Los Angeles-class submarine

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Los Angeles-class SSN profile
USS Los Angeles, lead boat of the class.
Class overview
Builders
Operators United States Navy
Preceded bySturgeon class
Succeeded bySeawolf class
Cost$900 million, 1990 dollars;[1] $1.79 billion, 2023 dollars[2]
Built1972–1996
In commission1976–present
Completed62
Active24
Laid up1 (Active, Awaiting Decommissioning)
Retired35
Preserved2 (as moored training ships)
General characteristics
TypeNuclear attack submarine
Displacement
  • Surfaced: 6,082 tonnes (5,986 long tons)
  • Submerged: 6,927 tonnes (6,818 long tons)
Length362 ft (110 m)
Beam33 ft (10 m)
Draft31 ft (9.4 m)
Propulsion
  • 1 × S6G nuclear reactor (150–165 MW)
  • 2 × steam turbines (30,000–33,500) shp
  • 1 × shaft
  • 1 × secondary propulsion motor 325 hp (242 kW)
Speed
  • Surfaced: 20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h)
  • Submerged: Over 25 knots (29 mph; 46 km/h), official;[5] 33+ knots, reported[3][6]
RangeRefueling required after 30 years[1]
Endurance90 days
Test depth450 m (1,480 ft)[3]
Complement129
Sensors and
processing systems
BQQ-5 suite which includes active and passive systems sonar, BQS-15 detecting and ranging sonar, WLR-8V(2) ESM receiver, WLR-9 acoustic receiver for detection of active search sonar and acoustic homing torpedoes, BRD-7 radio direction finder,[4] BPS-15 radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
WLR-10 countermeasures set[4]
Armament4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes, 37 × Mk 48 torpedo, Tomahawk land attack missile, Harpoon anti-ship missile, Mk 67 mobile, or Mk 60 CAPTOR mines (FLTII and 688i FLTIII have a 12-tube VLS)

The Los Angeles class of submarines are nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSN) in service with the United States Navy. Also known as the 688 class (pronounced "six-eighty-eight") after the hull number of lead vessel USS Los Angeles (SSN-688), 62 were built from 1972 to 1996, the latter 23 to an improved 688i standard. As of 2024, 24 of the Los Angeles class remain in commission—more than any other class in the world—and they account for almost than half of the U.S. Navy's 50 fast attack submarines.[7]

Submarines of this class are named after American towns and cities, such as Albany, New York; Los Angeles, California; and Tucson, Arizona, with the exception of USS Hyman G. Rickover, named for the "father of the nuclear Navy." This was a change from traditionally naming attack submarines after marine animals, such as USS Seawolf or USS Shark. Rickover's response to the decision to name the submarines after cities (and occasionally politicians influential in defense issues) was that "Fish don't vote."[8]

Development[edit]

In the late 1960s, the Soviet Union's advances in submarine technology increasingly threatened the survivability of US Navy (USN) carrier battle groups. Soviet fast-attack submarines became capable of keeping pace with carrier groups, while their newer missile submarines could potentially overwhelm the group's defenses with salvos of missiles.[9] Development of the Los Angeles class commenced in 1967 as a response. The class originally had essentially the same weapons and sensors as the preceding Sturgeon-class submarine, but was approximately 50% larger with "major improvements" in stealth and speed so that they too could keep up with carrier battle groups.[9]

On 1 December 1976 General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) submitted a $544 million claim related to its contract for 18 Los-Angeles-class submarines; the contractor alleged the USN made an undue amount of design changes while the government argued that Electric Boat mismanaged its operations.[10] The USN and General Dynamics reached an $843 million settlement agreement in June 1978;[10] the contract price was increased by $125 million, GDEB absorbed a $359 million loss, and the USN paid an additional $359 million under the authority of Public Law 85-804.[11] The USN and General Dynamics had a further dispute in 1979–1980 when it was discovered that nonconforming steel had been used in the construction of the submarines and thousands of welds were found to be either defective or missing. This led General Dynamics to file a $100 million insurance claim to cover the costs of re-inspections of the yard's work, "thus, Electric Boat was asking the Navy to reimburse it for its own mis-management." The parties reached an agreement in 1981 whereby GDEB was awarded a firm contract for an additional 688-class boat and two options; the Navy needed GDEB's shipbuilding capacity to achieve its procurement goals.[10]

Los Angeles-class submarines were built in three successive flights:[12]

Flight Pennant numbers Ordered dates Upgrades (where applicable)
I SSNs 688–718 1971–1977 N/A
II SSNs 719–750 1977–1982 12 vertical launch tubes for Tomahawk cruise missiles and an upgraded reactor core.
III SSNs 751–773 1982–1989 "688i" (for Improved): Quieter, advanced BSY-1 sonar suite, the ability to lay mines and configured for under-ice operations.

Design[edit]

Flights[edit]

Flight II 688 VLS.
Flight III 688I.

In 1982, after building 31 boats, the class underwent a minor redesign. The following eight that made up the second "flight" of subs had 12 new vertical launch tubes that could fire Tomahawk missiles. The last 23 had a significant upgrade with the 688i improvement program. These boats are quieter, with more advanced electronics, sensors, and noise-reduction technology. The diving planes are placed at the bow rather than on the sail, and are retractable.[13] A further four boats were proposed by the Navy, but later cancelled.[14]

Capabilities[edit]

Crewmen monitor consoles at the diving station aboard a Los Angeles-class submarine

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the top speed of the submarines of the Los Angeles class is over 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), although the actual maximum is classified. Some published estimates have placed their top speed at 30 to 33 knots (56 to 61 km/h; 35 to 38 mph).[3][15] In his book Submarine: A Guided Tour Inside a Nuclear Warship, Tom Clancy estimated the top speed of Los Angeles-class submarines at about 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph).

The U.S. Navy gives the maximum operating depth of the Los Angeles class as 650 ft (200 m),[16] while Patrick Tyler, in his book Running Critical, suggests a maximum operating depth of 950 ft (290 m).[17] Although Tyler cites the 688-class design committee for this figure,[18] the government has not commented on it. The maximum diving depth is 1,475 ft (450 m) according to Jane's Fighting Ships, 2004–2005 Edition, edited by Commodore Stephen Saunders of the Royal Navy.[19]

Weapons[edit]

A portside bow view of the fore section of USS Santa Fe tied up at the pier in February 1994: The doors of the Mark 36 vertical launch system for the Tomahawk missiles are in the "open" position.

Los Angeles-class submarines carry about 25 torpedo tube-launched weapons, as well as Mark 67 and Mark 60 CAPTOR mines and were designed to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles, and Harpoon missiles horizontally (from the torpedo tubes). The last 31 boats of this class (Flight II and Flight III/688i) also have 12 dedicated vertical launching system tubes for launching Tomahawks. The tube configuration for the first two boats of Flight II differed from the later ones: Providence and Pittsburgh have four rows of three tubes vs. the inner two rows of four and outer two rows of two tubes found on other examples.

Control systems[edit]

Over close to 40 years, the control suite of the class has changed dramatically. The class was originally equipped with the Mk 113 mod 10 fire control system, also known as the Pargo display program. The Mk 113 runs on a UYK-7 computer.[20][21]

The Mk 117 FCS, the first "all digital" fire control system, replaced the Mk 113. The Mk 117 transferred the duties of the analog Mk 75 attack director to the UYK-7, and the digital Mk 81 weapon control consoles, removing the two analog conversions, and allowing "all digital" control of the digital Mk 48 control.[22] The first 688 sub to be built with the Mk 117 was USS Dallas.

The Mark 1 Combat Control System/All Digital Attack Center replaced the Mk 117 FCS, on which it was based. The Mk 1 CCS was built by Lockheed Martin, and gave the class the ability to fire Tomahawk missiles.[23] The CSS internal tracker model provides processing for both towed-array and spherical-array trackers. Trackers are signal followers that generate bearing, arrival angle, and frequency reports based on information received by an acoustic sensor. It incorporated the Gyro Static Navigator into the system in replacement of the DMINS of the earlier 688 class.

The Mk 1 CCS was replaced by the Mk 2, which was built by Raytheon. Mk 2 provides Tomahawk Block III vertical launch capability as well as fleet-requested improvements to Mk 48 ADCAP torpedo and Towed Array Target Motion Analysis operability. The Mk 2 CCS paired with the AN/BQQ-5E system is referred to as the QE-2" system. The CCS MK2 Block 1 A/B system architecture extends the CCS MK2 tactical system with a network of tactical advanced computers (TAC-3). These TAC-3s are configured to support the SFMPL, NTCS-A, LINK-11 and ATWCS subsystems.

Sensors[edit]

Sonar[edit]

AN/BQQ-5[edit]

AN/BQQ-5 sensor suite consists of the AN/BQS-13 spherical sonar array and AN/UYK-44 computer. The AN/BQQ-5 was developed from the AN/BQQ-2 sonar system. The BQS 11, 12, and 13 spherical arrays have 1,241 transducers. Also equipped are a conformal hull array with 104 to 156 hydrophones and two towed arrays: the TB-12 (later replaced by the TB-16) and TB-23 or TB-29, of which there are multiple variants. There are five versions of the AN/BQQ-5 system, sequentially identified by letters A–E.

The 688i (Improved) subclass was initially equipped with the AN/BSY-1 SUBACS submarine advanced combat system that used an AN/BQQ-5E sensor system with updated computers and interface equipment. Development of the AN/BSY-1 and its sister the AN/BSY-2 for the Seawolf class was widely reported as one of the most problematic programs for the Navy, its cost and schedule suffering many setbacks.

A series of conformal passive hydrophones are hard-mounted to each side of the hull, using the AN/BQR-24 internal processor. The system uses FLIT (frequency line integration tracking) which homes in on precise narrowband frequencies of sound and, using the Doppler principle, can accurately provide firing solutions against very quiet submarines. The AN/BQQ-5's hull array doubled the performance of its predecessors.

AN/BQQ-10[edit]

The AN/BQQ-5 system was replaced by the AN/BQQ-10 system. Acoustic Rapid Commercial Off-The-Shelf Insertion (A-RCI), designated AN/BQQ-10, is a four-phase program for transforming existing submarine sonar systems (AN/BSY-1, AN/BQQ-5, and AN/BQQ-6) from legacy systems to a more capable and flexible COTS/Open System Architecture (OSA) and also provide the submarine force with a common sonar system. A single A-RCI Multi-Purpose Processor (MPP) has as much computing power as the entire Los Angeles (SSN-688/688I) submarine fleet combined and will allow the development and use of complex algorithms previously beyond the reach of legacy processors. The use of COTS/OSA technologies and systems will enable rapid periodic updates to both software and hardware. COTS-based processors will allow computer power growth at a rate commensurate with the commercial industry.[24]

Engineering and auxiliary systems[edit]

The aft end of the control room for USS Jefferson City in June 2009

Two watertight compartments are used in the Los Angeles-class submarines. The forward compartment contains crew living spaces, weapons-handling spaces, and control spaces not critical to recovering propulsion. The aft compartment contains the bulk of the submarine's engineering systems, power generation turbines, and water-making equipment.[25] Some submarines in the class are capable of delivering Navy SEALs through either a SEAL Delivery Vehicle deployed from the Dry Deck Shelter or the Advanced SEAL Delivery System mounted on the dorsal side, although the latter was cancelled in 2006 and removed from service in 2009.[26] A variety of atmospheric control devices are used to allow the vessel to remain submerged for long periods of time without ventilating, including an electrolytic oxygen generator, which produces oxygen for the crew and hydrogen as a byproduct. The hydrogen is pumped overboard but there is always a risk of fire or explosion from this process.[1][27]

USS Greeneville with an attached ASDS

While on the surface or at snorkel depth, the submarine may use the submarine's auxiliary or emergency diesel generator for power or ventilation[28][29] (e.g., following a fire).[30] The diesel engine in a 688 class can be quickly started by compressed air during emergencies or to evacuate noxious (nonvolatile) gases from the boat, although 'ventilation' requires raising a snorkel mast. During nonemergency situations, design constraints call for operators to allow the engine to reach normal operating temperatures before it is capable of producing full power, a process that may take from 20 to 30 minutes. However, the diesel generator can be immediately loaded to 100% power output, despite design criteria cautions, at the discretion of the submarine commander on the recommendation of the submarine's engineer, if necessity dictates such actions to: (a) restore electrical power to the submarine, (b) prevent a reactor incident from occurring or escalating, or (c) to protect the lives of the crew or others as determined necessary by the commanding officer.[31]

USS Key West submerged at periscope depth off the coast of Honolulu, Hawaii in July 2004

Propulsion[edit]

The Los Angeles class is powered by the General Electric S6G pressurized water reactor. The hot reactor coolant water heats water in the steam generators, producing steam to power the propulsion turbines and ship service turbine generators (SSTGs), which generate the submarine's electrical power. The high-speed propulsion turbines drive the shaft and propeller through a reduction gear. In the case of a reactor plant casualty, the submarine has a diesel generator and a bank of batteries to provide electrical power. An emergency propulsion motor on the shaft line or a retractable 325-hp secondary propulsion motor power the submarine off the battery or diesel generator.

The S6G reactor plant was originally designed to use the D1G-2 core, similar to the D2G reactor used on the guided missile cruiser USS Bainbridge. The D1G-2 core had a rated thermal power of 150 MW and the turbines were rated at 30,000 shp. All Los Angeles-class submarines from USS Providence on were built with a D2W core and older submarines with D1G-2 cores have been refueled with D2W cores. The D2W core is rated at 165 MW and turbine power rose to approximately 33,500 shp.[32]

Boats in class[edit]

Summary of Status Count
Active, in commission 24
Active (Reserve), Awaiting Decommissioning 1
Converted to moored training ship 2
Inactive or decommissioned & stricken 24
Disposed of by submarine recycling 11
Total 62

The class has a total of 62 boats divided into three flights as follows:

  • 31 × Flight I
  • 8 × Flight II with VLS
  • 23 × Flight III 688i (Improved)

Submarines[edit]

Name Hull number Flight Builder Ordered Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Service life Status Homeport/
NVR page
Los Angeles SSN-688 I Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News 8 January 1971 8 January 1972 6 April 1974 13 November 1976 4 February 2011 34 years, 2 months and 22 days Disposed of by submarine recycling N/A[33]
Baton Rouge SSN-689 18 November 1972 26 April 1975 25 June 1977 13 January 1995 17 years, 6 months and 19 days Disposed of by submarine recycling N/A[34]
Philadelphia SSN-690 General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton 12 August 1972 19 October 1974 25 June 1977 25 June 2010 33 years, 0 months and 0 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[35]
Memphis SSN-691 Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News 4 February 1971 23 June 1973 3 April 1976 17 December 1977 1 April 2011 33 years, 3 months and 15 days Stricken, final disposition pending[36] N/A[37]
Omaha SSN-692 General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton 31 January 1971 27 January 1973 21 February 1976 11 March 1978 5 October 1995 17 years, 6 months and 24 days Disposed of by submarine recycling[38] N/A[39]
Cincinnati SSN-693 Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News 4 February 1971 6 April 1974 19 February 1977 11 March 1978 29 July 1996 18 years, 4 months and 18 days Disposed of by submarine recycling[40] N/A[41]
Groton SSN-694 General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton 31 January 1971 3 August 1973 9 October 1976 8 July 1978 7 November 1997 19 years, 3 months and 30 days Disposed of by submarine recycling[42] N/A[43]
Birmingham SSN-695 Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News 24 January 1972 26 April 1975 29 October 1977 16 December 1978 22 December 1997 19 years and 6 days
(0 months)
Disposed of by submarine recycling N/A[44]
New York City SSN-696 General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton 15 December 1973 18 June 1977 3 March 1979 30 April 1997 18 years, 1 month and 27 days Stricken, to be disposed of by submarine recycling N/A[45]
Indianapolis SSN-697 19 October 1974 30 July 1977 5 January 1980 22 December 1998 18 years, 11 months and 17 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[46]
Bremerton SSN-698 8 May 1976 22 July 1978 28 March 1981 21 May 2021 40 years, 1 month and 23 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[47]
Jacksonville SSN-699 21 February 1976 18 November 1978 16 May 1981 16 November 2021[48] 40 years and 6 months Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[49]
Dallas SSN-700 31 January 1973 9 October 1976 28 April 1979 18 July 1981 4 April 2018 36 years, 8 months and 17 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[50]
La Jolla SSN-701/
MTS-701
10 December 1973 16 October 1976 11 August 1979 24 October 1981 15 November 2019 38 years and 22 days Converted to a moored training ship for the Nuclear Power School as of 2020 Charleston, SC[51]
Phoenix SSN-702 31 October 1973 30 July 1977 8 December 1979 19 December 1981 29 July 1998 16 years, 7 months and 10 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[52]
Boston SSN-703 10 December 1973 11 August 1978 19 April 1980 30 January 1982 19 November 1999 17 years, 9 months and 20 days Disposed of by submarine recycling N/A[53]
Baltimore SSN-704 31 October 1973 21 May 1979 13 December 1980 24 July 1982 10 July 1998 15 years, 11 months and 16 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[54]
City of Corpus Christi SSN-705 4 September 1979 25 April 1981 8 January 1983 3 August 2017 34 years, 6 months and 26 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[55]
Albuquerque SSN-706 27 December 1979 13 March 1982 21 May 1983 27 February 2017 33 years, 9 months and 6 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[56]
Portsmouth SSN-707 10 December 1973 8 May 1980 18 September 1982 1 October 1983 10 September 2004 20 years, 11 months and 9 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[57]
Minneapolis-Saint Paul SSN-708 31 October 1973 20 January 1981 19 March 1983 10 March 1984 28 August 2008 24 years, 5 months and 18 days Disposed of by submarine recycling N/A[58]
Hyman G. Rickover
(ex-Providence)
SSN-709 10 December 1973 24 July 1981 27 August 1983 21 July 1984 14 December 2006 22 years, 4 months and 23 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[59]
Augusta SSN-710 1 April 1983 21 January 1984 19 January 1985 11 February 2009 24 years and 23 days
(0 months)
Disposed of by submarine recycling N/A[60]
San Francisco SSN-711/
MTS-711
Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News 1 August 1975 26 May 1977 27 October 1979 24 April 1981 5 May 2022 41 years and 21 days Converted to a moored training ship for the Nuclear Power School as of 2021 Charleston, SC[61]
Atlanta SSN-712 17 August 1978 16 August 1980 6 March 1982 16 December 1999 17 years, 9 months and 10 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[62]
Houston SSN-713 29 January 1979 21 March 1981 25 September 1982 26 August 2016 33 years, 11 months and 1 day Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[63]
Norfolk SSN-714 20 February 1976 1 August 1979 31 October 1981 21 May 1983 11 December 2014 31 years, 6 months and 20 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[64]
Buffalo SSN-715 23 February 1976 25 January 1980 8 May 1982 5 November 1983 30 January 2019 35 years, 2 months and 25 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[65]
Salt Lake City SSN-716 15 September 1977 26 August 1980 16 October 1982 12 May 1984 15 January 2006 21 years, 8 months and 3 days Disposed of by submarine recycling N/A[66]
Olympia SSN-717 31 March 1981 30 April 1983 17 November 1984 5 February 2021 36 years, 2 months and 19 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[67]
Honolulu SSN-718 10 November 1981 24 September 1983 6 July 1985 2 November 2007 22 years, 4 months and 27 days Disposed of by submarine recycling N/A[68]
Providence SSN-719 II with VLS General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton 16 April 1979 14 October 1982 4 August 1984 27 July 1985 22 August 2022 37 years and 26 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[69]
Pittsburgh SSN-720 15 April 1983 8 December 1984 23 November 1985 15 April 2020 34 years, 4 months and 23 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[70]
Chicago SSN-721 Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News 13 August 1981 5 January 1983 13 October 1984 27 September 1986 21 July 2023 36 years, 9 months and 24 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[71]
Key West SSN-722 6 July 1983 20 July 1985 12 September 1987 Proposed 2023[72] In Commission, in Reserve (Stand Down), commencement of inactivation availability Bremerton, WA[73]
Oklahoma City SSN-723 4 January 1984 2 November 1985 9 July 1988 9 September 2022 34 years and 2 months Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[74]
Louisville SSN-724 General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton 11 February 1982 24 September 1984 14 December 1985 8 November 1986 9 March 2021 34 years, 4 months and 1 day Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[75]
Helena SSN-725 19 April 1982 28 March 1985 28 June 1986 11 July 1987 Proposed 2025[76] Active, in commission Norfolk, VA[77]
Newport News SSN-750 Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News 3 March 1984 15 March 1986 3 June 1989 Proposed 2026[76] Active, in commission Groton, CT[78]
San Juan SSN-751 III 688i (Improved) General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton 30 November 1982 9 August 1985 6 December 1986 6 August 1988 Proposed 2024[76] Active, in commission Groton, CT[79]
Pasadena SSN-752 20 December 1985 12 September 1987 11 February 1989 Proposed 2025[76] Active, in commission Norfolk, VA[80]
Albany SSN-753 Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News 29 November 1983 22 April 1985 13 June 1987 7 April 1990 Active, in commission Norfolk, VA[81]
Topeka SSN-754 General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton 28 November 1983 13 May 1986 23 January 1988 21 October 1989 Proposed 2024[76] Active, in commission Pearl Harbor, HI[82]
Miami SSN-755 24 October 1986 12 November 1988 30 June 1990 28 March 2014 23 years, 8 months and 28 days Stricken, final disposition pending N/A[83]
Scranton SSN-756 Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News 26 November 1984 29 August 1986 3 July 1989 26 January 1991 Proposed 2026[76] Active, in commission San Diego, CA[84]
Alexandria SSN-757 General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton 19 June 1987 23 June 1990 29 June 1991 Proposed 2026[76] Active, in commission San Diego, CA[85]
Asheville SSN-758 Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News 9 January 1987 24 February 1990 28 September 1991 Active, in commission Apra Harbor, GU[86]
Jefferson City SSN-759 21 September 1987 17 August 1990 29 February 1992 Active, in commission Apra Harbor, GU[87]
Annapolis SSN-760 General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton 21 March 1986 15 June 1988 18 May 1991 11 April 1992 Proposed 2027[76] Active, in commission Apra Harbor, GU[88]
Springfield SSN-761 29 January 1990 4 January 1992 9 January 1993 Active, in commission Apra Harbor, GU[89]
Columbus SSN-762 9 January 1991 1 August 1992 24 July 1993 Active, in commission Pearl Harbor, HI[90]
Santa Fe SSN-763 9 July 1991 12 December 1992 8 January 1994 Active, in commission San Diego, CA[91]
Boise SSN-764 Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News 6 February 1987 25 August 1988 23 March 1991 7 November 1992 Active, in commission Norfolk, VA[92]
Montpelier SSN-765 19 May 1989 23 August 1991 13 March 1993 Active, in commission Norfolk, VA[93]
Charlotte SSN-766 17 August 1990 3 October 1992 16 September 1994 Active, in commission Pearl Harbor, HI[94]
Hampton SSN-767 2 March 1990 3 April 1992 6 November 1993 Active, in commission San Diego, CA[95]
Hartford SSN-768 General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton 30 June 1988 22 February 1992 4 December 1993 10 December 1994 Active, in commission Groton, CT[96]
Toledo SSN-769 Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News 10 June 1988 6 May 1991 28 August 1993 24 February 1995 Active, in commission Groton, CT[97]
Tucson SSN-770 15 August 1991 20 March 1994 18 August 1995 Active, in commission Pearl Harbor, HI[98]
Columbia SSN-771 General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton 14 December 1988 21 April 1993 24 September 1994 9 October 1995 Active, in commission Pearl Harbor, HI[99]
Greeneville SSN-772 Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News 28 February 1992 17 September 1994 16 February 1996 Active, in commission Pearl Harbor, HI[100]
Cheyenne SSN-773 28 November 1989 6 July 1992 16 April 1995 13 September 1996 Active, in commission Pearl Harbor, HI[101]

Among the retired boats, a few were in commission for nearly 40 years or more, including Bremerton (40), Jacksonville (40), La Jolla (38) and San Francisco (41). With a wide variance in longevity, twelve boats were laid up halfway through their projected lifespans, with Baltimore being the youngest to be retired at only 15 years, 11 months.[1] Another five boats were also laid up early (within 20–25 years), due to their midlife reactor refueling being cancelled, and one was lost during overhaul due to arson. All retired boats have been or will be scrapped per the Navy's Ship-Submarine Recycling Program. In addition, two boats, La Jolla and San Francisco, have been converted to moored training ships.

In popular culture[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d SSN-688 Los Angeles class Archived 13 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine from Federation of American Scientists retrieved 29 February 2008 :The 18 SSN-688 class submarines that will be refueled in their midlives could make good candidates for a service life extension because they could operate for nearly 30 years after the refueling. After these submarines serve for 30 years, they could undergo a two-year overhaul and serve for one more 10-year operating cycle, for a total service life of 42 years.
  2. ^ Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 30 November 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the Measuring Worth series.
  3. ^ a b c Polmar, Norman; Moore, Kenneth J. (2003). Cold War Submarines: The Design and Construction of U.S. and Soviet Submarines. Brassey's. p. 271. ISBN 1-57488-594-4.
  4. ^ a b Polmar, Norman "The U. S. Navy Electronic Warfare (Part 1)" United States Naval Institute Proceedings October 1979 p.137
  5. ^ "Attack Submarines - SSN". United States Navy. Retrieved 12 March 2023. General Characteristics, Los Angeles class [...] Speed: 25+ knots (28+ miles per hour, 46.3 +kph)
  6. ^ "Officials: U.S. submarine hit undersea mountain". CNN. 11 January 2005. Archived from the original on 18 October 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2008. The submarine was traveling in excess of 33 knots—about 35 mph—when its nose hit the undersea formation head-on, officials said.
  7. ^ "Submarine Force Facts". Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  8. ^ Clarity, James F.; Weaver, Warren Jr. (22 April 1985). "BRIEFING; Navy Reverts to Fish". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  9. ^ a b Bierly, Paul; Gallagher, Scott; Spender, J.C. (15 January 2014). "Innovation decision-making in high-risk organizations: A comparison of the US and Soviet attack submarine programs". Industrial and Corporate Change. 23 (3): 759–795. doi:10.1093/icc/dtt026.
  10. ^ a b c Wasserman Goodman, Sherri (1988). "Legal Dilemmas in the Weapons Acquisition Process: The Procurement of the SSN-688 Attack Submarine". Yale Law & Policy Review. 6 (2): 393–427 – via JSTOR.
  11. ^ General Accounting Office (18 May 1984). "The 1978 Navy Shipbuilding Claim Settlement At Electric Boat -- Status As Of July 2, 1983" (PDF). www.gao.gov.
  12. ^ "SSN-688 Los Angeles-class". www.fas.org. 14 February 2000.
  13. ^ Farley, Robert (18 October 2014). "The Five Best Submarines of All Time". The National Interest. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014.
  14. ^ Polmar, Norman (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet (19th ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. p. 82. ISBN 9781591146872.
  15. ^ Tyler, Patrick (1986). Running Critical. New York: Harper and Row. pp. 24, 56, 66–67. ISBN 978-0-06-091441-7.
  16. ^ Waddle, Scott (2003). The Right Thing. Integrity Publishers. pp. xi (map/diagram). ISBN 1-59145-036-5. This reference is for operating depth only
  17. ^ Tyler, (1986). pp. 66–67, 156
  18. ^ "Notes in pp. 64–67: Deliberations of ad-hoc committee on SSN 688 design taken from confidential sources and from interviews with Admiral [Ret] Rickover. ..." From Tyler, p. 365
  19. ^ Saunders, (2004). pp. 838
  20. ^ U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History. p. 118.
  21. ^ "Systems, Navy Chapter". vipclubmn.org. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012.
  22. ^ Friedman, Norman (1997). The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997–1998. Naval Institute Press. p. 152. ISBN 9781557502681.
  23. ^ "Mk 1 Combat Control System [CCS]". Archived from the original on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  24. ^ "BQQ-10 A-RCI Acoustic Rapid COTS Insertion". Archived from the original on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  25. ^ SSN-688 Los Angeles Class Design. Los Angeles Class Archived 15 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine at Globalsecurity.org. Accessed on 7 January 2009
  26. ^ Polmar & Moore, (2003). pp. 263
  27. ^ Treadwell Supplies Oxygen Generator Components for Nuclear Subs Defense Industry Daily Archived 16 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine 28-January-2008
  28. ^ Fairbanks Morse Engines Marine Installations Archived 26 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine Accessed on 29 April 2008
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  56. ^ SSN706
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  58. ^ SSN708
  59. ^ SSN709
  60. ^ SSN710
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  63. ^ SSN713
  64. ^ SSN714
  65. ^ SSN715
  66. ^ SSN716
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External links[edit]