SSBN
739 Nebraska
"Go Big Red!"
The submarine NEBRASKA (SSBN-739) is the second U.S. Naval ship to be named in honor of the 37th state of the Union. The contract to build to the Nebraska was awarded on May 26, 1987 to General Dynamics. The keel was laid on July 6, 1987 and she was launched roughly five years later on August 15, 1992. The Nebraska was delivered to the Navy on June 18, 1993 and was commissioned on July 10, 1993.
USS NEBRASKA development was based on extensive considerations of all aspects of survivability and capabilities required in a seabased deterrent platform designed for operations through the next century. USS NEBRASKA incorporates the new, more quiet machinery that cannot be installed in other fleet ballistic missile submarines because of space and weight constraints. It has an advanced sonar system, comparable to that developed for the United States Navy's newest attack submarines. This sonar suite is capable of providing long-range detection and a more effective capabilities for tracking other ships or submarines.
Key features of USS NEBRASKA include: improved maintainability, reliability, and availability resulting from modular replacement concepts of major equipment, improved design and incorporation of integrated logistics support.
USS NEBRASKA has additional growth potential to accommodate future technology as it becomes available, both in ship systems and in larger missiles. High patrol speeds will greatly increase ocean operating area, providing the ability to avoid potential enemies, thus enhancing survivability.
On 28 May 1994 the Nebraska completed her first strategic on-load and departed for her first strategic patrol on 26 June 1994.
USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) (Blue) conducted its 12th strategic deterrent patrol from June to October 1997. The submarine was commissioned in July 1993. During Patrol 12, the submarine transited more than 16,800 miles, crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and navigating the Mediterranean Sea to her mid-patrol destination of the Greek island of Crete. The submarine had been at sea nearly two months, and had patrolled thousands of miles of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, when she surfaced to enter her destination and liberty port, Souda Bay, Crete.
During a ceremony held Feb. 5, 1998, in the Trident Refit Facility drydock, both the Blue and Gold crews of USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) received the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) from Rear Adm. Joseph Henry, commander of Submarine Group 10, and Capt. Tom Digan, commodore of Submarine Squadron 16. During a ceremony held Jan 12, 1999, at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, both the Blue and Gold crews of USS Nebraska were awarded the 1998 Commander Submarine Squadron 16 Battle Efficiency "E." Rear Adm. Joseph Henry, Commander of Submarine Group 10, was the awarding official. Capt. Tom Digan, Commander of Submarine Squadron 16, was also in attendance.
The Navy announced on October 20, 2003 that USS Nebraska, assigned to Submarine Group 10 at Kings Bay, would transfer to Naval Submarine Base (NSB) Bangor, Wash., effective Oct. 1, 2004.