USS Alabama (SSBN-731)
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USS ''Alabama'' (SSBN-731) is the sixth nuclear-powered
ballistic missile submarine A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with nuclear warheads. The United States Navy's hull classification symbols for ballistic missile submarines are SSB and SSBN – t ...
, and the seventh
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
vessel to be named for the state of
Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...
. The boat's motto duplicates the state's motto, ''
Audemus Jura Nostra Defendere ''Audemus jura nostra defendere'' — Latin for "We Dare Defend Our Rights" or "We Dare Maintain Our Rights" — is the state motto of Alabama and is depicted on the official Coat of arms of Alabama. The current coat of arms was created in 1923 a ...
'' ("We dare defend our rights").


Construction and commissioning

The contract for ''Alabama''s construction was awarded on 27 February 1978 and her
keel The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element on a vessel. On some sailboats, it may have a hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose, as well. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in the construction of a ship, in Br ...
was laid down on 14 October 1980 at
Groton, Connecticut Groton is a town in New London County, Connecticut located on the Thames River. It is the home of General Dynamics Electric Boat, which is the major contractor for submarine work for the United States Navy. The Naval Submarine Base New London is ...
, by the
Electric Boat An electric boat is a powered watercraft driven by electric motors, which are powered by either on-board battery packs, solar panels or generators. While a significant majority of water vessels are powered by diesel engines, with sail pow ...
Division of
General Dynamics General Dynamics Corporation (GD) is an American publicly traded, aerospace and defense corporation headquartered in Reston, Virginia. As of 2020, it was the fifth-largest defense contractor in the world by arms sales, and 5th largest in the Uni ...
. She was launched on 19 May 1984, sponsored by Mrs. Barbara E. Dickinson, wife of
William Louis Dickinson William Louis "Bill" Dickinson (June 5, 1925 – March 31, 2008), was an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, Dickinson served in the United States House of Representatives for Alabama's 2nd congressional district from 1965 to ...
,
Representative Representative may refer to: Politics *Representative democracy, type of democracy in which elected officials represent a group of people *House of Representatives, legislative body in various countries or sub-national entities *Legislator, someon ...
from Alabama, and commissioned at
Naval Submarine Base New London Naval Submarine Base New London is the primary United States Navy East Coast submarine base, also known as the "Home of the Submarine Force." It is located in Groton, Connecticut directly across the Thames River from its namesake city of New Lon ...
at
New London New London may refer to: Places United States *New London, Alabama *New London, Connecticut *New London, Indiana *New London, Iowa * New London, Maryland *New London, Minnesota *New London, Missouri *New London, New Hampshire, a New England town * ...
, Connecticut, on 25 May 1985.


Operational history

After commissioning, ''Alabama'' departed Connecticut to conduct her
shakedown cruise Shakedown cruise is a nautical term in which the performance of a ship is tested. Generally, shakedown cruises are performed before a ship enters service or after major changes such as a crew change, repair or overhaul. The shakedown cruise s ...
off the coast of Florida. After several domestic maneuvers and crew changes, ''Alabama'' visited
Mobile Mobile may refer to: Places * Mobile, Alabama, a U.S. port city * Mobile County, Alabama * Mobile, Arizona, a small town near Phoenix, U.S. * Mobile, Newfoundland and Labrador Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Mobile ( ...
, Alabama, before heading for the
Panama Canal The Panama Canal ( es, Canal de Panamá, link=no) is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean and divides North and South America. The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a conduit ...
and from there to
Bangor, Washington Bangor Base is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kitsap County, Washington, within U.S. Naval Base Kitsap on the Kitsap Peninsula. Its population was 6,054 at the 2010 census. Geography Bangor is located north of the center of Kitsap County a ...
. ''Alabama'' operated out of Bangor until mid-May 1986, when she embarked on her first strategic deterrent patrol. Operating from the
Pacific Northwest The Pacific Northwest (sometimes Cascadia, or simply abbreviated as PNW) is a geographic region in western North America bounded by its coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains to the east. Though ...
, ''Alabama'' carried out four deterrent patrols between June and December 1986. In May 1988, ''Alabama'' conducted a successful test
ballistic missile A ballistic missile is a type of missile that uses projectile motion to deliver warheads on a target. These weapons are guided only during relatively brief periods—most of the flight is unpowered. Short-range ballistic missiles stay within the ...
firing, launching two Trident I C4 ballistic missiles. On 1 September 1988, ''Alabama'' moored at Bangor to complete her ninth deterrent patrol and the 100th strategic deterrent patrol by a Trident-armed submarine. An official ceremony commemorating the event was held
pier image:Brighton Pier, Brighton, East Sussex, England-2Oct2011 (1).jpg, Seaside pleasure pier in Brighton, England. The first seaside piers were built in England in the early 19th century. A pier is a raised structure that rises above a body of ...
-side with then-
Undersecretary of the Navy The Under Secretary of the Navy is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the United States Department of the Navy. The Under Secretary, called the "Under" in Pentagon slang, reports to the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV). Before the cre ...
H. Lawrence Garrett III heading the official greeting party. ''Alabama'' conducted another test ballistic missile firing in August 1989, launching four Trident I C4 ballistic missiles. In the 1990s ''Alabama'' conducted routine refit operations out of Bangor Washington, post-refit sea trials operations in Dabob Bay, and patrol operations in the Pacific Ocean. Ports-of-call included Seattle, Washington; San Diego and Long Beach, California; and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In February 1991, ''Alabama'' was selected as the change of command platform for the Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT) in Pearl Harbor. August 1992, ''Alabama'' embarked Commander-in-Chief, United States Strategic Command (CINCSTRATCOM) and his entourage of senior U.S. Air Force and Navy Officers for an at-sea submerged orientation tour concerning SSBN strategic deterrent operations. In January 1996, the boat was awarded the
Battle Efficiency E The Battle Effectiveness Award (formerly the Battle Efficiency Award, commonly known as the Battle "E"), is awarded annually to the small number of United States Navy ships, submarines, aviation, and other units that win their battle effectiveness c ...
and the Strategic Operations S by the Commander of
Submarine Squadron 17 Submarine Squadron 17 (also known as SUBRON 17) is a squadron of submarines of the United States Navy based in Bangor, Washington under the command of Captain Charles McLenithan. The submarines that make up SUBRON 17 include: * * * * * *USS ...
. In March she was awarded the U.S. Strategic Command's Omaha Trophy for ballistic missile unit excellence. In March 1999, ''Alabama'' conducted exercises with the battle group and . In September she conducted underway operations for the Defense Advisory Counsel on Women in the Services. After completing 47 strategic deterrent patrols, ''Alabama'' underwent a refit in 1999 and returned to service with numerous tactical and survivability upgrades. In spring 2000, ''Alabama'' completed her 50th strategic deterrent patrol and celebrated her 15th birthday. During February 2000 she conducted exercises with the battle group. In April she conducted a VIP cruise in Dabob Bay, Washington to host the Chief of Defense of Japan and members of his staff. In August she again conducted exercises with the USS ''Abraham Lincoln'' battle group. ''Alabama'' entered the Bremerton Annex of
Naval Base Kitsap Naval Base Kitsap is a U.S. Navy base located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state, created in 2004 by merging the former Naval Station Bremerton with Naval Submarine Base Bangor. It is the home base for the Navy’s fleet throughout Wes ...
at Bangor in 2005 to undergo a
nuclear reactor A nuclear reactor is a device used to initiate and control a fission nuclear chain reaction or nuclear fusion reactions. Nuclear reactors are used at nuclear power plants for electricity generation and in nuclear marine propulsion. Heat from nu ...
refueling overhaul and conversion of her ballistic missile systems to support the Trident II D5 ballistic missiles, which replaced her Trident I C4 ballistic missiles and launchers; ''Alabama'' was the last Trident C4-equipped submarine to be refitted with the Trident D5 missile system. The refueling overhaul and Trident D5 conversion was completed in February 2009. As of April 2014, ''Alabama'' is part of Submarine Group 9 and her home port is at Naval Submarine Base, Bangor, Washington. Alabama is the recipient of the 2016 and 2017
Battle "E" The Battle Effectiveness Award (formerly the Battle Efficiency Award, commonly known as the Battle "E"), is awarded annually to the small number of United States Navy ships, submarines, aviation, and other units that win their battle effectiveness c ...
, her second and third time receiving this award.


In popular culture

* ''Alabama'' is the setting for the 1995 film ''Crimson Tide'', starring
Denzel Washington Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has been described as an actor who reconfigured "the concept of classic movie stardom". Throughout his career spanning over four decades, Washington ha ...
and
Gene Hackman Eugene Allen Hackman (born January 30, 1930) is an American retired actor and former novelist. In a career that has spanned more than six decades, Hackman has won two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, one Screen Actors Guild Award, two BAFTAs ...
. The boat itself is seen in the movie during the diving scene as it leaves port.Ryan, Tim
"Navy wasn't privy to 'Tide'"
''Reading Eagle'' (12 May 1995).
* ''Alabama'' is featured in the films ''
Time Under Fire ''Time Under Fire'', released in the United States as ''Beneath the Bermuda Triangle'' is a 1997 American science fiction film directed by Scott P. Levy and executive produced by Roger Corman. Released by Royal Oaks Entertainment, the film star ...
'', '' On the Beach'', and ''
Danger Beneath the Sea ''Danger Beneath the Sea'' is a 2001 American made-for-television action film directed by Jon Cassar, and starring Casper Van Dien. Plot This is a nightmare scenario, true for many Cold War submarine veterans. After a North Korean nuclear missile ...
'', which reused footage from ''Crimson Tide''.


References

* * *


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Alabama (SSBN-731) Ships built in Groton, Connecticut Ohio-class submarines Cold War submarines of the United States Nuclear submarines of the United States Navy 1984 ships Submarines of the United States