USS Daniel Boone (SSBN-629)

USS Daniel Boone (SSBN-629), a James Madison-class submarine ballistic missile submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Daniel Boone (1734–1820), the pioneer and frontiersman.

Construction and commissioning
The contract to build Daniel Boone was awarded to Mare Island Naval Shipyard at Vallejo, California, on 21 July 1961 and her keel was laid down there on 6 February 1962. She was launched on 22 June 1963 sponsored by Mrs. James H. Wakelin, Jr., wife of Dr. James H. Wakelin, Jr., a physicist who was the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research and Development from 1959 until 1964. Daniel Boone was commissioned on 23 April 1964, with Commander George P. Steele, III, in command of the Blue Crew and Lieutenant Commander Alan B. Crabtree in command of the Gold Crew.

Operational history
During her first major overhaul, like the rest of her class, Daniel Boone was retrofitted with Poseidon C-3 missiles and the associated Mark 88 firecontrol system. Poseidon was replaced by Trident C-4 missiles and on 6 September 1980, Boone became the first James Madison operational with the new missile.

Daniel Boone entered Newport News, Virginia in 1987 for refit. During post-refit sea trials on 7 April 1987 she ran aground in the James River at Newport News. This accident significantly delayed her departure from the refit yards.

Decommissioning and disposal
Daniel Boone was decommissioned on 18 February 1994 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. Her scrapping via the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, was completed on 4 November 1994.