USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626)

USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626), a Lafayette-class submarine ballistic missile submarine (FBM), was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Senator Daniel Webster.

Construction and commissioning
The contract to build Daniel Webster was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 3 February 1961 and her keel was laid down there on 28 December 1961. She was launched on 27 April 1963, sponsored by Mrs. W. Osborn Goodrich, Jr., and commissioned on 9 April 1964, with Commander Marvin S. Blair in command of the Blue Crew and Commander Lloyd S. Smith in command of the Gold Crew.

Webster was originally built with diving planes mounted above the hull near the bow, leading to her nickname "Old Funny Fins". This configuration (unique to U.S. FBMs, but common to the Royal Navy's Resolution-class submarines) was an attempt to reduce the effect of porpoising. While successful, the bow bulge required to contain the operating mechanism reduced hydrodynamic efficiency and lowered her overall speed. During her first overhaul, these unusual planes were removed and standard fairwater planes were installed.

Operational history
While in service, Webster was the first Lafayette to be retrofitted with Poseidon.

Decommissioning
Daniel Webster was decommissioned on 30 August 1990 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. She was converted to a moored training ship (S5W Prototype facility) by the Charleston Naval Shipyard at Charleston, South Carolina. Upon completion and designated MTS-626, she was towed up-river to her permanent berth at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston.