The James Madison class of submarine was an evolutionary development from the of fleet ballistic missile submarine. They were identical to the Lafayettes except for being initially designed to carry the Polaris A-3 missile instead of the earlier A-2. This class, together with the,,, and classes, composed the "41 for Freedom" that was the Navy's primary contribution to the nuclear deterrent force through the late 1980s. This class and the Benjamin Franklin class are combined with the Lafayettes in some references.
In the early 1970s all were modified for the Poseidon C-3 missile. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, six boats were further modified to carry the Trident I C-4 missile, along with six Benjamin Franklin-class boats. These were James Madison, Daniel Boone, John C. Calhoun, Von Steuben, Casimir Pulaski, and Stonewall Jackson.
The James Madisons were decommissioned between 1986 and 1995 due to a combination of SALT II treaty limitations as the SSBNs entered service, age, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. One (Sam Rayburn) remains out of commission but converted to a Moored Training Ship (MTS-635) with the missile compartment removed. She is stationed at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, VA for inactivation.[1]
Submarines of the James Madison class:[1] [2] (Submarines marked with * indicate Trident I C-4 ballistic missile conversions.)
| Name | Hull number | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Period of service | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSBN-627 | Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. | 5 March 1962 | 15 March 1963 | 28 July 1964 | 20 November 1992 | 28.3 | Disposed of through Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, 1997 | ||
| SSBN-628 | General Dynamics Electric Boat | 1 June 1962 | 22 June 1963 | 29 May 1964 | 23 July 1993 | 29.2 | Disposed of through Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, 1994 | ||
| SSBN-629 | Mare Island Naval Shipyard | 6 February 1962 | 22 June 1963 | 23 April 1964 | 18 February 1994 | 29.8 | Disposed of through Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, 1994 | ||
| SSBN-630 | Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. | 4 June 1962 | 22 June 1963 | 15 September 1964 | 28 March 1994 | 29.5 | Disposed of through Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, 1994 | ||
| SSBN-631 | General Dynamics Electric Boat | 18 August 1962 | 2 November 1963 | 17 July 1964 | 12 June 1992 | 27.9 | Disposed of through Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, 1992 | ||
| SSBN-632 | Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. | 4 September 1962 | 18 October 1963 | 30 September 1964 | 26 February 1994 | 29.4 | Disposed of through Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, 2001 | ||
| SSBN-633 | General Dynamics Electric Boat | 12 January 1963 | 1 February 1964 | 14 August 1964 | 7 March 1994 | 29.6 | Disposed of through Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, 1994 | ||
| SSBN-634 | Mare Island Naval Shipyard | 4 July 1962 | 30 November 1963 | 26 August 1964 | 9 February 1995 | 30.4 | Disposed of through Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, 1995 | ||
| SSBN-635 | Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. | 3 December 1962 | 20 December 1963 | 2 December 1964 | 31 July 1989 | 24.7 | Converted to Moored Training Ship (MTS-635) with missile compartment removed. | ||
| SSBN-636 | Portsmouth Naval Shipyard | 21 May 1962 | 12 May 1964 | 19 December 1964 | 15 December 1986 | 22.0 | Disposed of through Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, 2000 |