Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque in Bernalillo County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
USS James K. Polk
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 23, 2021
1. USS James K. Polk Marker
USS James K. Polk (SSBN-645/SSN-645)
The USS James K. Polk (SSBN-645) was a Benjamin Franklin class fleet ballistic missile submarine. She was built by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics. She served from 1965 to 1999. The James K. Polk was powered by a S5W pressurized-water nuclear reactor. As a SSBN (Sub-Surface Ballistic Nuclear) she was armed with sixteen ballistic Polaris or Poseidon missiles. She had four torpedo tubes and could carry the Mk-48, Mk-16, Mk-37, and Mk-45 torpedoes.
Conversion to Attack Submarine
The James K. Polk completed her 66th and last strategic deterrent patrol in August 1991. In August 1992, she began a nineteen-month shipyard conversion to an attack submarine. Her ballistic missiles were removed and her missile tubes deactivated. Dry deck shelters were placed on her deck, which allowed her to support special warfare operations. Her hull classification symbol was changed from SSBN-645 to SSN-645.
Decommissioning and Disposal
On July 8, 1999 the James K. Polk was decommissioned at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton, Washington. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. Before her scrapping, the conning tower and sailplanes were transferred to the then National Atomic Museum for public exhibition. The
this page online
Courtesy of the Naval History and Heritage Command, Catalog No.99-27-DN
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, Cold • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is April 26, 2000.
Location. 35° 3.941′ N, 106° 32.072′ W. Marker is in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in Bernalillo County. It is in Kirtland Air Force Base. Marker is on Eubank Boulevard SE south of Southern Boulevard SE, on the right when traveling south. The marker is on the grounds of the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. A fee is necessary to access the marker. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Albuquerque NM 87123, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. B-52 Stratofortress (within shouting distance of this marker); B-52B Stratofortress 52-0013 (within shouting distance of this marker); Silverplate and Saddletree Bombers (within shouting distance of this marker); Hound Dog (within shouting distance of this marker); B-29 Superfortress (within shouting distance of this marker); B-47E Stratojet (within shouting distance of this marker); Mace (within shouting distance of this marker); Bomarc (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albuquerque.
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 23, 2021
2. USS James K. Polk Conning Tower and Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 197 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 10, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.
