USS LOS ANGELES (SSN 688)

USS LOS ANGELES (SSN 688), the fourth naval ship to be named after the City of Los Angeles, is the lead ship of her class. Designed as a follow-on to the STURGEON class submarines built during the 1960s, the Los Angeles class incorporated improved sound quieting and a larger propulsion plant than previous classes. Her many capabilities include wartime functions of undersea warfare, surface warfare, strike warfare, mining operations, special forces delivery, reconnaissance, carrier battle group support and escort, and intelligence collection. Her missiles can hit on target 75 percent of the Earth’s land surface.

Launched on 6 April 1974 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia, her sponsor was the Honorable Anne L. Armstrong, counselor to the President. She was commissioned on 13 November 1976. On 27 May 1977, she hosted President Jimmy Carter for an at-sea demonstration of the capabilities of the nation’s newest fast attack submarine. LOS ANGELES made her first operational deployment to the Mediterranean Sea in 1977 and was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation.

In 1978 she transferred to the Pacific Fleet and was assigned to Submarine Squadron SEVEN, homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. LOS ANGELES operated with distinction, conducting five Western Pacific, one Indian Ocean, and four Northern Pacific deployments. These operations, earned her three additional Meritorious Unit Citations. Additionally, she was awarded her squadron’s annual Battle Efficiency "E" for excellence in combat readiness four times.

In July 1992, LOS ANGELES departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for a Change of Homeport to Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California. Arriving on 6 August, she commenced the first Engineered Refueling Overhaul of a Los Angeles class fast attack submarine. During the overhaul, she was outfitted with the latest state-of-the-art sonar and fire control systems, as well as the Navy’s newest reactor controls equipment. These extensive upgrades make her one of the most advanced submarines in the submarine force.

LOS ANGELES returned to an operational status after the 31 month overhaul in March 1995. She was re-assigned to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii attached to Submarine Squadron ONE.

COMMANDING OFFICER - CDR Steven M. Harrison | Biography

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USS Los Angeles to Decommission in Los Angeles