USS TENNESSEE SSBN 734
USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) is a United States Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine and the first submarine of the U.S. Navy to be named for Tennessee the 16th state.
Tennessee's construction was authorized in Fiscal year 1980, and the contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on January 7, 1982. Her keel was laid down there on June 9, 1986.
December 13, 1986 USS Tennessee (SSBN 734), the first Trident II (D5) submarine, was launched during ceremonies at Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics, Groton, Conn. Mrs. Landess Kelso, wife of Admiral Frank B. Kelso, Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, was the ship’s sponsor.
November 18, 1988 The Tennessee was delivered 43 days ahead of schedule and below the target cost to the Navy.
USS Tennessee was commissioned on December 17, 1988, with Capt. D. Witzenburg in command of the Blue Crew and Capt. Kenneth D. Barker in command of the Gold Crew.
January 15, 1989 SSBN 734 arrived at its new homeport of Kings Bay, Ga. The Tennessee's ceremonial arrival marked the beginning of Trident operations in the Atlantic fleet.
March 21, The Navy's first Trident II Performance Evaluation Missile (PEM-1) was launched from USS Tennessee off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Fla. As a result of the failure of this flight test, several modifications were made to strengthen and protect the first-stage nozzle.
August 2, The Tennessee successfully launched the Navy's second Trident II (D5) Performance Evaluation Missile.
August 15, The ninth Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine launched the Navy's third PEM-1. This flight was unsuccessful because of higher than expected water pressures on the first-stage nozzle (like the first PEM) and demonstrated that additional fixes were necessary.
October 26, SSBN 734 completed a Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) at Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics, Groton, Conn.
December 4, The Tennessee successfully launched the Navy's fourth Trident II Performance Evaluation Missile. This missile incorporated all fixes necessary to preclude the failures seen in PEM flights 1 and 3. Also successfully launched missiles on Dec. 13 and 15th.
The seventh and eight Trident II Performance Evaluation Missile were successfully launched by the Blue Crew off Cape Canaveral, Fla., January 15 and 16, 1990.
January 29, The Director, Strategic Systems Programs, certified the Trident II (D5) Strategic Weapon System ready for Operational Test Phase II and commenced the start of Demonstration and Shakedown Operation on the USS Tennessee.
February 12, USS Tennessee (Blue) successfully launched the first Trident II missile of a two-missile ripple launch during a Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO-01) off Cape Canaveral. This was the ninth Trident II submarine launched missile. The second half of the two-missile launch was the 10th Trident II submarine-launched missile and the last Performance Evaluation Missile (PEM) launched.
March 23, The Strategic Weapons Facility, Atlantic, Kings Bay, Ga., completed the outloading of 24 tactical Trident II (D5) missiles on board the Tennessee. The loadout and acceptance of the missiles by SSBN 734 signaled the achievement of Initial Operational Capability for the Trident II Program. Reaching this key milestone completed a full-scale development program lasting over 6 years. The Trident II Development Program met all performance requirements and was completed under the original budget estimate set at the beginning of the program. USS Tennessee began the first Trident II patrol March 29, 1990.
November 3, USS Tennessee (Blue) successfully launched a missile during the first Trident II (D5) CINC Evaluation Test (CET) on the Eastern Test Range (ETR) off Cape Canaveral, Fla.
August 4, 1992 The Tennessee Blue Crew successfully launched four Trident II missiles during a CINC Evaluation Test.
September 10, SSBN 734 (Gold) successfully launched four D5 missiles during a CINC Evaluation Test.
April 9, 1995 USS Tennessee successfully launched two Trident II missiles during a Follow-on CINC Evaluation Test.
October 28, 1996 The ninth Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine successfully launched two Trident II missiles during a Follow-on CINC Evaluation Test.
March 1, 2005 SSBN 734 successfully launched two Trident II missiles during a Follow-on Commander Evaluation Test.
May 15, 2007 USS Tennessee launched two unarmed Trident II D5 missiles, in the Eastern Range in the Atlantic Ocean, during a Follow-on Commander Evaluation Test, marking the 119th consecutive successful submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test flight since December 1989.
October 10, 2008 Cmdr. James W. Jenks relieved Cmdr. Rhett R. Jaehn as CO of the SSBN 734 (Green) during a change-of-command and crew combination ceremony at the World War II Pavilion on NSB Kings Bay.
June 18, 2010 Cmdr. Brett D. Moyes relieved Cmdr. James W. Jenks as commanding officer of USS Tennessee (Green) during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk. Permanently home ported at Naval Submarine Base in Kings Bay, Ga., Tennessee is undergoing an Engineered Refueling Overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va.
July 29, 2011 USS Tennessee returned to NSB Kings Bay after completing a 30-month ERO.
September 8, Cmdr. Richard F. Dubnansky, Jr., assumed command of the USS Tennessee Gold Crew while Cmdr. Brett D. Moyes assumed command of the Blue Crew during a crew split and an assumption of command ceremony at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.
November 23, USS Tennessee (Gold) returned to homeport after completing a 10-week strategic deterrent patrol.
February 3, 2012 The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine departed Kings Bay for routine operations after completing a two-month refit period. Moored at Trident Pier in Port Canaveral, Fla., on Feb. 4.
February 22, USS Tennessee (Gold) launched an unarmed Trident II D5 missile, from the Eastern Range Complex off the coast of Florida, during a Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) off Cape Canaveral.
February 6, 2013 SSBN 734 (Blue) returned to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay after more than a three-month strategic deterrent patrol.
March 8, Cmdr. John L. Howrey relieved Cmdr. Brett D. Moyes as CO of the Tennessee (Blue) during a change-of-command ceremony at the NSB Kings Bay Chapel.
March 18, USS Tennessee (Gold) recently departed homeport for a strategic deterrent patrol.?
July 2, The Tennessee (Blue) departed NSB Kings Bay for a strategic deterrent patrol.
September 24, USS Tennessee launched four unarmed Trident II D5 missiles on Sept. 10 and 12th, from the Eastern Range Complex, during a Follow-on CINC Evaluation Test, marking the 145th, 146th, 147th and 148th consecutive successful submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test flight since 1989.
April 4, 2014 Cmdr. Christopher G. Bohner relieved Cmdr. Cmdr. Richard F. Dubnansky, Jr., as CO of the SSBN 734 (Gold) during a change-of-command ceremony at NSB Kings Bay.
July 22, USS Tennessee (Gold) departed Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay for a strategic deterrent patrol.
December ?, SSBN 734 (Blue) returned to homeport following a strategic deterrent patrol.