Service History
Kamehameha was built in Vallejo, CA. Upon Completion she went on her first Sea Trials, off the coast of California. Afterwards, She went directly to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which was her home port until 1970. Although Pearl Harbor was her home port, She made all of her Pacific patrols out of Apra Harbor, Guam, due to her nuclear armament. Early in 1966, Kamehameha joined the United States Pacific Fleet and began her first deterrent patrol on 6 August 1966. After this patrol in November 1966, switched crews, and was soon underway again. It was on her last Pacific patrol that the Blue crew took her to the firing range to fire two dummy warhead Posideons. After that, the Gold crew took Kamehameha through the Panama Canal and on to Charleston, SC, which would be her new home port, until she entered the yards. The yard period started around 1971.
- History needed for 1967-1992.
Between 1975 and 1977 she belonged to Submarine Group 2, Squadron 16; homeported in New London CT, and advance-based in Rota Spain. She conducted nuclear deterrent patrols in the Atlantic and 'vicinity' without incident in 1975 and 1976. During September - November 1976, Kamehameha spent time in Charleston, South Carolina conducting SPECOPS with other units, then onto the AUTEC range for qualifications prior to resuming patrol duties after her return to Rota.
Her radio callsign during this period was NKAM.
For much of her operational career, Kamehameha was based at Rota, Spain.
Read more about this topic: USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642)
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