USS Casimir Pulaski (SSBN-633) was launched on 1 February 1964
and commissioned 14 August 1964, the 28th Fleet Ballistic
Missile Submarine, and the first ship of the line to bear the
name. Named tor Brigadier Genera!. Count Casimir Pulaski, a
hero of the Revolutionary War, she was sponsored by Mrs. John
A. Gronouski, the wife of the then Postmaster Generalof the
United States, and commanded by Captain R. L. J. Long, later
COMSUBLANT, DCNO (submarines), and CINCPACFLT.
Pulaski sailed on her
first patrol trom Charleston, SC, in March 1965, end deployed
to Holy Loch, Scotland. After completion of 20 Polaris A3
patrols, she entered overhaul in Groton, CT, for refueling end
conversion to carry the Poseidon C3 missile, the fifth
submarine to be 50 converted.
In October 1971, Pulaski
deployed with Poseidon missiles to resume patrols from Holy
Loch. After the completion of six additional patrols, she
participated in the Operational Test (OT) Program by
reconfiguring for test, end then test firing tour Poseidon
missiles in the Atlantic Test Range successfully.
In July 1974, Pulaski
was awarded the Submarine Squadron Fourteen Battle Efficiency
"E," the first ever awarded to an SSBN. In late
1980. after the completion of a total of 52 strategic
deterrent patrols, she entered overhaul in Newport News, V A,
for refueling and backfit to carry the new Trident I C4
missile. She deployed in June 1983, now assigned to Submarine
Squadron Sixteen in Kings Bay, GA. In June 1985, Pulaski Gold
conducted a flawless Follow-On Operational Test (FOT),
reconfiguring and successfully launching tour Trident I
missiles on the Atlantic Test Range.
In October 1985, Pulaski
Gold was awarded the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy, Emblematic of
the unit in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet making the most
improvement in battle efficiency during fiscal year 1985.
In October 1986, Pulaski (both crews) was
awarded the Commander Submarine Squadron Sixteen Battle
Efficiency "E," and the U.S. Atlantic Fleet
Outstanding Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine Performance
Award for fiscal year 1986
August 1987 found Pulaski completing a very
successful Extended Refit Period conducted by Charleston Naval
Shipyard in Kings Bay, Georgia. The ship's systems were
extensively refurbished to enable extension of her useful life
and time between shipyard overhauls.
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