USS Daniel Boone

The nuclear submarine USS Daniel Boone (SSBN 629) was launched on this date in 1963 at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. The ship was the ninth nuclear powered vessel built at Mare Island and the fourth “boomer,” or ballistic missile submarine built there. Altogether Mare Island built seventeen nuclear subs between 1957 and 1970.

USS Daniel Boone was named after the legendary American frontier pioneer and backwoodsman (1734-1820). The sub was one of the Navy's “41 for Freedom,” - Polaris missile-equipped submarines all named after significant figures in U.S. History. Daniel Boone was sponsored by Mrs. Margaret Wakelin, wife of Assistant Secretary of the Navy James H. Wakelin, who delivered the keynote address at the launching. USS Daniel Boone served the U.S. Navy until she was decommissioned in 1994.