USS Tennessee (SSBN-734)

USS Tennessee (SSBN-734) is a United States Navy ballistic missile submarine that has been in commission since 1988. She is the fourth ship and first submarine of the U.S. Navy to be named for Tennessee the 16th state.

Construction and commissioning
Tennessee's construction was authorized in Fiscal year 1980, and the contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 7 January 1982. Her keel was laid down there on 9 June 1986. She was launched on 13 December 1986, sponsored by Mrs. Landess Kelso, and commissioned on 17 December 1988, with Captain D. Witzenburg in command of the Blue Crew and Captain Kenneth D. Barker in command of the Gold Crew. She was the first submarine capable of firing the Trident II ballistic missile to be commissioned.