USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635)

USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635) was a James Madison-class submarine fleet ballistic missile submarine named for Sam Rayburn (1882–1961), Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1940–1947, 1949–1953, and 1955–1961).

Construction and commissioning
The contract to build Sam Rayburn was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 20 July 1961 and her keel was laid down there on 3 December 1962. She was launched on 20 December 1963, sponsored by Mrs. S. E. Bartley and Mrs. W. A. Thomas, and commissioned on 2 December 1964, with Captain Oliver H. Perry, Jr., in command of the Blue Crew and Commander William A. Williams III in command of the Gold Crew.

Service history
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 eighth 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.

Deactivation, decommissioning, and disposal
On 10 June 1985, the U.S. Navy announced plans to dismantle a fleet ballistic missile submarine so as to remain within the SALT II strategic arms limitation treaty ceiling on MIRVed ballistic missiles. Sam Rayburn was selected and was deactivated on 16 September 1985. Her missile tubes were filled with concrete and the tube hatches were removed.

Sam Rayburn was decommissioned on 31 July 1989 and reclassified a moored training ship with hull number MTS-635. Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 28 August 1989, she arrived at the Naval Nuclear Prototype Training Unit at Goose Creek, South Carolina, on 1 February 1986, and on 29 July 1989 achieved initial criticality in her new role. Her modifications included special mooring arrangements, including Water Brake, a mechanism to absorb power generated by her main propulsion shaft. She is scheduled to operate as a moored training ship until 2018 while undergoing shipyard availabilities for repairs and alterations at five-year intervals.