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Career (US)
Class and type:	Lafayette-class submarine
Ordered:	February 3, 1961
Builder:	Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
Laid down:	July 31, 1961
Launched:	August 4, 1962
Commissioned:	December 7, 1963
Decommissioned:	September 25, 1990
Status:	Submarine recycling
General characteristics
Displacement:	7,250 tons surfaced 8,250 tons submerged
Length:	425 feet (129.6 meters)
Beam:	33 feet (10 meters)
Draft:	31.5 feet (9.6 meters)
Propulsion:	1 S5W reactor
Speed:	16-20 knots surfaced 22-25 knots submerged
Complement:	Two crews of 13 officers and 130 enlisted

USS James Monroe (SSBN-622), a Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for James Monroe (1758–1831), the fifth President of the United States.

The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 3 February 1961 and her keel was laid down on 31 July 1961. She was launched on 4 August 1962 sponsored by Mrs. Roswell L. Gilpatric, and commissioned on 7 December 1963, with Commander. William H. Sandford in command of the Blue Crew and Commander Warren R. Cobean, Jr., in command of the Gold Crew.

James Monroe was decommissioned on 25 September 1990 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 25 September 1990. Ex-James Monroe entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, and on 10 January 1995 ceased to exist.

Based on data from the Naval Vessel Register.

History of the USS James Monroe IMPORTANT DATES

Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.; Newport News, VA Keel Laid: 7/31/61 Launched: 8/4/62, sponsored by Mrs. Roswell L. Gilpatric, wife of the Deputy Secretary of Defense Commissioned: 12/7/63, with Cdr William H. Sandeford B, Cdr Warren R. Cobean, Jr. G in command First Missile Firing: 2/17/64 Decommissioned and struck from the Navy List: 9/25/90, 26.8 years old Disposed of through SRP at PSNS, Bremerton, WA: 10JAN95, after 31.1 years

FACTS

"LAFAYETTE" 616 Class SSBN Displacement: 7325 tons (surfaced), 8251 tons (submerged) Length: 425' Beam: 33' Speed: 16k (surfaced), 21k (submerged) Test Depth: 1300' Tubes: 16 missile tubes and four 21" torpedo tubes (forward) Crew: 14 officers - 126 enlisted men (each of 2 crews)

Power Plant: S5W nuclear reactor Two geared steam turbines, 15,000 SHP, one shaft

Armament: 16 tubes for Polaris or Poseidon Missiles:

   Polaris A2 (1964-1969)
   Polaris A3 (1969-1975)
   Poseidon C3 (1977-1990)

Torpedos: four 21" Torpedo Tubes (All Foward)

   MK 14/16 Anti-ship Torpedo
   MK 37 Anti-Submarine Torpedo
   MK 45 ASTOR Nuclear Torpedo
   MK 48 Anti-Submarine Torpedo

HISTORY

Following shakedown off Cape Kennedy, Florida, the USS James Monroe (SSBN-622) spent the early months of 1964 in ballistic missile tests. The first missile firing took place on Feb. 17, 1964. She departed from Charleston, SC with 16 Polaris A-2 missiles for her first patrol on 1 June 1964, emphasizing the expanded peacekeeping role of Polaris submarines.

It is fitting that a submarine named for President Monroe belong to a modern United States peacekeeping force since his famous Monroe Doctrine is one of the cornerstones of American freedom. "The American continents ..." he warned, "are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European power."

On 17 January 1967 the USS James Monroe completed her 12th deterrent patrol. She operated from both of the European Polaris replenishment anchorages as part of Submarine Squadron 14 in Holy Loch, Scotland and as part of Submarine Squardon 16 in Rota, Spain; maintaining her creed and motto of "Watchful Waiting."

Her ability to remain on patrol station is limited only by the amount of food carried and the mental and physical endurance of her crew.

The USS James Monroe on 9 January 1968 became the first submarine with POLARIS A2's to enter overhaul and to receive POLARIS A3 capability.

On December 31, 1969, USS James Monroe departed overhaul and headed for Pearl Harbor and Guam via the Panama Canal to begin deterrent patrols from the Polaris Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine Refit Site III site at Polaris Point in Apra Harbor, Guam as part of Submarine Squadron 15. On 3 March 1970 the Monroe deployed for her second on-line patrol cycle with 16 A-3 Polaris missiles. She was supported by the submarine tenders USS Proteus (AS-19) and USS Hunley (AS-31).

In December, 1971 the USS Hunley relieved the USS Proteus at Apra Harbor, Guam. The USS Hunley serviced the boats of SUBRON 15 until January, 1973, when relieved by the USS Proteus returning from overhaul. On 22 August 1972, the USS James Monroe received a Meritorous Unit Commendation for consistently exhibiting outstanding readiness to perform her assigned strategic deterrent mission. This was demonstrated by exceptional performance in comprehensive inspections, completion of five uniformly outstanding Polaris deterrent patrols, and fleet-wide recognition for achieving career motivation excellence during the period 2 October 1970 to 31 December 1971. The USS James Monroe made 15 strategic deterrent patrols from Guam before returning to Pearl Harbor for crew consolidation and transiting to Newport News in October, 1974 to commence her second overhaul and conversion to Poseidon C-3 capability.

After completing her second overhaul in 1977 the USS James Monroe was based in Charleston, SC and operated from Holy Loch, Scotland.

On July 2, 1979, the commander of Submarine Squadron 16 greeted the submarine tender USS Simon Lake (AS 33) when it arrived at Kings Bay. Four days later, the USS James Monroe entered Kings Bay and moored alongside the USS Simon Lake's starboard side to begin a routine refit in preparation of another deterrent patrol. Kings Bay has been an operating submarine base since that day.

The USS James Monroe was decommissioned and struck from the Navy List on 25 September 1990 and disposed of through the SRP at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton on 10 January 1995.