Whale's keel was laid down on 27 May 1964 at the General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on 14 October 1966, sponsored by Mrs. Russell B. Long, the wife of United States Senator Russell B. Long (1918–2003) of Louisiana, and commissioned on 12 October 1968, with Commander William M. Wolff, Jr. in command.