USS George Bancroft (SSBN-643), a Benjamin Franklin class (or "640-class") fleet ballistic missile submarine, was the fourth ship^a of the United States Navy to be named in honor of George Bancroft (1800-1891), United States Secretary of the Navy (1845–1846) and the founder of the United States Naval Academy.

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USS George Bancroft (SSBN-643), probably during her sea trials off the coast of New England in late 1965.
History
United States
Name	USS George Bancroft
Namesake	George Bancroft (1800–1891), U.S. Secretary of the Navy (1845-1846)
Ordered	1 November 1962
Builder	General Dynamics Electric Boat
Laid down	24 August 1963
Launched	20 March 1965
Sponsored by	Mrs. Anita Irvine
Commissioned	22 January 1966
Decommissioned	21 September 1993
Stricken	21 September 1993
Fate	Scrapping via Ship and Submarine Recycling Program completed 30 March 1998
General characteristics
Class and type	Benjamin Franklin-class submarine
Displacement	7,300 long tons (7,417 t) surfaced 8,250 long tons (8,382 t) submerged
Length	425 ft (130 m)
Beam	33 ft (10 m)
Draft	31 ft (9.4 m)
Installed power	15,000 shp (11,185 kW)
Propulsion	One S5W pressurized-water nuclear reactor, two geared steam turbines, one shaft
Speed	Over 20 knots
Test depth	1,300 feet (400 m)
Complement	Two crews (Blue Crew and Gold Crew) of 120 men each
Armament	16 × ballistic missile tubes 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes (all forward)

Close

The contract to build George Bancroft was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 1 November 1962 and her keel was laid down there on 24 August 1963. She was launched on 20 March 1965, sponsored by Mrs. Jean B. Langdon, great, great-granddaughter of Secretary Bancroft, and Mrs. Anita C. Irvine, his great, great, great-granddaughter,^[1] and commissioned on 22 January 1966, with Captain Joseph Williams in command of the Blue Crew and Commander Walter M. Douglass in command of the Gold Crew.

George Bancroft was assigned to Submarine Squadron 14 of Submarine Flotilla 6 with New London, Connecticut, as her home port. Her first deployment began with her departure from New London on her first deterrent patrol on 26 July 1966, manned by the Blue Crew. Soon after she successfully completed the patrol with her arrival at Holy Loch, Scotland, the Gold Crew relieved the Blue Crew. A few weeks later, George Bancroft got underway for her second deterrent patrol, manned by the Gold Crew, which ended toward the close of the year. Early in 1967, George Bancroft began her third deterrent patrol, manned by the Blue Crew.

History needed for 1967-1993.

George Bancroft was decommissioned on 21 September 1993 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. Her scrapping via the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Bremerton, Washington, was completed on 30 March 1998.

George Bancroft's sail is on display at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia.

^a The previous three all were named USS Bancroft.