The USS James Monroe (SSBN-622), a Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarine, was laid down in 1961, launched in 1962, and commissioned in 1963. After shakedown, the ship participated in ballistic missile tests in 1964 and departed for her first strategic patrol carrying 16 Polaris A-2 missiles. She was a part of the Submarine Squadron Fourteen a year later and supported the US nuclear deterrent during the Cold War. In 1968, the vessel underwent a major overhaul to refuel her reactor and modernize her systems, becoming the first submarine upgraded to A-3 capability. The ship was transferred to the Pacific Fleet in 1970 and conducted patrols from Guam with Submarine Squadron 15. Between 1974 and 1977, an overhaul added Poseidon C-3 missiles to her arsenal in preparation for another nuclear weapons deterrence patrol. During the 1980s, the USS James Monroe completed 78 deterrent patrols before decommissioning in 1990. Asbestos appeared in over 300 shipbuilding materials and was used in most Navy ships built for the WWII war effort, endangering personnel's health, as inhaled asbestos fibers damage lung tissue and cause serious diseases. After 1980, the Navy removed much asbestos, but veterans on older vessels still faced exposure, though generally at lower risk than WWII crews.
760-621-6147
