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USS George Washington Polaris Submarine Model
this is a limited production kit.
Build the complete inside of this submarine.

USS George Washington  SSBN-598 Polaris Nuclear Submarine
This is a limited edition less than 1,000 kits made.
kit # S128  24" long  MSRP $38.00 Our Super Price $GONE

Interesting story found in Uncle John's 10th Anniversary Bathroom Reader!
Rumor: In the 1960's the US Military forced the recall of the USS Nautilus plastic
submarine model. The models were so accurate that the government feared Soviets spies
would buy them and learn our Submarine secrets.
Hidden fact: In 1961 Vice Admiral Hyman Rickover did complain that a model kit
of the Polaris nuclear submarine, made by the Revell Company, revealed too much -
including detailed floor plans of the engine and missile compartments. (Defense contractors
that made the real submarine's missiles even used the models  to demonstrate how their
weapons system worked.) There is a lot of history in this kit.

There are decals for all subs of the class that can be built from this kit.

The Revell Classics Line is a limited re-issue of select model kits from the 1950s/60s or 70s. In order to ensure that this model kit resembles the original product as closely as possible, the packaging was made true-to-style using the previous original illustration as well as original decals. The construction manual in multiple languages contains detailed assembly instructions. This model kit was produced using the original mold that was manufactured more than 30 or 40 years ago. Insignificant deviations from the original model kit (formation of burrs or slightly imperfect fit) can be attributed to the fact that the mold was not used for a long period of time.

The development of the Polaris generation of submarines is generally regarded as having had a strong influence on the balance of power between East and West in the 1960s. The US Navy concentrated its production orders on this type, which at that time was the main constituent of the American submarine fleet. The Polaris Class consists of nuclear powered submarines armed with ballistic missiles. Thanks to the nuclear power it is capable of a speed of over 35 knots on the surface and 20 knots submerged and can stay underwater for hundreds of hours. This submarine is equipped with 16 Polaris medium-range guided missiles that can be fired from under water. These missiles are equipped with nuclear warheads and are suitable for surprise attacks. They have a range of over 2,000 miles.

The USS George Washington (SSBN 598) was the world’s first nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine. Arguably, it can be considered the submarine that has most influenced world events in the 20th Century. With its entry into service in December 1959 the United States instantly gained the most powerful deterrent force imaginable - a stealth platform with enormous nuclear firepower.

These first nuclear-powered submarines armed with long-range strategic missiles were ordered on 31 December 1957, with orders to convert two attack submarine hulls to missile-carrying FBM Weapon System ships. With some compromise in delivery schedules, the Navy agreed in January 1958 to slip the launch dates for two hunter-killer Skipjack types of fast attack submarines, the just-begun attack submarine Scorpion (SSN-589) and the not-yet-started USS Sculpin (SSN-590). Funding was provided with a supplement to the FY 1958 ship construction programm on 11 February 1958.

The first two are essentially of the hunter-killer type with a missile compartment inserted between the ship's control navigation areas and the nuclear reactor compartment. The keel of the first of these two ships had already been laid at Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut, as the "Scorpion" and it was actually cut apart in order to insert the new 130 ft missile compartment ("Sherwood Forest"), thus extending the ship's length. At other shipyards, three more ships of the same type were built, making a total of five. The shipyards were Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Mare Island Naval Shipyard, and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. These were designated the 598 class ships since the first submarine, the USS George Washington was the SSBN-598. The term SSBN means Ship Submersible Ballistic (Nuclear) with the "Nuclear" referring to the ship's propulsive power.

The President signed the FY 58 Supplemental Appropriation Act on 12 February 1958 funding the first three submarines. The construction, which had begun in January 1958, used funds "borrowed" from other Navy programs. The President authorized construction of submarines 4 and 5 on 29 July 1958.

The USS George Washington (SSBN-598) slipped underwater on the first strategic FBM patrol on 15 November 1960. The USS Patrick Henry (SSBN-599) departed for patrol on 31 January 1961. The USS George Washington (SSBN-598) resumed from patrol on 21 January 1961, coming alongside the tender USS Proteus (AS-19) at New London, Connecticut. The USS Patrick Henry (SSBN-599) resumed from patrol on 8 March 1961, but she came alongside the same USS Proteus which had moved to Holy Loch, Scotland becoming the first SSBN to use Holy Loch as a refit and upkeep anchorage.

On 1 July 1958, Submarine Squadron Fourteen was established.

On 15 November 1960, the USS George Washington (SSBN-598) deployed on operational patrol with 16 POLARIS At (1200 nm) missiles 4 years 11 months after RADM William F. "Red" Raborn became the director of SP, and 3 years 11 months after the SECDEF authorized the POLARIS

On 2 June 1964, the USS George Washington (SSBN-598). returned to Charleston, South Carolina, to off-load missiles in preparation for overhaul at General Dynamics, Electric Boat Division, shipyard in Groton, Connecticut. This ended the initial deployment of the first FBM submarine, with POLARIS A1's which began in November 1960. Finally on 14 October 1965, the USS Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602) returned to the U.S., completing her initial deployment. She was the last of the first five SSBNs carrying the POLARIS A1 to return to the U.S. for overhaul. This marked the official retirement of the POLARIS A1 missile from active fleet duty. These first five boats were being refitted to carry POLARIS A3 missiles.

in the early 1980s SSBN-598 George Washington, SSBN-599 Patrick Henry and SSBN-601 Robert E Lee had their missiles removed and were reclassified as attack submarines, a role in which they served for several years prior to decommissioning.

   Sources and Resources

• General Characteristics, George Washington Class