Simon Bolivar continued to make deterrent patrols, undergoing occasional refits at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay Georgia, and was awarded her 4th and 5th Battle “E”‘s in 19. In February 1979, following her 40th deterrent patrol, Simon Bolivar entered Portsmouth Naval Shipyard at Kittery, Maine, for overhaul and conversion of her ballistic missile system to support Trident C-4 ballistic missiles. Simon Bolivar continued a high speed surface run until the evacuation point was reached enabling a transfer of the seriously ill crewman. During a 1976 strategic patrol, a crew member experienced a life-threatening medical emergency. She also was awarded consecutive Battle “E”‘s in 19. In 1974 Simon Bolivar was awarded both a Battle Effectiveness Award (Battle “E”) and the Providence Plantation Award for most outstanding fleet ballistic missile submarine in the United States Atlantic Fleet. Patrol areas were normally in the North Atlantic. Submarine tender USS Hunley (AS-31) provided refit and re-supply services. Simon Bolivar had now been assigned to the Charleston refit site and was again part of Submarine Squadron 18. Seventy four days after departing Rota and submerging, Simon Bolivar surfaced off the US east coast in October 1974. She then went to alert status for her 24th deterrent patrol. During the summer of 1974, Simon Bolivar completed what was to be her final refit at the Rota SSBN site. By the end of 1972, she had resumed deterrent patrols while operating from the SSBN refit site in Rota, Spain serviced by submarine tender USS Simon Lake (AS-33) as part of Submarine Squadron 16. Simon Bolivar departed Newport News on for post-overhaul shakedown operations and refresher training for her two crews, which lasted until 16 September 1972. At the Scotland site, the entire refit site was anchored out in Holy Loch. Refit sites consisted of a submarine tender, floating dry dock and complexes of piers and warehouses. During Simon Bolivar’s commissioned period she operated in the Atlantic and Mediterranean from three sites: Holy Loch, Scotland Rota, Spain and the continental United States, mainly Charleston, SC and Kings Bay, GA. In April 1966 Simon Bolivar got underway and went to alert status for the first of more than 70 strategic deterrent patrols spanning four decades and three major submarine launched ballistic missile weapons systems (Polaris, Poseidon, Trident). The following month, Simon Bolivar’s home port was changed to Charleston, South Carolina, where she was assigned to Submarine Squadron 18, and minor deficiencies were corrected during a shipyard availability period. The Gold Crew continued shakedown operations in the Caribbean Sea in February. The Gold Crew successfully fired a Polaris A-3 ballistic missile off the coast of Cape Kennedy, Florida, on 17 January 1966, and the Blue Crew completed a successful Polaris missile firing on 31 January. Service history During late December 1965 and most of January 1966, Simon Bolivar underwent demonstration and shakedown operations. Griffiths commanding the Blue Crew and Commander Charles A. Mann, and commissioned on 29 October 1965 with Commander Charles H. She was launched on 22 August 1964, sponsored by Mrs. Construction and commissioning Simon Bolivar’s keel was laid down on 17 April 1963 by the Newport News Shipbuilding of Newport News, Virginia. Each piece is carved from wood and handpainted to provide a piece youll love. Sail again with the crew of the USS Simon Bolivar SSBN-641 in this handcrafted wooden submarine model. USS Simon Bolivar SSBN-641 Submarine Model (Black Hull) USS Simon Bolivar SSBN-641 Submarine Model (Black Hull).
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