The Tiger and the Dragon: USS Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634)

In the annals of naval history, few vessels have captured the imagination quite like the USS Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634). This nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, commissioned in 1966, stood as a formidable symbol of American military might during the Cold War. Armed with 16 Trident I missiles, each capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, the Stonewall Jackson embodied the strategic deterrence doctrine that defined that era.

Design and Construction

The Stonewall Jackson was one of 41 Lafayette-class submarines built by the United States Navy during the 1960s. These submarines were designed to carry the Polaris and later Trident ballistic missiles, providing the Navy with a powerful second-strike capability in the event of a nuclear attack. The Stonewall Jackson was laid down at the Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, Connecticut, in 1963 and launched in 1964.

The Tiger and the Dragon (USS Stonewall Jackson Book 5)

by Stephen Makk

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	407 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	212 pages
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The submarine displaced 8,250 tons when submerged and had a length of 425 feet and a beam of 33 feet. Its nuclear reactor provided unlimited underwater endurance, allowing it to remain submerged for months at a time. The Stonewall Jackson was armed with 16 Trident I missiles, each with a range of over 4,000 miles.

Operational History

The Stonewall Jackson entered service in 1966 and quickly became a key component of the Navy's strategic deterrent force. The submarine conducted numerous patrols throughout the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, maintaining a constant state of readiness to launch its missiles in the event of an attack.

During its service, the Stonewall Jackson participated in several notable operations. In 1968, it conducted a successful test launch of a Trident I missile, marking a significant milestone in the development of the Navy's ballistic missile submarine program. In 1979, the submarine was awarded the Battle Efficiency Award, the Navy's highest honor for operational excellence.

Decommissioning and Legacy

The Stonewall Jackson was decommissioned in 1995 after nearly three decades of service. The submarine was later transferred to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, where it underwent a lengthy inactivation process. In 2002, the Stonewall Jackson was towed to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, where it was dismantled and recycled.

Despite its decommissioning, the Stonewall Jackson's legacy lives on. The submarine's service during the Cold War played a vital role in deterring nuclear war. It is remembered as one of the most powerful and effective nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines ever built.

The Tiger and the Dragon

The Stonewall Jackson's nickname, "The Tiger and the Dragon," was a reference to its dual role as a hunter and a protector. The tiger represented the submarine's ability to hunt and destroy enemy targets, while the dragon represented its role in protecting the United States from nuclear attack.

The nickname was particularly fitting given the Stonewall Jackson's role in the Cold War. The submarine was a constant threat to the Soviet Union, and its presence helped to deter the Soviets from launching a nuclear attack against the United States.

The USS Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634) was a formidable nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine that played a vital role in deterring nuclear war during the Cold War. Its nickname, "The Tiger and the Dragon," captured its dual role as a hunter and a protector. The Stonewall Jackson was decommissioned in 1995, but its legacy lives on as a reminder of the importance of nuclear deterrence and the power of the United States Navy.

The Tiger and the Dragon (USS Stonewall Jackson Book 5)

by Stephen Makk

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	407 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	212 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE