The USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23) is Just One of Three Submarines to Be Named for a Living Person

Jimmy Carter is one of the most beloved US presidents in history. A military man and peanut farmer who later dedicated his life to politics and public service, he led the country from 1977-81. In the years since his time in the Oval Office, he's received several honors, including having a US Navy submarine named for him: the USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23).

Jimmy Carter's service with the US Navy

Before becoming president of the United States, Jimmy Carter was just a regular guy from Georgia who was looking to do his part for his country. He'd long dreamed of attending the US Naval Academy in Maryland, despite being more reserved than those who typically attended the school, and did just that, thanks to the recommendation of Democratic politician Stephen Pace.

Graduating in 1946, Carter initially received a commission as an ensign in the US Navy and rose through the ranks over his time with the service to reach the rank of lieutenant. His early military career saw him assigned to both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, before becoming involved with the Navy's nuclear submarine program.

Under the command of Capt. Hyman G. Rickover, Carter was notably involved in the Chalk River Laboratories Incident . In 1952, a partial meltdown of the nuclear reactor at Chalk River occurred, and the future president led the sailors sent to help rectify the situation. They were able to manually dissemble the damaged core, but only through exposing themselves to radiation.

Carter's service with the US Navy came to an end following his father's death from pancreatic cancer, as he was needed to take over the family's peanut business.

Constructing a submarine named after America's 39th president

The third and final vessel in the Seawolf -class, the USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23) is a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine that was designed as a replacement for the aging Los Angeles class, which had been in service since the middle half of the Cold War . Similar to her sister boats, the USS Seawolf (SSN-21) and Connecticut (SSN-22), Jimmy Carter was built by General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, but she differs from them in a unique way.

While largely seen as the third member of the Seawolf -class, Jimmy Carter is actually a variant of the general design the other submarines feature. She's 100 feet longer than her sister vessels to allow her to serve as a Multi-Mission Platform (MMP). This extra length allows her to carry out missions with US Navy SEALs and carry remotely operated vehicles (ROV). This, along with more advanced technology, make her more cutting edge than Seawolf and Connecticut .

Sponsored by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and costing upwards of $3.5 billion, Jimmy Carter was commissioned into service on February 19, 2005.

USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23) specs.

As aforementioned, the USS Jimmy Carter is longer than her sister boats , with the vessel coming in at approximately 453 feet long, as opposed to 353 feet. Powered by a a single S6W nuclear reactor, the submarine is able to travel at upwards of 25 knots, with the ability to stay at sea for long periods of time.

Jimmy Carter is capable of carrying a complement of 141, consisting of 15 officers and 126 enlisted crewmen. She's also equipped with a fearsome array of weaponry, including Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles , as well as Mk 48 guided torpedoes .

Returning to the submarine's roles as a Multi-Mission Platform, Jimmy Carter can serve as an underwater carrier, transporting personnel and equipment wherever they're needed. Along with launching the aforementioned remotely operated vehicles, she's also able to remain stationary underwater, thanks to the addition of fore and aft thrusters .

Conducting secret missions for the US Navy

Very little is known about the missions conducted by the USS Jimmy Carter and her crew; the majority have been classified, with the strictest of measures put in place to ensure all information remains top-secret. While this alone is enough to pique anyone's interest, what's more curious is that the submarine has been known to fly the Jolly Roger - the "skull and crossbones" flag - when coming into port, signifying that, whatever her missions may entail, she's typically been successful at completing them.

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For her service over nearly two decades, Jimmy Carter has been the recipient of several awards and decorations. Not only has she received two Battle Es (in 2007 and '12), her crew was also given the Presidential Unit Citation for a deployment referred to only as "Mission 7."