# USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740)

USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740) is a United States Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine which has been in commission since 1994. She is the third U.S. Navy ship to be named for Rhode Island, the 13th state.

## Construction and commissioning

Originally, another Ohio-class submarine, SSBN-730, was to have been named Rhode Island; a contract was awarded in 1977 for SSBN-730's construction and her keel was laid in 1981 with the name Rhode Island planned for the completed submarine. However, shortly after the sudden death of United States Senator Henry M. Jackson of Washington, SSBN-730 was renamed Henry M. Jackson while still under construction. The name Rhode Island was transferred to SSBN-740, for which a construction contract had not yet been awarded.
The contract to build Rhode Island (SSBN-740) was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 5 January 1988 and her keel was laid down there on 15 September 1988. She was launched on 17 July 1993, sponsored by Mrs. Kati Machtley, and commissioned on 9 July 1994, with Captain John K. Eldridge commanding the Blue Crew and Commander Michael Maxfield commanding the Gold Crew.

## Service history

On 11 August 2009, Rhode Island rescued five Bahamian fishermen whose boat had capsized on 7 August 2009. Rhode Island's medical staff tended to the four men and one boy before transferring them to a ship which took them to shore for further treatment.
In 2010 Rhode Island was awarded the Battle "E" for Squadron 20. In 2011 Rhode Island was awarded the Omaha Trophy in recognition for superior performance and setting fleet standards in the field of strategic deterrence.
From December 2015 to August 2018, Rhode Island was in Norfolk Naval Shipyard undergoing an Engineered Refueling Overhaul, in which her reactor was refueled and numerous other systems modernized.
On 1 November 2022, Rhode Island arrived at Gibraltar for a scheduled port visit.

## USS Rhode Island in popular culture

On 8 May 2007, Rhode Island was named the "official ballistic missile submarine" of the American satirical television show The Colbert Report after crew members submitted photos of a "Colbert Nation" poster taken in different locations aboard the vessel. The connection to the show was made through one of the sailors who was engaged to Stephen Colbert's cousin.

## References and notes

* This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "SSBN-726 Ohio-Class FBM Submarines". Federation of American Scientists. 9 February 2000. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
* 1 2 3 Frost, Peter. "Newport News contract awarded". Daily Press. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
* ↑ "US study of reactor and fuel types to enable naval reactors to shift from HEU fuel". Fissile Materials. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
* ↑ Brendan Patrick Hanlon (July 2015). Validation of the Use of Low Enriched Uranium as a Replacement for Highly Enriched Uranium in US Submarine Reactors (PDF) (Master thesis). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
* 1 2 "Submarine Frequently Asked Questions". Chief of Naval Operations Submarine Warfare Division. Archived from the original on 13 July 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
* ↑ Ewing, Philip (20 August 2009). "Ballistic missile sub rescues mariners". NavyTimes.com. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
* ↑ "USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) arrives in Gibraltar". U.S. Sixth Fleet Public Affairs. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
* ↑ Colbert, Stephen (host) (8 May 2007). The Colbert Report (Television production). Comedy Central. Archived from the original (streaming) on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 9 May 2007.