Benjamin Franklin Class Submarine Models

  The Benjamin Franklin class was a group of US Navy ballistic missile submarines that were in service from the 1960s to the 2000s. It was an improved version of the James Madison class, with quieter machinery and other enhancements. They also included a subset of re-engineered 640-class submarines, starting with the USS George C. Marshall, which were built to meet new SUBSAFE safety requirements after the loss of the USS Thresher. The Benjamin Franklin class, along with the George Washington, Ethan Allen, Lafayette, and James Madison classes, made up the "41 for Freedom" fleet that served as the US Navy's primary nuclear deterrent force until the late 1980s.  The Benjamin Franklin class of submarines was decommissioned between 1992 and 2002 due to a variety of factors, including treaty limitations, age, and the end of the Cold War. The last Benjamin Franklin class submarine to be decommissioned was the USS Kamehameha, which was retired on April 2, 2002. The sails of several submarines have been preserved and are on display at various locations, including the Naval Submarine Base King's Bay in Georgia, the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mare Island in California, and the Patriot's Point Maritime Museum in Charleston, South Carolina.     Order now a 20 inch wooden submarine model.  Each piece is beautifully carved to provide a piece you'll love.