USS Florida (SSGN 728)
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USS Florida (SSBN-728), an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, was the fifth ship of the
United States Navy to be named for the 27th state. The contract to build her was awarded
to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on
28 February 1975 and her keel was laid down on bicentennial of the United States's
independence, 4 July 1976. The boat was unnamed at the keel-laying ceremony.
The initial ship's crew formed the precommissioning unit on 8 July 1980. The first
shipboard watches were stationed on 14 February 1981 to support the operational control
transfer of engineering systems to ship's force control. The Secretary of the Navy finally
named her on 19 January 1981.
Florida was launched on 14 November 1981 sponsored by Mrs. Jarcia M. Carlucci. Her
reactor was initially taken critical on 13 November 1982 and she went into service and the
crew moved onboard on 21 January 1983. Florida commenced initial builders' sea trials on
21 February 1983 and was subsequently delivered to the Navy on 17 May 1983 — 43
days ahead of schedule. She was commissioned on 18 June 1983, with Captain William L.
Powell in command of the Blue Crew and Captain G.R. Sterner in command of the Gold
Crew.
Both crews successfully completed the demonstration and shakedown operations, each
culminated by the successful launch of a Trident C-4 missile. Florida transited the Panama
Canal in February and arrived in Bangor, Washington on 25 March 1984. She completed
her first strategic deterrent patrol on 25 July 1984. As of November 1994, Florida had
successfully completed 38 strategic deterrent patrols.
In April 2004, conversion started to modify the USS FLORIDA to carry 154 conventional
cruise missiles instead of 24 Trident missiles. After completion of the conversion, the
FLORIDA will be redesignated SSGN 728. As an SSGN, the FLORIDA will also able to
support operations of up to 66 Special Forces Personnel for up to 90 days.
General Characteristics:
Keel Laid: July 4, 1976
Launched: November 14, 1981
Commissioned: June 18, 1983
Builder: General Dynamics Electric Boat Division, Groton, Conn.
Propulsion system: one nuclear reactor
Propellers: one
Length: 560 feet (171 meters)
Beam: 42 feet (12.8 meters)
Draft: 36,5 feet (11.1 meters)
Displacement: Surfaced: approx. 16,765 tons
Submerged: approx. 18,750 tons
Speed: 20+ knots
Armament: Tomahawk missiles, Mk-48 torpedoes, four torpedo tubes
Homeport: Kings Bay, Ga.
Crew: 17 Officers, 15 Chief Petty Officers and 122 Enlisted (2 crews)
United States Navy to be named for the 27th state. The contract to build her was awarded
to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on
28 February 1975 and her keel was laid down on bicentennial of the United States's
independence, 4 July 1976. The boat was unnamed at the keel-laying ceremony.
The initial ship's crew formed the precommissioning unit on 8 July 1980. The first
shipboard watches were stationed on 14 February 1981 to support the operational control
transfer of engineering systems to ship's force control. The Secretary of the Navy finally
named her on 19 January 1981.
Florida was launched on 14 November 1981 sponsored by Mrs. Jarcia M. Carlucci. Her
reactor was initially taken critical on 13 November 1982 and she went into service and the
crew moved onboard on 21 January 1983. Florida commenced initial builders' sea trials on
21 February 1983 and was subsequently delivered to the Navy on 17 May 1983 — 43
days ahead of schedule. She was commissioned on 18 June 1983, with Captain William L.
Powell in command of the Blue Crew and Captain G.R. Sterner in command of the Gold
Crew.
Both crews successfully completed the demonstration and shakedown operations, each
culminated by the successful launch of a Trident C-4 missile. Florida transited the Panama
Canal in February and arrived in Bangor, Washington on 25 March 1984. She completed
her first strategic deterrent patrol on 25 July 1984. As of November 1994, Florida had
successfully completed 38 strategic deterrent patrols.
In April 2004, conversion started to modify the USS FLORIDA to carry 154 conventional
cruise missiles instead of 24 Trident missiles. After completion of the conversion, the
FLORIDA will be redesignated SSGN 728. As an SSGN, the FLORIDA will also able to
support operations of up to 66 Special Forces Personnel for up to 90 days.
General Characteristics:
Keel Laid: July 4, 1976
Launched: November 14, 1981
Commissioned: June 18, 1983
Builder: General Dynamics Electric Boat Division, Groton, Conn.
Propulsion system: one nuclear reactor
Propellers: one
Length: 560 feet (171 meters)
Beam: 42 feet (12.8 meters)
Draft: 36,5 feet (11.1 meters)
Displacement: Surfaced: approx. 16,765 tons
Submerged: approx. 18,750 tons
Speed: 20+ knots
Armament: Tomahawk missiles, Mk-48 torpedoes, four torpedo tubes
Homeport: Kings Bay, Ga.
Crew: 17 Officers, 15 Chief Petty Officers and 122 Enlisted (2 crews)
SSBN-728
SSGN-728
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