USS Georgia returned to its home port four days before the deactivation process began. The submarine was commissioned on February 11, 1984.
The vessel was one of 18 Ohio-class submarines built for the U.S. Navy. It initially operated as a ballistic-missile submarine armed with Trident intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The Navy removed those weapons in November 2003 and transferred the submarine to Norfolk Naval Shipyard. USS Georgia then underwent a major overhaul and conversion into a guided-missile and special-operations platform.
The submarine returned to service in its new configuration in March 2008. It began its first operational deployment as a guided-missile submarine in August 2009.
Four Ohio-class submarines received the same conversion. Each could carry up to 154 UGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles in 22 vertical launch tubes.
The conversion also created space for special operations forces and their equipment. This gave the submarines a combination of long-range strike capacity and support for covert missions.
Future Virginia Block VI submarines are expected to assume parts of the Ohio-class guided-missile mission. Their planned Tomahawk capacity will be lower, falling from 154 weapons to 40, while less space will be available for special operations personnel.
The Navy plans to deactivate the three remaining Ohio-class guided-missile submarines between 2027 and 2029. Current plans call for one submarine to begin the process in each of those years.
