Overview
The mighty Kam is the best equipped
ship in the world to covertly insert special operations
forces in hostile territory. Like all submarines,
she's a trump card; a submarine can sit off
of a coast for as long as needed, undetected, waiting
to act or leave without raising tensions in the meantime.
The Benjamin Franklin-class were converted
from Fleet
Ballistic Missile submarines and carry drydeck
shelters. They are equipped for special operations
and support SEALs.
The former missile spaces have been converted to accommodations,
storage, and recreation spaces.
History
KAMEHAMEHA was built at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
She was commissioned on 10 December 1965 and was the
30th of America's "41 for Freedom" Fleet
Ballistic Missile Submarines. Mrs. Samuel Wilder King
served as the ship's sponsor at the launching. Her
husband was one of the first Hawaiians to graduate
from the U.S. Naval Academy, was Governor of the territory
of Hawaii, and strived for Hawaiian statehood.
After commissioning, KAMEHAMEHA joined Submarine
Squadron 15 at its forward base in Guam, Marianas
Islands. The ship was awarded the Meritorious Unit
Commendation for operations while a member of Submarine
Squadron 15.
In July 1969, the ship was transferred to the Atlantic
Fleet and joined Submarine Squadron 18 in Charleston,
South Carolina. In July 1971, KAMEHAMEHA was transferred
to Groton, Connecticut for weapons conversion and
a refueling overhaul.
Upon completion of the conversion and overhaul in
October 1972, KAMEHAMEHA conducted operations off
the east coast of the United States. In June 1973,
she joined Submarine Squadron 16 and made patrols
out of Rota, Spain. Six years later, in July 1979,
KAMEHAMEHA joined Submarine Squadron 18 and made patrols
out of Charleston, South Carolina.
The ship was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation
for operations in 1984 and 1985 as a member of Submarine
Squadron 14. In 1985, KAMEHAMEHA was selected as the
Atlantic Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine Top Performer.
KAMEHAMEHA underwent a refueling overhaul at Portsmouth
Naval Shipyard from November 1986 to December 1989.
After completing a total of 63 deterrent patrols,
KAMEHAMEHA's missile systems were inactivated in July
1992 and she was converted to a special purpose, brown
water attack submarine at Mare Island Naval Shipyard
in Vallejo, California. This conversion installed
modifications to support the surfaced and submerged
deployment of Special Operations Forces. In August
1993, KAMEHAMEHA arrived in Pearl Harbor to become
part of Submarine Squadron ONE.
KAMEHAMEHA now regularly deploys in support of special
warfare objectives throughout the Pacific.
Characteristics
USS
KAMEHAMEHA (SSN 642)
SUBMARINE
(NUCLEAR-POWERED)
