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USS Georgia (SSBN-729)
Career (US)
Ordered:	20 February 1976
Laid down:	7 April 1979
Launched:	6 November 1982
Commissioned:	11 February 1984
Status:	Active in service as of 2007
Homeport:	Kings Bay, Georgia
General characteristics
Displacement:	Surfaced: approx. 16,765 tons Submerged: approx. 18,750 tons
Length:	170.69 meters (560 feet)
Beam:	12.8 meters (42 feet)
Draught:	11.5 meters (38 feet)
Propulsion:	1 × S8G reactor
Speed:	20+ knots (37+ km/h)
Complement:	13 officers, 140 men
Armament:	4 × 21-inch torpedo tubes 154 × BGM-109 Tomahawks in 22 groups of seven.
Motto:	Wisdom, Justice, Moderation

USS Georgia (SSBN-729/SSGN-729), a Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, is the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the fourth state. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 20 February 1976 and her keel was laid down on 7 April 1979. She was launched on 6 November 1982 sponsored by Mrs. Sheila M. Watkins, and commissioned on 11 February 1984, with Captain A.W. Kuester commanding the Blue crew and Captain M.P. Gray commanding the Gold crew.

From March to April, 1984 she did her shakedown and test launched a Trident C-4 missile in the Eastern Test Range on 1984-04-07^[1]. In November 1984, she arrived in her home port of Bangor, Washington. In January 1985 she started her first strategic deterrence patrol. As an element of Task Unit 14.7.1 from September 1983 to May 1986, she was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation. She was awarded her second Meritorious Unit Commendation for Submarine Operations between February 1986 to August 1986.

On 1986-03-22 near Midway Island, USS Secota (YTM-417) had just completed a personnel transfer with the Georgia, when the Secota lost power and collided with the Georgia. Secota sank. Ten crewman were rescued, but two drowned. Georgia was undamaged^[2].

Her Gold Crew was awarded the Comsubron Seventeen Battle Efficiency Award for 2001.

On 2003-10-30, Georgia returned from her 65th and last deterrent patrol.

On 7 November 2003, while Georgia was docked at Bangor, Washington, her C-4 Trident I missiles were offloaded. The process proceeded smoothly until tube number 16. When each tube was opened, a ladder was lowered into the tube so a sailor could climb down and attach a hoist to lift the missile. After attaching the hoist, the sailor climbed out, and the crew took a break without removing the ladder. When they returned, they began to hoist the missile, pulling against the ladder and cutting a nine-inch (229 mm) hole in its nose cone. No radioactive material was released.

Three enlisted men in the missile handling team faced a court-martial. The Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific was immediately shut down and inspected by the Navy, and failed to pass. SWFPAC's commanding officer, Captain Keith Lyles, was relieved of command on 19 December, followed by his executive officer, Commander Phillip Jackson, weapons officer, Commander Marshall Millett, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Command Steven Perry. SWFPAC reopened after passing inspection under a new commanding officer on 9 January 2004. Georgia’s crew was unaffected.

Georgia was redesignated to SSGN on 2004-03-01. In October 2004 she participated as the command node of Exercise Silent Hammer, to validate and showcase the new Joint Warfare and ISR capabilities^[3].

In March 2005, Georgia entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for her scheduled Engineered Refueling Overhaul. The SSGN conversion is taking place concurrently. Both are expected to be completed by December 2007^[4][5].

After the refit, Georgia will be moving to her new home port in Kings Bay, Georgia^[6].

• Georgia is mentioned briefly in Tom Clancy's novel The Hunt for Red October.
• Georgia is mentioned in the 1996 movie Independence Day but the film footage of the submarine was from the set of Crimson Tide.

• See USS Georgia for other ships of the same name.
• USS Georgia Official Navy Home Page

This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register and various press releases.

1. ^ Florida Today Space and Missile Launch Database. Retrieved on 2006-08-29.
2. ^ This Day in Submarine History. Retrieved on 2006-08-29.
3. ^ Duryea, Dave, Capt., USN. USS Georgia – The Silent Hammer. Undersea Warfare. Retrieved on 2006-08-29.
4. ^ Conversion of USS Georgia From SSBN to SSGN. Retrieved on 2006-08-29.
5. ^ USS Georgia SSBN Enters Conversion to SSGN "Tactical Trident" SpecOps Sub. Defense Industry Daily. Retrieved on 2006-08-29.
6. ^ Isakson Praises Navy’s Decision to Move USS Georgia to Kings Bay. Retrieved on 2006-08-29.