The USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626) was a Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarine constructed for the United States Navy, notable for its unique design features and service history. Built by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut, the keel was laid down on December 28, 1961. Launched on April 27, 1963, and commissioned on April 9, 1964, the vessel was named after the American statesman Daniel Webster. The submarine was sponsored by Mrs. Mary Ernestine (Appleton) Goodrich, a great-great granddaughter of Daniel Webster. The USS Daniel Webster's initial design included distinctive diving planes mounted on a "mini-sail" near the bow, earning her the nickname "Old Funny Fins." This configuration was intended to reduce porpoising but also reduced hydrodynamic efficiency and lowered her speed. During a mid-1970s overhaul, these unusual planes were removed and replaced with standard fairwater planes, improving her hydrodynamic performance. She was the last Lafayette-class submarine to be retrofitted to carry UGM-73 Poseidon missiles, marking her as a significant asset in the U.S. Navy's strategic missile force. Throughout her service, USS Daniel Webster conducted multiple patrols, including notable deployments from Holy Loch, with port calls at Groton, Connecticut; Kings Bay, Georgia; Naples, Italy; and Lisbon, Portugal. Her patrols spanned from July 1982 through June 1987, with various port visits and emergency replenishments (ERP). These patrols contributed to the United States’ strategic deterrent capability during the Cold War. Decommissioned on August 30, 1990, the USS Daniel Webster was struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. She was repurposed as a moored training ship (MTS) and reactor prototype training facility at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, designated MTS-626. The vessel was then towed to her permanent berth at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit in Charleston, serving as a static training platform and symbol of nuclear propulsion advancements. Her service highlights her role in the Cold War deterrence strategy and technological evolution of submarine design.

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