"41 For Freedom": The FBM Submarine Quiz

Answer: George Washington

On November 1, 1958, the U.S.S. Scorpion was cut in half and a new 130 foot long missile compartment was inserted at the Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, CT. She was renamed the U.S.S. George Washington SSBN 598. She was 382' long with a beam of 33'.

She was launched on June 9, 1959 and shortly thereafter launched the first Polaris missile while submerged. She was affectionately called the "Georgefish" by her crew and remained in service until January 24, 1985. The name "Scorpion" was later assigned to SSN 589 which was lost at sea on May 22, 1968 with all hands on board.

Answer: Patrick Henry

On May 27, 1958, the keel was laid on the 382' long U.S.S. Patrick Henry. She was launched on September 22, 1959 and commissioned on April 11, 1960. The Patrick Henry was built at the Electric Boat Shipyard and remained in service until her decommissioning on May 25, 1984.

Answer: Theodore Roosevelt

On May 20, 1958, the keel was laid on the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, CA. She was launched on October 3, 1959 and commissioned on February 13, 1961. She made deterrent patrols until her decommissioning on December 1, 1982.

Answer: Robert E. Lee

On August 25, 1958, the keel of the U.S.S. Robert E. Lee was laid down at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia. She was launched on December 18, 1959 and commissioned on September 16, 1960. She was decommissioned on December 1, 1983 (exactly 1 year after the U.S.S. Roosevelt).

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

On November 1, 1958, the keel of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln was laid down at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. She was launched on May 14, 1960 and commissioned on March 8, 1961. She was decommissioned on February 28, 1981. The Abraham Lincoln was the fifth and final ship of the 598 class.

Answer: Ethan Allen

On September 14, 1959, the keel of the U.S.S. Ethan Allen was laid down at the General Dynamics Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Ct. She was launched on November 22, 1960 and commissioned on August 8, 1961. She was decommissioned on March 31, 1983.

Answer: Sam Houston

U.S.S. Sam Houston had its keel laid on December 28, 1959 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company of Newport News, Virginia. She was launched on February 2, 1961 and commissioned on March 6, 1962. She was decommissioned on September 6, 1991.

Answer: Thomas A. Edison

The U.S.S. Thomas A. Edison had its keel laid on March 15, 1960 at the Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Ct. It was launched the following year on June 15, 1961 and commissioned on March 10, 1962. She remained in service until she was decommissioned on December 1, 1983.

Answer: John Marshall

The keel of the John Marshall SSBN 611 was laid on April 4, 1960. She was launched on July 15, 1961 and commissioned on May 21, 1962. She made deterrent patrols until she became the first boomer to be converted to an attack submarine and re-designated as SSN 611 on January 12, 1981.

She was decommissioned on July 22, 1992. John Jay, John Rutledge, and Oliver Ellsworth were the first, second, and third Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. The John Marshall was the fourth and final ship of the 608 class.

Answer: Lafayette

The USS Lafayette was the namesake of, and, first 616 class submarine in the U.S. submarine fleet. She was built at the Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Ct. Her keel was laid on January 17, 1961 and she was launched on May 8, 1962. When she was commissioned on April 23, 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy was famously photographed breaking a bottle of champagne on her hull as the Lafayette's sponsor.

She made patrols until she was decommissioned on August 12, 1991.