USS James K . Polk ( SSBN - 645 ) USS " James K . Polk " ( SSBN - 645 ) , a fleet ballistic missile submarine , was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for James K . Polk ( 1795 – 1849 ) , the eleventh President of the United States ( 1845 - 1849 ) . She was later converted into an attack submarine and redesignated SSN - 645 . Construction and commissioning . The contract for " James K . Polk " s construction was awarded on 1 November 1962 , and her keel was laid down on 23 November 1963 by the Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics Corporation at Groton , Connecticut . She was launched on 22 May 1965 , sponsored by Mrs . Horacio Rivero , Jr . , wife of Admiral Horacio Rivero , Jr . , the Vice Chief of Naval Operations , and commissioned on 16 April 1966 with Commander R . M . Douglass commanding the Blue Crew and Commander F . D . McMullen , Jr . , commanding the Gold Crew . Service history . " James K . Polk " sailed to Charleston , South Carolina in September 1966 to load Polaris ballistic missiles for her initial deterrent patrol . After completion of her shakedown , she operated on strategic deterrent patrols in the Atlantic Ocean and completed 19 of them between September 1966 and May 1971 . In July 1971 , " James K . Polk " began her first overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News , Virginia , for nuclear refueling and conversion of her ballistic missile system to support the Poseidon C - 3 ballistic missile . She completed her conversion in late 1972 and commenced a rigorous schedule of sea trials and exercises , culminating in the Demonstration and Shakedown Operation ( DASO ) of her Poseidon missile system , which tested her ballistic missile system and crew by requiring the launch of a Poseidon C - 3 missile from the submarine . " James K . Polk " resumed deterrent patrols in the Atlantic Ocean in May 1973 with her new Poseidon missiles . She conducted her second overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard at Kittery , Maine , after completing her 50th deterrent patrol in September 1981 . She completed overhaul in 1983 and conducted seven more successful deterrent patrols . " James K . Polk " returned to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in January 1986 for a third overhaul after completing her 58th deterrent patrol . She departed Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in November 1988 , then headed south for her post - overhaul DASO . In May 1989 she began her final series of Poseidon strategic deterrent patrols . " James K . Polk " celebrated her 25th year of commissioned service in April 1991 . She finished her 66th and final strategic deterrent patrol in August 1991 . Conversion to attack submarine . In August 1992 , " James K . Polk " began a nineteen - month shipyard conversion that removed her ballistic missiles and deactivated her missile tubes , converted her into an attack submarine , and installed dry deck shelters on her deck which would allow her to support special warfare operations . Upon completion of this conversion in March 1994 , her hull classification symbol was changed from SSBN - 645 to SSN - 645 to reflect her conversion from a fleet ballistic missile submarine to an attack submarine . After conversion , " James K . Polk " completed three extended deployments to the Mediterranean Sea , participating in numerous special forces and North Atlantic Treaty Organization exercises . Deactivation , decommissioning , and disposal . On 9 January 1999 , " James K . Polk " was deactivated at Norfolk , Virginia . On 8 July 1999 , she was decommissioned at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton , Washington , and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day . Her scrapping via the Ship - Submarine Recycling Program was accomplished on 26 April 2000 . Commemoration . " James K . Polk " s sail is on display at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque , New Mexico .