USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-709)

History
Name	USS Hyman G. Rickover
Awarded	10 December 1973
Builder	General Dynamics Corporation
Laid down	24 July 1981
Launched	27 August 1983
Commissioned	21 July 1984
Decommissioned	14 December 2006
Homeport	Norfolk, Virginia
Motto	Committed To Excellence
Fate	To be disposed of by submarine recycling
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Los Angeles-class submarine
Displacement	5,748 tons light, 6,123 tons full, 375 tons dead
Length	110.3 m (361 ft 11 in)
Beam	10 m (32 ft 10 in)
Draft	9.7 m (31 ft 10 in)
Propulsion	S6G nuclear reactor
Complement	12 officers, 98 men
Armament	4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes

USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-709), a Los Angeles-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Admiral Hyman G. Rickover and the only Los Angeles class submarine not named after a United States city. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 10 December 1973 and her keel was laid down on 24 July 1981. She was launched on 27 August 1983 sponsored by the Admiral's wife, Mrs. Eleonore Ann Bednowicz Rickover (whose first name is found in a wide variety of spellings, including Eleanore, Elenore, and Eleanor; Eleonore is used on the Admiral's gravestone). SSN-709 was commissioned on 21 July 1984 with Captain Fredrik Spruitenburg in command. A commemorative plaque honoring the ship's namesake was placed within the sub after commissioning with the poem "Admiral Rickover," an eight-line tribute by writer Ronald W. Bell. The poem appears below, provided by the author and with his permission:

                                         ADMIRAL  RICKOVER
                                      Possessed of a purpose
                                      He forged a path
                                      Across a frontier
                                      Untried and new
                                      Clinging to his course
                                      He met the task
                                      Threescore and more
                                      He served for you.

Service

During the months of January through April 1984 Rickover was nearing the completion of her construction. The initial manning was completed in January. Initial criticality of the ships S6G reactor was achieved on 10 March 1984. Berthing and messing areas were completed in April and on 23 April 1984 the crew moved aboard the ship. A special meal of rib eye steaks, baked potatoes, and corn on the cob was served to remember the occasion.

The ship was placed into service on 24 April 1984 and initial sea trials began on 16 May 1984 with Admiral Kinnaird R. McKee aboard. Admiral McKee served as Director of the Office of Naval Nuclear Propulsion, Department of Energy. The sea trials were completed smartly and in the shortest time ever for a 688 class submarine built at Electric Boat. Admiral McKee complimented the crew on their fine performance prior to his departure.

At precisely 12:08, 21 July 1984 USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709) was placed in commission by the commissioning officer Vice Admiral Bernard M. Kauderer, Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. The ceremony was held in a downpour at Submarine Base Groton, Connecticut was well attended despite the weather and the one hour delay due to the late arrival of Representative Charles E. Bennett of Florida, the principal speaker.

Rickover returns from its Final Deployment.

Rickover was inactivated on 14 December 2006 and will be transported to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, in early 2007 for the year-long inactivation process. She is scheduled to be decommissioned on 1 March 2007. While in Bremerton, ex-Rickover will go through a dismantling program overseen by the Navy. The submarine will remain moored at the shipyard until it is dry-docked for dismantlement and disposal, which is currently scheduled for 2016.