US Navy Patch USN Submarine SSBN c 608 USS Ethan Allen Polaris

US Navy Patch USN Submarine SSBN 608 USS Ethan Allen Polaris SLBM 1960s Fully embroidered cut edge 120mm by 95mm four and three quarter inches by three and three quarter inches.

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USS Ethan Allen SSBN 608 was launched on 22 November 1960 as the first of five nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines of the Ethan Allen Class and was the first submarine designed as a ballistic missile launch platform. SSBN 608 was commissioned on 8 August 1961 and was the second US Navy ship of to be named after the American Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen. USS Ethan Allen had sixteen tubes for Polaris Submarine launched Ballistic Missiles SLBM and four 21 inch bow torpedo tubes.

Assigned to Joint Task Force 8 in the Pacific Ocean USS Ethan Allen undertook the only complete operational test of an American strategic missile with the Frigate Bird Test part of Operation Dominic on 6 May 1962 launching a nuclear armed Polaris missile while submerged which detonated at 11000 feet over the South Pacific. The mission was highly accurate and a great success.

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks between the US and the Soviet Union during the 1960s and 1970s led to the SALT I anti ballistic missile Treaty of 26 May 1972 which limited nuclear warhead numbers and SALT II 18 June 1979 which began the reduction of nuclear weapons. With the US Navy upgrading its nuclear submarine force the ballistic missile capability of the existing George Washington and Ethan Allen class fleet was decommissioned to allow the introduction of the Ohio class ballistic missile submarines to stay within the limitations of the SALT treaties. USS Ethan Allen SSBN 608 ballistic missile tubes were disabled converting her to a conventional nuclear powered fast attack submarine and was redesignated SSN 608 on 1 September 1980.

USS Ethan Allen SSN 608 was decommissioned on 31 March 1983 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 2 April 1983.

This patch dates from the 1960s.