The USS James K. Polk (SSBN-645) was a Benjamin Franklin class fleet ballistic missile submarine built for the United States Navy. Constructed by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut, her keel was laid on 23 November 1963, following the awarding of her construction contract on 1 November 1962. Launched on 22 May 1965 and commissioned on 16 April 1966, she was named after the 11th U.S. President, James K. Polk. Initially, the submarine was designed as a ballistic missile platform, equipped to carry Polaris missiles. She departed for Charleston, South Carolina, in September 1966 to load her Polaris missiles and began her strategic deterrent patrols in the Atlantic Ocean, completing 19 patrols between 1966 and 1971. In July 1971, she entered her first overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding for nuclear refueling and conversion to support Poseidon C-3 ballistic missiles, which was completed in late 1972. Following her conversion, she conducted her Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO), which tested her new missile system. Resuming deterrent patrols in May 1973, USS James K. Polk operated with her Poseidon missiles until her 50th patrol in September 1981, after which she underwent her second overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. She continued her patrols throughout the 1980s, with her final deterrent patrol in August 1991 marking her 66th mission. In 1992, she underwent a significant conversion to become an attack submarine (SSN), deactivating her missile tubes and installing Dry Deck Shelters for special warfare operations. Her hull classification was changed to SSN-645 in March 1994. Post-conversion, USS James K. Polk participated in multiple deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, supporting special forces and NATO exercises. She was decommissioned on 8 July 1999 and scrapped via the Ship-Submarine Recycling Program by April 2000. Her sail is preserved at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, commemorating her distinguished service.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.