USS Henry Clay (SSBN-625) Submarine Model. Dive again with your shipmates in this USS Henry Clay (SSBN-625) Submarine Model. Each piece is carved from wood and hand painted to provide a piece you’ll love. Length – 20 inches. US Veteran Owned Business. The product is not intended to be used by children 12 years and younger. Construction and commissioning The contract to build Henry Clay was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 3 February 1961 and her keel was laid down there on 23 October 1961. She was launched on 30 November 1962 sponsored by Mrs. Gibson, and commissioned on 20 February 1964, with Commander Thomas A Bryce in command of the Blue Crew and Commander John C. Lewis in command of the Gold Crew. Operational history Henry Clay conducted shakedown off the coast of Florida beginning on 28 February 1964. She then moved to her new home port, Charleston, South Carolina, and departed for her first deterrent patrol on 17 August 1964. By January 1967, Henry Clay had completed 11 deterrent patrols. As of mid-1967, she was assigned to Submarine Squadron 14. During December 1986, Henry Clay made a port call at Plymouth, England, while being operated by her Gold crew, the only port call the Crew made between April 1985 and October 1987. In 1987, Henry Clay’s Gold Crew underwent an unannounced Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination (ORSE). She received an EXCELLENT grade, the only submarine in the United States Atlantic Fleet other than the attack submarine USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-709) up to that date to receive an EXCELLENT on an unannounced ORSE. RECORD SETTING: In 1989, in preparation for its final deterrent patrol, the Henry Clay crew spent just three days in Holy Loch, Scotland for its refit (instead of the normal three week refit period), and onloaded 250,000 pounds of food. Henry Clay spent a record 121 days (April-August) beneath the North Atlantic waves on deterrent patrol. It made two, short back to back port calls in Plymouth and Portsmouth, England respectively. Decommissioning and disposal Henry Clay was decommissioned on 5 November 1990 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day.