page_title: USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635)
section_title: Service history
hierarchical_section_title: USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635) / Service history
caption_attribution_description: English: The U.S. Navy ballistic missile submarine USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635) at the Newport News Shipbuilding &amp; Drydock Co., Newport News, Virginia (USA), probably undergoing tests, circa 1964-65. Note open tubes for “Polaris” missiles, with hatch covers colored and numbered in Billiard Ball style.
context_page_description: USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635) was a James Madison-class fleet ballistic missile submarine named for Sam Rayburn, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. Sam Rayburn was in commission 2 December 1964 to 31 July 1989 carrying the Polaris missile and later the Poseidon missile. Following decommissioning, ex-Sam Rayburn was converted into a moored training ship for use at the Naval Nuclear Prototype Training Unit at Goose Creek, South Carolina.
context_section_description: Sam Rayburn conducted demonstration and shakedown operations on the Atlantic Missile Range, first manned by her Blue Crew and then by her Gold Crew. She joined Submarine Squadron 18 at Charleston, South Carolina, before her first Polaris ballistic missile deterrent patrol in the summer of 1965.  In August 1965, she joined Submarine Squadron 16 and made seven deterrent patrols out of Rota, Spain, before rejoining Submarine Squadron 18 at Charleston in December 1966. During 1967, Sam Rayburn completed her 8th through 11th deterrent patrols. During 1968, she completed her 12th through 14th deterrent patrols.
  During 1969, Sam Rayburn operated continuously with Submarine Squadron 18 until commencing overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard at Kittery, Maine, in December 1969. Upon completion of overhaul on 27 May 1971, she operated along the United States East Coast for the remainder of 1971 and into 1972.
  In 1972, Sam Rayburn departed Groton, Connecticut, and arrived at Charleston before departing Charleston on an extended period of special operations. In June 1974, she remained engaged in those special operations.
caption: Sam Rayburn c. 1964, with her missile hatches showing their "billiard ball" livery
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