USS Robert E . Lee ( SSBN - 601 ) USS " Robert E . Lee " ( SSBN - 601 ) , a fleet ballistic missile submarine , was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Robert E . Lee ( 1807 – 1870 ) , the commanding general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War . Her keel was laid down on 25 August 1958 by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company of Newport News , Virginia . She was launched on 18 December 1959 sponsored by Mrs . Hanson E . Ely II ; and commissioned on 16 September 1960 with Commander Reuben F . Woodal commanding the Blue Crew and Commander Joseph Williams , Jr . commanding the Gold Crew . Service history . Shakedown and training . The third nuclear - powered ballistic missile submarine to join the fleet , and the first nuclear - powered ship built in the southern United States , " Robert E . Lee " operated in and out of Newport News , Virginia , until 2 December 1960 , when she got underway for the Narragansett Bay Operating Area for torpedo firing tests . Following the successful firing of five torpedoes on 6 December 1960 , " Robert E . Lee " departed for Cape Kennedy , Florida , arriving on 12 December 1960 . She then loaded Polaris test missiles and on 22 December 1960 conducted her first missile launch . The Polaris flew " hot and true . " In January 1961 , " Robert E . Lee " conducted additional simulated missile launches and on 15 January 1961 departed for the Bermuda Operating Area . There , joined by the submarine on 25 January 1961 , she engaged in antisubmarine warfare training with " Torsk " . Returning to Norfolk on 30 January , " Robert E . Lee " entered the Newport News drydock on 3 February for a month of shipyard work . She departed Newport News on 17 March 1961 , loaded torpedoes at Yorktown , Virginia , on 25 March , and got underway for Cape Kennedy , arriving on 9 April 1961 . " Robert E . Lee " conducted " special operations " out of Cape Kennedy during May and June 1961 , and in late June departed for Holy Loch , Scotland , where she joined Submarine Squadron 14 on 10 July 1961 . Holy Loch deployment , 1961 - 1965 . She conducted practice torpedo firing during the first week of August and departed Holy Loch on 9 August 1961 on her first deterrent patrol . During the next two years she completed nine more deterrent patrols . On 10 September 1963 , " Robert E . Lee " entered the floating drydock , then on 4 October 1963 resumed her normal patrol schedule . Continuing to operate out of Holy Loch into 1964 , she got underway on 27 November 1964 for her 16th patrol , which terminated on 28 January 1965 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard , Vallejo , California . First Refit , 1965 . On 22 February 1965 , " Robert E . Lee " entered the Mare Island Division of the San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard for her first overhaul . Major items of work included refueling the reactor , reengineering of many ship systems to provide greater safety and reliability , modernization of the navigation system , and modification to the weapons system to give her the capability of launching the improved Polaris A3 missile . Emerging from overhaul after nearly a year and a half of work , " Robert E . Lee " got underway for sea trials on 12 July 1966 . Sound trials and weapons system accuracy trials were conducted during the latter half of July , and on 5 August she entered San Diego , California , harbor for a five - day visit . Underway for the United States East Coast on 10 August 1966 , " Robert E . Lee " transited the Panama Canal on 20 August and arrived at Charleston , South Carolina , on 4 September 1966 . During the remainder of September and the first week of October , " Robert E . Lee " conducted shakedown operations off Cape Canaveral , Florida . On 10 October , with the Undersecretary of the Navy on board as an observer , " Robert E . Lee " successfully fired a Polaris A - 3 test missile . She returned to Charleston to commence a predeployment upkeep period at the Cooper River site in South Carolina . On 4 December 1966 , she departed Charleston on her 17th deterrent patrol , which terminated at Holy Loch on 30 January 1967 . Holy Loch , 1967 - 1971 . By 4 October 1967 , " Robert E . Lee " had completed three more patrols . After drydocking in " Los Alamos " for minor repairs and hull surveillance , she resumed her patrol schedule on 1 November 1967 and completed her 21st patrol before entering drydock on 22 November 1967 for two weeks of repairs . She departed Holy Loch on 26 December 1967 for another patrol . " Robert E . Lee " remained attached to Submarine Squadron 14 throughout 1969 and 1970 . Continuing to operate out of Holy Loch , she completed her 33rd deterrent patrol on 1 January 1971 . Second Refit ( 1971 ) . " Robert E . Lee " was drydocked for her second overhaul on 27 January 1971 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard , Bremertom , Washington . She did not leave the drydock until 11 December 1971 and , afterward remained berthed at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for the remainder of 1971 . For the first seven months of 1972 , " Robert E . Lee " was engaged in post - overhaul trials and exercises on the United States West Coast . United States East Coast operations , 1972 - 1973 . In mid - August 1972 , " Robert E . Lee " transited the Panama Canal and arrived in Charleston , South Carolina , on 14 September 1972 . She continued normal operations , this time on the U . S . East Coast , throughout 1972 and for the first seven months of 1973 . Pacific operations , 1973 - 1977 . Transiting the Panama Canal early in August 1973 , she arrived in San Diego , California , on 17 August 1973 and then moved on to Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , arriving on 5 September 1973 . After a month in Hawaii , she sailed for Apra , Guam , and continued operations in that area into 1977 , accomplishing several deterrent patrols in the Pacific . Third refit , 1977 - 1978 . In early 1977 , " Robert E . Lee " drydocked for her third and final overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard for nuclear reactor core refueling , equipment , and weapons upgrades . Sea Trials commenced in August 1978 and she went into operational status December , 1978 . Operations 1978 - 1983 . The Gold Crew transisted the Panama Canal January 1979 . Transisted to San Diego California , Bermerton , WA to Honolulu , HI . Turned over to the Blue Crew . In 1982 - 1983 , " Robert E . Lee " s missiles were removed and she was redesignated SSN 601 . I Decommissioning and disposal . " Robert E . Lee " was decommissioned on 1 December 1983 , and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 30 April 1986 . Her hulk was stored at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard until it entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program . On 30 September 1991 , it ceased to exist .