The USS Henry Clay (SSBN-625) was a Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarine, laid down in 1961, launched in 1962, and commissioned in 1964. She was a modern atomic-powered submarine designed to fire the second-generation Polaris ballistic missiles. After a shakedown in the same year, she completed her first submerged Polaris missile firing and departed for her first deterrent patrol. By 1967, the submarine had completed 11 deterrent patrols and was assigned to Submarine Squadron 14. In 1987, the ship’s Gold Crew underwent an unannounced Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination (ORSE). The vessel received an “excellent” grade, being the only submarine in the Atlantic Fleet besides the attack submarine USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-709) to receive an “excellent” on an unannounced ORSE. In preparation for its final deterrent patrol in 1989, the submarine’s crew spent just three days on her refit instead of the standard three-week refit period. She has also set a record of 121 days beneath the North Atlantic waves on a deterrent patrol. The USS Henry Clay (SSBN-625) was decommissioned and stricken from the Register in 1990. Pre-1980s ships were built with asbestos, so veterans should monitor their health and consult a doctor if any unusual symptoms arise.
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