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USS Los Angeles Decommissions at the Port of Los Angeles

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100124-06
Release Date: 1/24/2010 11:20:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chelsea A. Radford, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

LOS ANGELES (NNS) -- After 33 years of patrolling the oceans, USS Los Angeles (SSN 688) was decommissioned in its namesake city, Los Angeles Jan. 23. The ceremony was held as a part of the five-day long Los Angeles Navy Days.

Los Angeles is the fourth naval ship to be named after the City of Los Angeles. The submarine's crest is recognizant of that, bearing four dolphins representing the four ships.

President and co-founder of Navy Days Los Angeles Grant W. Ivey said, "It is sad to see the Los Angeles go, but we are looking forward continuing our ties with the Navy with the commissioning of the USS California."

During his remarks USS Los Angeles Commanding Officer Cmdr. Steve Harrison said, "The Los Angeles is the 'first and the finest,' but her crew is her metal that makes her great."

The oldest attack sub of the 45 remaining submarines of the 62 boat class, Los Angeles received many honors, including eight Battle "E" awards, eight Meritorious Unit Citations, and one Navy Unit Citation.

Los Angeles was launched on April 6, 1974 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Va. and was commissioned on Nov. 13, 1976, as the 67th attack submarine and the 109th nuclear powered submarine in the U.S. Navy. In addition to 18 deployments, Los Angeles has participated in four Rim of the Pacific multinational exercises, along with nine Eastern Pacific underway periods.

As part of Commander, Submarine Squadron Seven, (CSS-7), the 360-foot submarine completed its first Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment from April 15, 1979 to June 6, 1979.

In 1992, Los Angeles temporarily changed her homeport to Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, Calif. in order to conduct an engineering refueling overhaul. In addition to the overhaul, it received the latest state-of-the-art sonar and fire control systems, as well as the Navy's newest reactor controls equipment. After 31 months, the boat was returned to operational status and moved back to Pearl Harbor in March 1995, and attached to Submarine Squadron One.

Los Angeles concluded its last WESTPAC deployment Nov. 19, 2009. It is now scheduled to be sent to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash. for inactivation. Inactivation will include defueling the reactor and safely disposing of the remainder of the submarine.