USS George Washington Carver, a Benjamin Franklin class nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarine, was built at Newport News, Virginia. Commissioned in June 1966, she commenced strategic deterrence patrols soon thereafter with the Polaris missile. In 1972-74, she was refitted with the larger Poseidon missile. Operating out of Holy Loch, Scotland, George Washington Carver carried out a total of 73 patrols in the Atlantic area up to mid-1991, when she was transferred to the Pacific for final operations. In October 1992, she began inactivation preparations and was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in March 1993.

USS George Washington Carver was named in honor of the African-American scientist George Washington Carver (1864-1943).

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Photo #: USN 1116556 USS George Washington Carver (SSBN-656) Underway at sea, circa June 1966 Official U.S. Navy Photograph Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 615 Reproductions may be available through the National Archives
Photo #: USN 1129315 USS George Washington Carver (SSBN-656) In the Atlantic Ocean, 13 July 196. Official U.S. Navy Photograph Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 605 Reproductions may be available through the National Archives as Photo # 428-N-1129315.
Photo #: NH 96764 USS George Washington Carver (SSBN-656) Launching, at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company shipyard, Newport News, Virginia, on 14 August 1965. NHHC Collection Online Image: 117KB; 590 x 765
Photo #: NH 96765 USS George Washington Carver (SSBN-656) Is christened by Marian Anderson, at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company shipyard, Newport News, Virginia, on 14 August 1965. NHHC Colleciton Online Image: 105KB; 590 x 765
Photo #: NH 64755-KN (Color) USS George Washington Carver (SSBN-656) Ship's insignia, adopted in 1966 when she was first commissioned. NHHC Collection Online Image: 99KB; 630 x 765

For higher resolution images see: Obtaining Photographic Reproductions