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of sublant.navy.mil.
595k	The guided missile submarine Florida (SSGN-728) departs Norfolk Naval Shipyard on 25 March 2006 en route to sea trials following conversion from SSBN to SSGN at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. *Florida* is scheduled to return to service in May 2006. As the second of four submarines to be converted to SSGN, the nuclear-powered submarine will have the capability to launch up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, conduct sustained special forces operations, support up to 102 special operations forces (SOF) personnel for short durations or 66 SOF personnel for sustained operations and provide 67 percent operational availability forward deployed in support of combatant mission requirements.	U.S. Navy photo # N-0000M-001 by Mr. Steve Milner, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
545k	The Z-Drive Navy tugboat *Susan Moran* from Moran Towing Corporation of Greenwich, Conn helps the guided missile submarine Florida (SSGN-728) as she departs Norfolk Naval Shipyard on 25 March 2006 en route to sea trials following conversion from SSBN to SSGN at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.	U.S. Navy photo # N-0000B-002 by Mr. Steve Milner, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
669k	The *Lightship Portsmouth, formerly Lightship #101* was built in 1915 and was first stationed off Cape Charles, VA at the *Charles* light station. She served there until 1924, when she was moved to the *Obverfalls* lightstation off the Delaware Bay. She served at that station from 1925 until 1951, when she was moved to several stations in New England until her retirement in 1964. She was later moved to Portsmouth, VA, and made into a landlocked museum. She was renamed the *Portsmouth* as is the custom to take on the name of the station where "standing duty", even though there has never been an actual *Portsmouth* aids to navigation lightstation. In this capacity she bears witness to the guided missile submarine Florida (SSGN-728) as she departs Norfolk Naval Shipyard on 25 March 2006 en route to sea trials following conversion from SSBN to SSGN.	U.S. Navy photo #N-0000B-002 by Mr. Steve Milner, courtesy of news.navy.mil. Partial text courtesy of cheslights.org.
454k	The guided-missile submarine Florida (SSGN-728) arrives at Naval Station Norfolk, 31 March 2006 to make a brief stop during sea trials off the coast of Virginia.	U.S. Navy photo N-1464F-009 by Chief Journalist Dave Fliesen, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
353k	The *Nimitz class* aircraft carriers Theodore Roosevelt (CV-71) & George Washington (CV-73) appear in the background as the guided-missile submarine Florida (SSGN-728) arrives at Naval Station Norfolk, March 31, 2006, to make a brief stop during sea trials off the coast of Virginia.	U.S. Navy photo # N-1464F-007 by Chief Journalist Dave Fliesen, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
383k	16,000 plus tons of Florida (SSGN-728) plows through the Atlantic coast off of Naval Station Norfolk.	U.S. Navy photo # N-1464F-001 by Chief Journalist Dave Fliesen, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
244k	The guided-missile submarine Florida (SSGN-728) transits through downtown Norfolk toward her new homeport of Naval Submarine Base King's Bay, Ga. on 8 April 2006.	U.S. Navy photo # N-4014G-230 by Photographer's Mate Airman Apprentice Patrick Gearhiser, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
365k	The guided-missile submarine Florida (SSGN-728) departs Norfolk Naval Shipyard and en-route her new homeport of Naval Submarine Base King's Bay, Ga.	U.S. Navy photo # N-4014G-111 by Photographer's Mate Airman Apprentice Patrick Gearhiser, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
308k	The Z-Drive Navy tugboats *Marci Moran* & *Traci Moran* from Moran Towing Corporation of Greenwich, Conn. escort the guided-missile submarine Florida (SSGN-728) as she departs Norfolk Naval Shipyard and en-route her new homeport of Naval Submarine Base King's Bay, Ga.	U.S. Navy photo # N-4014G-130 by Photographer's Mate Airman Apprentice Patrick Gearhiser, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
374k	The guided missile submarine Florida (SSGN-728) makes her way through Cumberland Sound to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, 11 April 2006. *Florida* will be officially welcomed to her new home in Kings Bay with a return to service ceremony scheduled for May 25, 2006 in Mayport, Fla.	U.S. Navy photo # N-1810F-001 by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Lynn Friant, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
302k	Electronics Technician Third Class (ET3) Steven Norena (foreground) checks a radar display while an unidentified Sailor (background) studies a chart inside the control room of the Guided Missile Submarine Florida (SSGN-728) during operations in the Atlantic Ocean on 17 May 2006.	U.S. Navy photo # N-6027E-001 by JOC Kevin Elliott, USN, courtesy of news.navy.mil.& submitted by Bill Gonyo.
33k	Senior Chief Torpedoman's Mate Jefferey Davidson loosens a clamp for the flip-up chuck as the *Ohio-class* guided missile submarine Florida (SSGN-728) approaches Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., 11 April 2006.	U.S. Navy photo # N-7092S-286 by Journalist Seaman Brandon Shelander, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
538k	Machinist Mate 3rd Class Daren L. Solomon operates the broad-band sonar aboard the *Ohio-class* guided missile submarine Florida (SSGN-728), 12 April 2006 at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga.	U.S. Navy photo # N-7092S-078 by Journalist Seaman Brandon Shelander, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
523k	Lt. Cmdr. Sam Adams stands Officer of the Deck watch from the bridge of the *Ohio-class* guided-missile submarine Florida (SSGN-728), 17 May 2006. *Florida* will be officially welcomed to her new home in Kings Bay with a return to service ceremony scheduled for May 25, 2006 in Mayport, Fla.	U.S. Navy photo # N-6027E-003 by Chief Journalist Kevin Elliott, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
576k	Members of the media film inside a lock out chamber aboard the submarine Florida (SSGN-728).	U.S. Navy photo # N-6027E-004 by Chief Journalist Kevin Elliott, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
665k	Senior Chief Electronics Technician Andrew Mochrie, seated center, mans the diving officer of the watch in the control room aboard the submarine Florida (SSGN-728).	U.S. Navy photo # N-6027E-006 by Chief Journalist Kevin Elliott, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
630k	Electronics Technician 3rd Class Nicholas Martin carries an oxygen breathing apparatuses (OBA) during a battle stations drill aboard the Florida (SSGN-728).	U.S. Navy photo # N-6027E-007 by Chief Journalist Kevin Elliott, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
310k	Sailors aboard the *Ohio-class* guided missile submarine Florida (SSGN-728) "bring her to life" during a return to service ceremony, at Mayport, Fla. 25 May 2006.	U.S. Navy photo # N-1126D-006 by Photographer's Mate 3rd class Clarck Desire, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
265k	Sailors aboard the *Ohio-class* guided missile submarine Florida (SSGN-728) "bring her to life" during a return to service ceremony, at Mayport, Fla. 25 May 2006.	U.S. Navy photo # N-1126D-003 by Photographer's Mate 3rd class Clarck Desire, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
64k	Stepping on one of these thing will most likely be an uplifting experience.	U.S. Navy photo by STSCS(SS) Robert Carlin.
446k	One of the results from the overhaul is evident by looking at Florida's (SSGN-728) missile deck; it was expanded wider to accept two ASDS or SDV units.	U.S. Navy photo by STSCS(SS) Robert Carlin.
59k	The business end of the Florida (SSGN-728).	U.S. Navy photo by STSCS(SS) Robert Carlin.
190k	Off Key West Florida on 27 July 2007, a Navy diver stands by to assist a special operator, both from SEAL Delivery Team (SDV) 2, with SDV operations with the nuclear-powered submarine Florida (SSGN-728) for material certification. Material certification allows operators to perform real-world operations anytime, anywhere.	U.S. Navy photo # N-3093M-018 by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Andrew McKaskle, courtesy of news.navy.mil. Photo added 11/30/07.