Fire Fighting System: Housed within the machinery spaces, pressure tanks for the accommodation sprinkler system and continuously running fire pumps ensure that water is always available at sprinkler heads and fire hydrants. Virtually every fire fighting aid is available, ranging from foam and CO2 to the Halon injection system.
Sanitation System: The sewage disposal plants, completely self-contained and sealed, are located on eight deck.
Anchors: Forward-two of 12.5 tons each, on 3 15/16 in. diameter cable 2,200 feet long. Aft-one of 7.5 tonnes, on 3 in. diameter cable 720 feet long Rudder Weight: 80 tonnes.
Fuel Consumption: 16 tonnes per hour, or 380 tonnes per day. This is equal to six of the ship’s swimming pools.
The ship’s fuel oil tank capacity of 4,381.4 tonnes is sufficient for 11 days sailing at 28.5 knots, equalling 7,500 miles. One gallon of fuel will move the ship 49.5 feet; with the previous steam turbine engines, one gallon of fuel moved the ship 36 feet.
Stopping Capability: The ship can reduce speed from 32.5 knots full ahead to standstill in 3 minutes 39 seconds, in a distance of 0.75 nautical miles (1.39kill). The ship can go from standstill to full speed astern (19 knots) in one minute.
Radar: Three Kelvin Hughes Nucleus ARPA radars, 3em and 10 em, fully inter switched. Two NINAS navigation works stations complete with an electronic chart display utilising ARCS disks. Two Kelvin Hughes Qubit Master Yeoman plotting tables.
Logs: Raytheon DSL 250 Doppler Speed Log; Raytheon EML 201 Electromagnetic Log.
Satellite navigator: Racal MK 90 GPS Satellite Navigator, Magnavox MX 200 GPS Receiver.
Hyperbolic Navigational Aids: Decca Navigator; Loran C. Autopilot: Sperry U. G.P. Autopilot.
Compasses: Two Sperry MK.37 Gyro Compasses; Liney and Gillie Magnetic.
Whistles: Three Tyfon Whistles, audible for up to 2 miles.
Navigational charts: The chartroom has approximately 1,500 charts, covering most of the world. They are updated weekly.
Lifeboats: 20; total capacity 2,244 persons
Liferafts: 56; total capacity 1,400 persons
Buoyant Apparatus: 12; total capacity 200 persons
Lifejackets: 3.474
Lifebuoys: 42
USS James K. Polk
SSBN-645D
The keel for the Navy’s 35th Fleet Ballistic Missile submarine and the third ship of the fleet to be named in honor of James K. Polk was laid at General Dynamics Corporation’s Electric Boat Division at Groton, Connecticut, on 23 November 1963. A year and a half later, this submarine began her waterborne career after being christened USS JAMES K. POLK (SSBN 645) by Mrs. Hora cio Rivero, Jr.” on 22 May 1965. For the next 10 months, she underwent fitting-out and on 13 March 1966, she conducted her first sea trials. USS JAMES K. POLK was commissioned as a ship of the U. S. Navy on 16 April 1966.
The POLK combined the almost unlimited endurance of nuclear power with the deterrent might of 16 thermonuclear missiles capable of wreaking more havoc than all the bombs of World War II. These missiles had a range of 2,500 nautical miles and were housed in 16 launching tubes located aft of the sail.
USS JAMES K. POLK sailed to Charleston, South Carolina, in September 1966 to load-out Polaris missiles for her initial deterrent patrol.
After completion of the shakedown period, the POLK operated in the Atlantic Ocean and completed 19 highly successful deterrent patrols from September 1966 until May 1971.
USS JAMES K. POLK conducted her first overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Virginia for nuclear refueling and conversion of the weapons system to the Poseidon missile system in July 1971. POLK completed her conversion in late 1972 and commenced a rigorous schedule of sea trials and exercises. These events culminated in the Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) of the Poseidon missile system. The DASO afforded the opportunity to test the ship’s system, train the crew and launch a Poseidon C-3 missile from the submarine.
USS JAMES K. POLK commenced Poseidon deterrent patrols in the Atlantic Ocean in May 1973 and conducted 31 more highly successful deterrent patrols. The POLK conducted her second overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard after completing her 50th deterrent patrol in September 1981.
The ship completed overhaul in 1983 and conducted 7 more highly successful deterrent patrols.
USS JAMES K. POLK returned to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in January 1986 for a third overhaul after completing her 58th deterrent patrol. POLK departed Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in November 1988 and sailed south for commencement of her Demonstration and Shakedown Operations (DASO).
May 1989 marked the beginning of the final series of Poseidon strategic deterrent patrols for the POLK.
USS JAMES K. POLK celebrated her 25th year of commissioned service in April 1991. The POLK completed her 66th and final strategic deterrent patrol in August 1991. The POLK completed a nineteen-month shipyard conversion availability which removed her 16 Poseidon missiles and became a Dual Dry Deck Shelter Special Warfare submarine in March 1994.
The POLK will conduct both special warfare operations and general submarine operations.
Keel Laid: 23 November 1963
Launched: 22 May 1965
Commissioned: 16 April 1966
Length: 425
Feet Beam: 33
Feet Displacement
Surfaced: About 7000 Tons
Displacement Submerged: About 8200 Tons
Speed Submerged: Over 20 Knots
Diving Depth: Over 400 Feet
Built By: Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics
Conversion from Polaris to Poseidon: Newport News Shipbuilding
Conversion to Dry Deck Shelter — special Operations — Norfolk Naval Shipyard Platform: March 1994
HMS Talent
Length, Overalclass="underline" 85.4 metres
Breadth, Moulded: 9.83 metres
Displacement (Standard): 5208.3 Tonnes
Complement: 14 Officers and 97 men
Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering Builders: Ltd. Barrow-infurness
Launched: April, 1988 by HRH The Princess Royal
Armament: Torpedoes and Missiles
Machinery: Pressurised water nuclear reactor generating steam for geared turbines.