The Lafayette Class of submarines helped form the submarine born strategic nuclear missile force from the early 1960s through the early 1990s. Along with the "Benjamin Franklin", "George Washington" and "Ethan Allen" classes, the type was part of 41 nuclear ballistic missile submarines which made up what was known as "The 41 for Freedom".
The USS Lafayette initially carried 16 Polaris A2 missiles and was later upgraded to carry the Polaris A3 and Poseidon C3 missile.
Our print depicts SSBN 616 USS Lafayette heading out on patrol as she passes over the continental shelf. |
