SSN 706 Albuquerque

The current USS ALBUQUERQUE (SSN 706), a nuclear powered fast attack submarine of the LOS ANGELES class, was constructed at Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on March 13, 1982, and commissioned on May 21, 1983. ALBUQUERQUE is the nineteenth ship in the class and carries a complement of 127 (12 officers, 115 enlisted), all highly trained professionals in their respective fields.

Since commissioning, USS ALBUQUERQUE has completed several deployments in both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea and has been awarded two Meritorious Unit Commendations.

Submarines of the LOS ANGELES Class are the most advanced undersea vessels of their type in the world. While anti-submarine warfare is still their primary mission, the inherent characteristics of the submarine's stealth, mobility and endurance are used to meet the challenges of today's changing global geopolitical climate. USS ALBUQUERQUE is able to get on station quickly, stay for an extended period of time and carry out a variety of missions including the deployment of special forces, minelaying, precision strike land attack, or simply deterrence by her percieved presence while remaining undetected.

This 360 foot, 6,900-ton ship is well equipped to accomplish these tasks. Faster than her predecessors and possessing highly accurate sensors, weapons control systems and central computer complexes, ALBUQUERQUE is armed with sophisticated MK-48 Advanced Capability anti-submarine/ship torpedoes, Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles, and mines.

The Albuquerque started a Refueling Overhaul at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on July 1, 2001 and immediately the team of submarine maintenance experts, working closely with Ship's Force personnel, went to work and achieved a fast start. The ERO was completed in 22.3 months, which broke previous ERO records.

The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) arrived at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility to commence the inactivation and decommissioning process, 28 October 2015. An inactivation ceremony was held in San Diego to honor the boat's 32 years of service, Oct. 16. During the ship's life, Albuquerque deployed 19 times, visited more than 20 countries, and steamed more than 500,000 miles. During the inactivation process, the submarine will be de-fueled, with the hull retained in safe storage until decommissioning. Albuquerque was scheduled to decommission in 2016.

PF-7

USS ALBUQUERQUE (SSN 706) was the second United States Warship to be named after Albuquerque, New Mexico. The first was USCGS ALBUQUERQUE (PF-7), a patrol frigate commissioned in December 1943.During World War II USCGS ALBUQUERQUE served on convoy escort duty in the Aleutian Islands and patrolled the Northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. In October of 1950 she again served on patrol and escort duty for the Coast Guard and received three Battle Stars for her service during the Korean War. She was decommissioned in February 1953.

CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE

Albuquerque, the ship's namesake city, was founded in 1706 by Spanish explorers and named for the Duke of Alburquerque. Located in rich farmland in the Rio Grande Valley, Albuquerque lies at an elevation of nearly 5,000 feet and is surrounded by the Sandia mountains.

Today, Albuquerque is a commercial, military research, and finance center which boasts a population of nearly 400,000. In addition to high-technology industries such as Sandia National Laboratories and Kirtland Air Force Base weapons research center, Albuquerque hosts over 700 firms which produce a wide variety of goods from processed foods to electrical machinery. The city also offers outstanding recreational areas for skiing, hiking and camping.

USS ALBUQUERQUE enjoys a unique, mutually supportive relationship with the City of Albuquerque. At the ship's commissioning on May 21, 1983, the Mayor of the City presented a set of keys for a new Rolls Royce to the Commanding Officer. The first skipper to pilot the submarine up the Rio Grande to Albuquerque for a port visit will win this prize. At each Change of Command these keys are turned over to the new Commanding Officer by the Mayor or his representative.