Los Angeles class SSN (1974)

The Los Angeles class were 62 nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSN), of which 24 are still currently in service with the US Navy. Called colloquially the “688” class after the lead boat pennant (SSN-688), 62 were built in an uninterrupted serie from 1972 to 1996 which by itself is a record. For that 24 years their large hull enabled many improvements over time, which are identified today in three flights, the latter being Flight III “improved” (Half of today’s US SSN force). This still mades it the world’s largest SSN class, and largest US class since the Pacific Campaign’s Gato/Tench/balao, but with a technological level and cost which makes them a symbol of a remarkable cold war industrial effort. Today, they still account for roughly half of the USN sub force, the rest being three Seawolf and +20 Virginia class. #USN #usnavy #submarines #losangeles #SSN668

USS Los Angeles underway, alpha sea trials off the Atlantic coast, summer 1976. US Navy photo submitted by Fabio Peña, courtesy of the Com Sub Group Nine web site. CC

Development of the Los Angeles Class

As sure as the Permit class led to the Sturgeons, the Los Angeles class, which development started in 1967 ended approximately 50% larger than the Sturgeons with “major improvements” in stealth and speed to too could keep up with carrier battle groups. As the last great SSN class of the Cold War, they were developed with a much larger size. The reason was to regain the 1958 Skipjack speed while being quieter than the Sturgeons to keep always a head in advance of the fatest Soviet SSNs. The design a genesis started in 1965 already.

USS Los Angeles was laid down in January 1972, three months after the last Sturgeon, USS Richard B Russel at Newport News. The great novelry was a S6G reactor which had double the power and was largely based on the work done on USS narwhal. She reached 31 knots but this was somewhat at the expense of strenght hull, and very significant decrease in diving operational depth. The other innovation was the new BQQ-5 sonar and its improved towed sonar component.

Rosalynn Carter, President Jimmy Carter, and Adm. Hyman G. Rickover (far right) aboard Los Angeles, May 1977

Though a new, stronger steel hull was designed for them, it not approved due to budget cuts as well as the new computerized fire control system Mk.112. The Mk.117 was only installed from USS Dallas (1979) onwards. It was also anticipated in first studies back in 1968 to give them 20 vertical tubes for anti-ship missiles but the complexity of the system and spiralling up cost plus displacement calculated to 13,700 tons had it rejected by Admiral Zumwalt. The Los Angeles had more torpedoes (26), while offering the same range as the Sturgeons, including SUBROC/Harpoon and Tomahawk.

In 1981, USS La Jolla was the first to launch encapsulated Tomahawk missiles, a system only operational from USS Atlanta in 1983. From USS Providence in 1985, a section with 12 silos equipped with Tomahawks were forward of the sail. From USS San Juan (1986) the class adopted the new BSY-1 combat system plus new retractable bow fins. From USS Hartford (SSN-768, 1993) the tail was modified to resemble that of the new generation Seawolf class. A total of 42 were in service by 1990, another 19 post-cold war constituting the world’s largest SSN class in twenty years.

Development of the class (1967-71).

In the late 1960s, the Soviet Union was going strong on new developments after the poor beginnings of the “November class”, plagued by their 1st generation reactors. Still they were faster at the time than anything built by the USN. Since then, advances in SSN design had let to question the level of the submarine force. In 1967 details about Project 705 Lira (Alfa class) seeped in and showed a potentially superfast SSN about to be built (Speeds estimated in excess of 40 knots). These speeds not only ensured it could outrun any escort deployed by the USN at the time, but also US submarines trying to intercep it. On the other hand, the less impressive, but still all-improved Victor class (Building also started in 1967) showed a far better quietness in addition to superior speed (32 knots) still.

And there was the threat of the Charlie class SSG that could approach US carrier battle groups and strike at a distance and in saturation beyond the usual defensive circles, forcing to creat a much greater perimeter. Soviet subs of this new generation can not only keep pace but also enter withing outer layers of defence of carrier groups. A new, much faster, better armed and better detecting SSN was needed, which Development commenced in 1967. The class was at first armed the same way as the Sturgeon class, but it was made eventually 50% to integrate a serie of major improvements in stealth and speed (most still classified today, given they are still in service), in order to keep up with carrier battle groups and ensured an outer perimeter submarine defence.

Work proceeded until in 1969 the essentials of the new design were ready. One shortcut taken was to simply scale up the Sturgeon design, but there were many differences in the pressure hull, which received this time three full decks (2.5 on the Sturgeons). Internal spaces were completely rearranged, and extra automation added, yet still, the crew of a Los Angeles, when the design was finalized in 1970 (Remember the US DoD and the Navy were still focused on Vietnam at the time), yet still, the crew of a Los Angeles was 129 officers and ratings, versus 104 on an average Sturgeon. The difference was due notably on the extra system carried, opening new possibilities in Intel gathering among others. The boats were in general considered roomier and an improvement over the Sturgeons. The other difference was a generous provision of reloads, 37 versus 21 on the Sturgeons, thanks to the much larger weapons bay.

Still, only four tubes placed on the sides, firing obliquely behind the sonar. Many former arrangements were reconducted, the general shape of the hull, forward and aft section, the sail and cross tail. Still, when built in 1971-76, USS Los Angeles was a bit behind the curve in terms of silencing as shown byt the later adoption of the powerplant rafting and shrouded propeller of the new British Swiftsure class SSNs. Many innovations were later integrated in the Seawolf class, the last design of the cold war.

Construction and Controversy

Unlike other construction projects of the USN such as the Spruance class, Mac Namara’s “wiz kids” could not apply the “winner takes all” formula due to the rapid extension of the program, from 31 initially to 62 when the design was simply reconducted with improvements over three decades. A single yard would not cut it. From the start, Newport News Shipbuilding, General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton shared the Batch I (or Flight I) lucrative contract. The first boats were prototypes of sorts, both yards alternating. Newport News (NN) was responsible for the USS Los Angeles and Baton Rouge, whereas General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB) built USS Philadelphia. They alternated by numbers with Maphis (NN), Omaha (EB), Cininatti (NN), Groton (EB), Brimingham (NN) before larger series, from US New Yprk City (SSN-696) to USS Augusta (SSN-710) by EB and USS San Francisco (SSN-711) to USS Honolulu (SSN-718) by NN. For Flight II and III this was more balance, alternatively between yards more closely.

However it was not all smotth sailing: On 1 December 1976 General Dynamics Electric Boat submitted a $544 million claim related to its contract for 18 Los-Angeles-class submarines. It was argued that an undue amount of design changes made for massive costs overruns, not planned in the initial contract. The government’s defence was that the company mismanaged its operations. Eventually there was $843 million settlement in June 1978 and a contrat price reevaluated by $125 million. Still Eletric Boat made a $359 million loss, the USN paid $359 million under Public Law 85-804.

There was another legal dispute when in 1979–1980 the Navy reported nonconforming steel used for construction, thousands of defective or missing welds. General Dynamics filed a $100 million insurance claim to cover costs of re-inspections but an agreement was reached in 1981, GDEB being awarded a firm contract for an additional 688-class boat and two options. The next successive flights were not subject to discrepancies, lessons had been learned.

In 1982, after Flight I’s 31 boats, minor redesign was signed with eight boats making up the second flight, each having 12 new vertical launch tubes (VLS) to fire Tomahawk missiles. They became in essence, SSGB, a first since 1960 USS Halibut.
The last flight of 23 encompassed a lot of upgrades under the generic name “688i”. While 688 referred to the lead boat USS Los Angeles, SSN-688 and i for “improvement” (program). Additional measures made these new boats remarkably more quieter with new active and passive noise-reduction systems, with much more advanced electronics and sensors, notably to handle new generation of sub-Harpoon and Tomahawak missiles and the latest torpedoes. The diving planes were relocated at the bow and retractable. The last four boats were later cancelled as the Colombia class was designed instead. It was motivated by the massive cost of the game-changing Seawolf class.

Naming

US Submarines always had been named after fishes, at least when the numbered easly boats series ended in 1923 with the S class. When SSBNs appeared, the tradition whas shattered as the importance of the new boats, which carried a deterrence under the superme authority of the president, called for presidents names, and then statesmen, congressmen, senators and governors… The Los Angeles class were, unlike previous SSNs, now named after American towns and cities. The only exception was admiral USS Hyman G. Rickover himself, “father of the nuclear Navy.” This was largely a decision by Rickover precisely, which explained that decision to name these after cities and influential politicians on defense issues based on the simple principle that “fish don’t vote.” Previously cruisers were named after cities. Now that new guided missile cruisers were named after states, it seemed logical.

Design of the class

Hull and general design

The new Los Angeles class were much larger than the Sturgeon/Permit. At 6,082 t (5,986 long tons) surfaced and 6,927 t (6,818 long tons) submerged, they were 1.7 times larger than the previous boats, with a much longer hull at 362 ft (110 m) versus 292 ft 3 in (89.08 m) and a slightly larger beam as well of 33 ft (10 m) versus 31 ft 8 in (9.65 m). The draft was superior at 31 ft (9.4 m) versus 24 ft 5 in (7.44 m). The fin size was slightly larger and taller, while keeping the same basic configuration.

Early series all had the diving planes on it, until swapping on the hull on Flight II. These dimensions made for very elongated boats with a ratio of 1/11, a tendency already started with the Sturgeons. This made for an even longer cyclindrical section and the bow and tail were no more elongated/sloped as the previous boats. This, in the end, made for a lot of extra space, a more favourable ratio for speed, but worse agility, partially compensated by a revised tail.

Powerplant

USS Baton Rouge underway
The Los Angeles class are powered by the new General Electric S6G pressurized water reactor. This was the replacement for the S5W, also planned for the Ohio class SSBNs at first, with hot reactor coolant water heating the steam generators. This steam was used for the main turbines but also service turbine generators (SSTGs) generating onboard electrical power. This separation, enabled by the larger space available, ensured constant electrical power in case of failure of one unit, and with derivations possible, to be sure to pump out ballasts in any case. The S6G (Where G stands for General Electric) is capable of 150–165 MW, compared to 78 MW per S5W unit. This was almost twice as much.

The S6G originally were to use the D1G-2 core rated for 150 MW as used in the D2G reactor of the Guided missile cruiser USS Bainbridge. From USS Providence (SSN-719) onwards, all uses a D2W core, rated for 165 MW. The D1G-2 cores had been replaced with D2W cores when refueled, retrofitted.
The S6G reactor plant consists of the reactor coolant as well as the steam generation plant, and support systems to the engine room. The S6G had a nominal max output at 165 megawatt (MW) but “only” drove two 26 MW steam turbines after reduction.
The engine room also contains the steam turbines, generate electricity plus driving the propeller shaft. Exact specifications are classified and the final top speed “official” is 15 knots (28 km/h) surfaced 25+ knots (46 km/h) submerged. Experts agree this in excess of 30 knots.
Design and operational support for the reactor is provided by Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL) in task of possible refuelling, albeit the core life is much longer than all previous models, 30 years, so basically as long as the life of the submarine itself. This too, was a considerable advantage.

The new high-speed propulsion turbines driving a singleshaft and 7-bladed propeller through a reduction gear are rated for 30,000–33,500 shp. If the reactor plant was non-operational after a “scram” or any emergency shut down, the submarine’s diesel generator plmus a full bank of batteries were to provide electrical power for all important systems. There was even an emergency propulsion motor on the shaft line, and a retractable 325-hp secondary propulsion motor powered by the battery feeding the auxliary diesel generator. A lot of backups were there to ensure no Los Angeles could be stranded underwater without power.

Speed remains classified. According to the U.S. DoD, the top speed is “over 25 knots”, actual maximum most of the time evaluated above 30 knots. After all this was the main motivation behind the design. Published estimates went all the way to 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) and in “A Guided Tour Inside a Nuclear Warship” Tom Clancy estimated even estimated it up to 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph).
The max depht is also classified. All remembered the “gaffe” of a US senator in 1942 leaking the Gato class real depth to the press, after which the Japanese rushed to modified their depht charges. Officially the U.S. Navy gives the figure to 650 ft (200 m). Patrick Tyler in “Running Critical” suggests 950 ft (290 m), and it’s only a max operating depht, not the crush depht by a long shot, whioch would be probably in excess of 1500 ft. The 688-class design committee is often cited for this measure, but the government neither confirmed or denied this. The authoritative Jane’s goes even for 1,475 ft (450 m) in its 2004–2005 Edition by RN Commodore Stephen Saunders. The close cooperation between the two navies is perhaps no stranger to this figure.

Engineering and auxiliary systems

The hull was managed a different way, with two main watertight compartments subdivided by bulkhead partitions: The forward compartment contains crew living spaces as well as the armament-handling spaces and control spaces. The aft compartment contained all main engineering systems with the power generation turbines and water-making equipment. A clean repartition that was not present in former Sturgeon class.
While surfaced or lower, at snorkel depth, the auxiliary or emergency diesel generator could be sued for power or ventilation, particularly to vent out the products of a fire. The diesel engine could be quickly started by compressed air in emergencies and cleaning up polluted air. Still the standard procedure is snorkel for proper ventilation.

In non-emergency situations, design constraints forced to reach normal operating temperatures before reaching full power, over 20 to 30 minutes. The diesel generator still can be immediately loaded to 100% power output at the discretion of the commander on recommendation of the chief engineer to restore electrical power or prevent a reactor incident, protect the lives of the crew among other priorities. The expedicies reduced considerably the life of a diesel but it is estimated worth it by a long shot. As said above, the Los Angeles, are probably the safest subs even created for the USN under SUBSAFE (implemented from the start), the ones with the most built-in redundancies and backup.

Armament

Los Angeles-class are loaded with 25 “tube-launched weapons”, a formula marking the departure from traditional torpedoes to more systems, missiles and mines, inthe latter case, Mark 67 and Mark 60 CAPTOR mines. These tubes were designed to launch both Harpoons and Tomahawk cruise missiles “encapuslated”. However the last 31 boats of in Flight II and Flight III all have their nose modified, right after the sonar, for 12 dedicated vertical launching system tubes for extra Tomahawks. Tube configuration was changed after the first two boats of Flight II: USS Providence and Pittsburgh have four rows of three tubes versus two rows of four inner, two rows of two outer. The 688i (“improved”) also could operate the Mk 67 Submarine Launched Mobile Mines.
Here are following the details of operational systems.

Mark 37 torpedoes

A post-WW II electric acoustic torpedo forst deployed in 1957. The Skipjacks were probably given the 1960 Mark 37 Mod 1, specs below. The 19″ (48.3 cm) Mark 37 and Mark NT37 Designed about 1956 (last introduced, Mod 3: 1967) became the standard US Submarine launched ASW torpedo of the 1960s and until the 1990s.

⚙ specifications Mark 37 TORPEDO
Weight	1,660 pounds (750 kg) (mod.1)
Dimensions	161 inches (410 cm) (mod.1) x 19 inches (48 cm)
Propulsion	Mark 46 silver-zinc battery, two-speed electric motor
Range/speed setting	23,000 yards (21 km) at 17 knots, 10,000 yards (9.1 km) at 26 knots
Warhead	330 pounds (150 kg) HBX-3 high explosive with contact exploder
Max depth	1,000 feet (300 m)
Guidance	Active/passive sonar homing, passive 700 yards (640 m) from target, active and wire-guidance

Mark 48 torpedoes

Adopted by the Skipjacks and Permit class in addition or replacement for the Mark 37 in the mid-1970s, the Mark 48 and its improved Advanced Capability (ADCAP) variant were heavyweight submarine-launched torpedoes. They were designed to sink deep-diving nuclear-powered submarines and high-performance surface ships. They entered service in 1972 for the first mod, 1988 for the ADCAP (photo).

⚙ specifications Mark 48 TORPEDO
Weight	3,434 lb (1,558 kg)
Dimensions	19 ft (5.8 m) x 21 in (530 mm)
Propulsion	swash-plate piston engine; pump jet Otto fuel II
Range/speed setting	38 km/55 kn or 50 km/40 kn
Max depth	500 fathoms, 800 m (2,600 ft) est.
Warhead	647 lb (293 kg) HE plus unused fuel, proximity fuze
Guidance	Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System

Mark 45 ASTOR nuclear torpedoes

These very particular torpedoes were designed in part in respsonse to Soviet rumored small warheads tests and probably adoption on torpredoes and for general tactical use as per the new wide scale 1960s US deterrence policy. The Mark 45 anti-submarine torpedo (ASTOR) was submarine-launched and wire-guided usable against high-speed and deep-diving Soviet submarines. It was first recommended for implementation by 1956 Project Nobska a summer study on submarine warfare. Its was 19-inch (480 mm) in diameter while carrying a W34 nuclear warhead and under direct control maintained between the torpedo and submarine until detonation. It had no homing capability. The design was completed in 1960, 600 were built between 1963 and 1976 until replaced by the Mark 48 torpedo.

⚙ spec. Mark 45 ASTOR
Weight	2,400 pounds (1,100 kg)
Dimensions	227 inches (580 cm) x 19 inches (48 cm)
Propulsion	Electric
Range/speed setting	40 knots, 5–8 miles (8–13 km)
Warhead	W34 nuclear warhead, yeld 11 kilotons
Guidance	Gyroscope and wire

FLIGHT II-III VLS

“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. The 688i (“improved”) model submarines are capable of deploying the Mk 67 Submarine Launched Mobile Mines.

UM-44 SUBROC missiles

The UUM-44 SUBROC (SUBmarine ROCket) was deployed as a long range tube-launched anti-submarine weapon. It carried a 250 kiloton thermonuclear warhead if configured as such, at a more safer distance than the Mark 45 ASTOR torpedo, and essentially replaced it. This weapon was recommended for implementation by 1956 Project Nobska and development started in 1958, completed in 1963. SUBROC entered service with USS Permit in 1964, so basically soon after the class entered service. However the admiral in charge of weapons procurement stated this wepaon caused more problems than Polaris.

Main requirement was to be launched through a 21-inch submarine torpedo tube, and after launch, the solid fuel rocket motor fired, the SUBROC container rapidly rose to the surface and the booster carrying the torpedo flew to destination on a predetermined ballistic trajectory. The reentry vehicle (warhead) at the set time separated from the solid fuel motor and its low kiloton W55 nuclear depth bomb dropped into the water, sank rapidly to detonate at a set depth prior to launch. Accuracy was not a problem.

The W55 (the missile) was 13 inches (33 cm) in diameter, 39.4 inches (100 cm) long, for 465 lb (211 kg) in weight and tactically this was an urgent-attack long-range weapon to strike submarine targets out of range without betraying the position of the launching submarine, and recalled ASROC or Ikara. The additional bonus was a ballistic approach to the target making it undetectable by the target and prevented evasive action. It was however less flexible in its use than Ikara or ASROC and could not be used in a conventional engagement.

SUBROC production ended in 1968 and it was obviously never used in combat, with 285 W55 warheads decommissioned in 1990. SUBROC could not be exported either, even never shared with NATO allies. The planned UUM-125 Sea Lance was authorized in 1980, contract awarded to Boeing in 1982 but cancelled in 1990.
This weapon remains an interesting cold war weapon without true equivalent.

⚙ spec. UUM-44 SUBROC
Weight	4,000 lb (1,800 kg)
Dimensions	22 ft (6.7 m) x 21 in (53 cm)
Propulsion	Solid rocket booster
Range/speed	55 km (34 mi), subsonic
Warhead	W55 1-5 kt (4.2 to 20.9 TJ)/25 kt (100 TJ), Depth Fuze
Max depth	Unknown
Guidance	Inertial guidance ballistic trajectory

UGM-84 Sub-Harpoon missiles

The Harpoon was the go-to antiship missile of the USN from 1977. With its amazing range it was tempting to offer the Permit, Sturgeon and Los Angeles classes this upgrade while in service when entering service in 1981. Indeed the UGM-84, name given to the submarine launched variant was fitted with a solid-fuel rocket booster and encapsulated in an upropelled canister using the tube initial propulsion to enable submerged launch at reasonable depth. The flexible wings were folded around the missile body and opened after the missile booster ignited, when it was propelled out of the canister, setup to reach the surface. The canister was partly burned out as the missile ingnited inside after its head popup.

When freed, the UGM-84 raced to its target as a sea-skimming missile on predeterminated target data fed before launch, and then homing took over in full autonomy when reaching its final leg to the target. Data came from radar or satellite, and sonar if needed. This gave US Navy SSNs an unprecedent range of 67 nmi (124 km) for the Block II for example, at Mach 0.71 to 0.9. Normal provision was four of them on board a Permit class from the 1980s. It was also designated GWS-60 (UGM-84B in UK service) and exported to South Korea and Egypt. The Permit class had the UGM-84A and potentially upgraded to the UGM-84C (Block Ic), UGM-84D from 1985, less likely UGM-84G and UGM-84L so close to retirement.

⚙ spec. UGM-84A Sub-Harpoon
Weight	As regular missile + canister
Dimensions	Canister 21-in, c20ft long
Propulsion	solid propellant booster motor
Range	130 to 220 km depending on version
Speed	Mach 0.9
Warhead	220 kg warhead
Guidance	Initial intertial, active radar homing terminal, later GPS

Late SEAL Conversions

Open container on USS Dallas
Some of these boats were later converted to deliver Navy SEALs. This was done either through a SEAL Delivery Vehicle deployed from the Dry Deck Shelter, or the Advanced SEAL Delivery System, mounted on the back (dorsal) until cancelled in 2006 and removed in 2009. Inside the container, which worked as a sas to be filled before use, were installed all what was necessary for a prolongated submerged stay if needed. Access was through a standard access hatch below.
The SEALs (are the elite spec ops of the US Navy, generating a lot of imitations around the world).

Perhaps their roots could be found in WW2 Marine Scouts and Raiders, which were essentially USMC commandos pioneerd by Phil H. Bucklew. They already operated from converted destroyers or the USS Narwhal. It was clear to all that a submarine was an ideal way of delivery in enemy controlled territory.
The SEALs ((United) States (Navy) Sea, Air, and Land) are virtually the all-terrain, all-weather, three dimensional space operatives, capable of small-unit special operation missions in maritime, jungle, urban, arctic, mountainous, and desert environments, mostly deployed for unconventional and asymetric warfare (including sabotage and demolition), but most to gather intel.
The tradition of deploying commandos or spec ops by submarines went on in the cold war, and the Los Angeles class continue wit this tradition.
Basically the container installed on this first generation was just a hangar for small vehicles in the tradition of the WW2 maiale and what was developed later.

USS Greeneville and its ASDS mounted on its back.
But the riders always had a conventional frogman kit, with limited air supply. On some areas it was just dangerous to close on the coast for this delivery and the distance to shore was just too great, unless these frogmen operated by night surfaced for part of the trip.
For various experience returns it was estimated a fully enclosed delivery vehicle with its own filling system to exit was preferrable. And thus was devised the Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS), a midget submarine for stealthy submerged transportation of SEALs from decks of nuclear submarines. This was the ideal long range “insertion platform” for covert/clandestine/special operations but it was canceled in 2009 due to cost overruns and reliability issues. The Prototype was destroyed by fire in 2008. It was replaced by the Dry Combat Submersible (DCS) from Lockheed Martin, in service by 2023 on the Seawolf/Colombia class.

Life on board

The Los Angeles class als had all a complete array of atmospheric control devices allow them to remain submerged for long periods of time without ventilating. Like the SSBNs, they were supposed to be “diluted”, disappear completely from view and hearing, enabling their classified deployments. For this, they all including a larger and more complex, but robist electrolytic oxygen generator producing oxygen for the crew and hydrogen as a byproduct. The hydrogen is pumped overboard via a system of cold dispensers, but there was always a risk of fire or explosion during that this ongoing process. For obvious reason this system was about the best maintained and examined on board on a permanent basis, like milk on a fire.
Now, apart that technical, but critical aspects, the clmear separation between engineering spaces aft and living spaces forward is the result of elimination of rear torpedo tubes, which doubled back in the days as living quarters. Now these living spaces started aft of the sail up to the main bulkhead of the engine compartment. See the cutaway (reddit).
There are no living quarters in the aft compartments, but human access its still done to the main engineering control center, and if the crew was to be trapped inside, there is a secondary hatch above. The nuclear reactor due to its weight is located at the balance point of the submarine, exactly amidship. Dure to its bulk, access is only possible to the engineering compartment via two narrow corridors port and starboard. The batteries are located below the control center and further aft, where the turbine generator are and followed by the main engines. The engineering compartment is separated itself by five bulkheads.

In contrast, the forward living spaces, a bit reduced compared to the aft spaces due to the reactor, are managed between three decks inside the pressure hull. It’s even further reduced as the pressure hull ends well short of the nose, which contauned the front ballast trim tanks and the sonar sphere.
The upper space comprised the command center, below the fin, which are the main working space for most of the crew.
Aft of the CC is located the main escape hatch, aft of the sail. Forward of the CC is located the sonar room, with several operators managing varios modles and channels of the sonar arrays and radars. There is another hatch forward of the sail to load torpedoes, going through two levels, down to the torpedo room below. The upper level is filled to the brim with electronic systems and the heat needs special cooling. Another cutaway, more refined for the Flight II-III for good measure.
The middle deck is the true living deck of the boat. Aft of it are located the mess, with three services since its space is limited for the whole crew. It is close to the access to the engineering space aft, more practical for the machinery teams as the access hatches of the main bulkheads are located there.
The galley is located nearby, as well as the trash disposal room, stores, dry and cold storage next. Then comes the wardroom, main berthing areas with three level bulks in several rooms followed by (still going forward) the collective washrooms. Then, the officers berthing, wardroom, and a small mess. The Los Angeles class are still less roomy than an Ohio class, but clearly in aimprovement on the Sturgeons.
The third deck below is occupied mainly by the torpedo room. Its tubes goes all the way from there to openings close to the sonar done. They are almost straight, helped by the submarine’s pressure hull shape at this section. Aft of it and close to the main engineering bulkhead is located the “big red marchine”, the auxiliary diesel. If the whole engineering space was to be inoperative, basic energy could still power all vital systems and more on board thans to the completely separate auxiliary diesel unit. The main weapons rooms is quite large and hosts a whole variety of torpedoes and encapsulated missiles which all needs specific procedures of maintenance and preparation.
There is a fourth “half deck” further below. It’s battery space, which can be monitored directly and remotelly more of the time, and ballast spaces.
Withg flight II-III the main difference was to use the essentially empty forward trim tank in front of the pressure hull to accomodate a serie of missile tubes (VLS).
As for the sails, its houses scopes, antenna and radars with a small cockpit to monitor surface activity and sailing to and off harbours. The crews rarely ventured on deck due to the lack of grip, and being plain dangerous in heavy weather. Sadly washed over sailors are not rare in the sub service. A captain always should ensure never to risk sending anybody on deck given the conditions. There is no safety barriers on a dorsal section of the outer hull, only designed with rubber-like anechoic coating. There is also an aspect that was overlooked when the Los Angeles were first designed back in 1967, these spaced were designed for men. But in the late 1990s already the first female submariners appeared and the proportion only grew in time. This obliged to rethink internal spaces to some extent, including some separation, without some issues. The Seawolf and Ohio were neither designed with mixity in mind, but the next Columbia and Virginia were.

Sensors evolution

In nearly 40 years, inprecedented for any boat or ship construction type, the control suite changed considerably:
-The Mk 113 mod 10 fire control system (Pargo display program) was the start in 1976, coupled with a UYK-7 computer.
-The Mk 117 FCS replace it as the first “all digital” fire control system, replacing the Mk 75 attack director by the UYK-7
-The Mk 81 weapon control consoles removed later both analog conversions for an “all digital” control of the initial Mk 48 torpedo control.
The first Mk 117 equipped boat was USS Dallas.
-The Mark 117 was replaced in turn by the Mark 1 Combat Control System/All Digital Attack Center. Made by Lockheed Martin, it was tailored toexploit the encapsulated Tomahawk missile. It had had an internal tracker processing towed-array and spherical-array trackers, and a Gyro Static Navigator replacing the AN/WSN-1 DMINS (Dual Mini Ship’s Inertial navigation system).
-The Mk 2 by Raytheon reaplce the Mk 1 CCS to provides Tomahawk Block III VLS guidance and manage fleet-requested improvements, providing data to the Mk 48 ADCAP torpedo and Towed Array Target Motion Analysis operability.
-It was paired paired with the AN/BQQ-5E system (QE-2).
-The CCS MK2 Block 1 A/B architecture incorporated a tactical system networked with tactical advanced computers (TAC-3) configured to support the SFMPL, NTCS-A, LINK-11 and ATWCS subsystems.

AN/BQQ-5 bow sonar:

She received the AN/BQQ-5 sensor suite, composed of:
-AN/BQS-13 spherical sonar array
-AN/UYK-44 computer.
Developed from the AN/BQQ-2 sonar system she had a spherical array with 1,241 transducers and a conformal hull array with 104-156 hydrophones in the sail, plus two towed arrays:
-TB-12 (later TB-16) and TB-23/29, (several sub variants).
There are 5 versions of the AN/BQQ-5 system (A to E). Performances are estimated double that of previous bow sonars.
Most sub-system performances are classified.

AN/BSY-1 SUBACS:

The next Los Angeles 688i (Improved) subclass had at first the AN/BSY-1 SUBACS (submarine advanced combat system) coupled with the AN/BQQ-5E, with updated computers and modernized interface. Development of the AN/BSY-1 and AN/BSY-2 were initially to equip the Seawolf class. However these progralms soon ran into controversy as the most problematic and costly programs for the Navy, the congress even having at some point some interest of the spiralling cost and setbacks.

The 688i were also given new conformal passive hydrophones, hard-mounted to each side of the hull and coupled with the AN/BQR-24 internal processor. The system uses FLIT (frequency line integration tracking) homing in on precise narrowband sound frequencies and using the Doppler principle to accurately providing a firing solution, even against the world’s quietest submarines.

AN/BQQ-10 bow sonar:

The AN/BQQ-5 was succeeded by the AN/BQQ-10 fitted with the new Acoustic Rapid Commercial Off-The-Shelf Insertion (A-RCI) to lower cost and eas upgrades. There is a four-phase program to upgrade AN/BSY-1, AN/BQQ-5, and AN/BQQ-6and go from 1970s legacy systems to the new and flexible COTS/Open System Architecture (OSA) and obtain at the end a common sonar system between all serviced subs.

The A-RCI Multi-Purpose Processor (MPP) brought much more computing power, in fact equal to the entire Los Angeles (SSN-688/688I) submarine fleet and enabled the use of far more complex algorithms previously way beyond the capabilities of legacy processors. COTS/OSA had been geared up for rapid updates to software and hardware and enabled future computer power growth following the commercial industry.

BPS-14 radar:

Raytheon medium-range surface search and navigation radar featuring a horn antenna, operated from inside the submarine. Works in I-J (8-20 GHz) up to 40 nm (73 km).

BPS-15 radar:

Improved model developed by Northrop Grumman, low-power, surface search and navigation radar with a karger horn array at 40-in (1,016-mm) aperture. Replaced by the AN/BPS-16. mounted on the long hulled Sturgeons, Los Angeles and OHIO class (BPS-15A).

BQS-8 sonar:

Ice-navigation sonar: Upward-oriented sonar projector radiating energy spherically, with multiple reflection paths generated under the ice.

Mark 113 Fire Contol System:

This very advanced fire control system for its time, computerized, combined several displays manageable by a single fire control operator. It comprised the Mk 78 Target Motion Analyzer digital computer which memory module has 1024 round magnets with wires wrapped around them. The Mk 78 TMA determined the Target’s course and speed adn sent the data to the Mk 75 AD.
The Mk 75 Attack Director is an analogue computer using synchros, servos, resolvers, and rheostats plus handcranks to input information displayed with counters and dials. The Mk 75 AD solves data targeting Problems and sends the Gyro Angle to the Torpedo.
The Mk 66 Torpedo Control Console was coupled with the Mk 47 Tone Signal Generator used for the Mk 48 Torpedoes, capable of sending new commands and course corrections after fire.
The Mk 50 Attack Control Console prepared the torpedoes launch, coupled with the Digital Interface Box (DIB).
The Mark 113 was replaced by the Mark 117 fire control system envisioned by some to do any thing and almost replace the operator, but in reality it just increased the training requirement. It was capable to manage longer range and missiles, as introduced in the 1980s.
The radar suite is unknown, likely the same as the Skipjack albeit simplified as the Permit’s fins were smaller. So one radar/aerial combined model.
Same with the EW suite it was probably limited.

Mark 117 Fire Contol System:

The first all digital fire control system and was forward fitted on the later 637 class and the SSN 688 and backfitted on the long hull and earlier 637s and the 594 classes.
more on the Los Angeles class.

WLR-4 ECM suite:

No data yet.

Improvements and Upgrades

To come with the Flight II update in 2025

CC Profiles by Mike1979russia: Flights I (SSN-688), II (SSN-719) and III (SSN-772)

Same as above, NE enchanced profiles, 3d renditions

⚙ specifications (Flight I)
Displacement	6,082 t (5,986 long tons) surfaced, 6,927 t (6,818 long tons) submerged
Dimensions	362 x 33 x 31 ft (110 x 10 x 9.4 m)
Propulsion	S6G nuclear reactor (150–165 MW), 2× steam turbines: 30,000–33,500 shp +sec. prop. 325 hp
Speed	20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) surfaced, 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) submerged
Range	Unlimited, refuelling every 30 years, 90 days at sea
Test depth	450 m (1,480 ft)
Armament	4× 21 in (533 mm) TTs (37× Mk 48 torpedo, Tomahawk, Harpoon, Mk 67 mobile/Mk 60 CAPTOR mines)
Sensors	BQQ-5 suite, BQS-15 sonar, WLR-8V(2) ESM, WLR-9, BRD-7, BPS-15 radar, WLR-10 ECM
Crew	129

Trivia on a tradition

It is now customary in the USN for the oldest submarine in the Pacific fleet, at her deactivation ceremony, to be granted a rare item, O’Kane’s personal cribbage board. Its origin began during a patrol in the Yellow Sea by USS Wahoo (SS 283) by April 1943. Lt. Richard “Dick” O’Kane was the boat XO (executive officer), playing a game of cribbage with CO Lt. Cmdr. Dudley Morton to pass the time between missions. The life on board a submarine at the time was often made of long hours and days of boredom, waiting for targets, and very intense hours of attacks and depth-charging.
Morton dealt O’Kane a perfect cribbage hand of 29 (odds; 1 in 216,580) and soon the crew was awared of this particularly rare hand as an omen of good luck. Wahoo the next day indeed sunk two Japanese freighters. In another game in the wardroom, O’Kane dealt a hand of 28 to Morton, which was furious, but it proved another omen as another freighter was sunk. But O’Kane’s luck would go on as he commanded USS Tang, setting the record of most ships sunk on patrol and a MoH for his actions. However this chance reversed in a cruel way as on Oct. 25, 1944, Tang was sunk by its own (infamous)Mark 14 torpedo circling around. Only nine Sailors survived including O’Kane, later picked up by a Japanese frigateand POWs, but the original board went down. Since then it acquired such status that a replacement board was presented by the crew of the second Tang (SS 563) to now Admiral O’Kane for his retirement in 1957. In 1994, his wife Ernestine, asked to reconstruct the perfect hand and to pass the cribbage board to new subs, always the oldest in service, starting bty USS Kamehameha (SSBN 642). Several Los Angeles boats had this honor. Photo: Reddit src

Three polar bears approach Honolulu’s starboard bow while she is on the surface 280 nautical miles (519 km) from the North Pole.

Read More/Src

Books

Links

https://www.seaforces.org/usnships/ssn/SSN-688-USS-Los-Angeles.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles-class_submarine

Videos

Model Kits

3D

Career of The Los Angeles class

Note: For reasons of time and space, only Flight I are to be seen here for now. Logs when available are condensed.

Flight I

USS Los Angeles was ordered to Newport News Shipbuilding on 8 January 1971, laid down on 8 January 1972, launched on 6 April 1974 and completed on 13 November 1976. Her first operational deployment was with the 6th fleet, Mediterranean in 1977, being awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation. In 1978, she was transferred to the Pacific Fleet, SubRon 7, Pearl Harbor of the 7th fleet. She made 17 Pacific deployments over 32 years, earning no less than 8 Meritorious Unit Citations and a Navy Unit Citation. She took part in four multinational “Rim of the Pacific” (RIMPAC) exercises. While in the Med she visited Italy, and in and aronund the Pacific, the Philippines, Diego Garcia, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Australia, Japan, Korea, Canada and Singapore.
In 1999, she was modified for the Dry Deck Shelter (DDS) for spec ops operations, but keeping her role as carrier battle group support and escort and intel gathering.
She was inactivated on 1 February 2010, decommissioned on 4 February 2011. Her wardroom was transferred USS Bremerton (SSN-698). She entered the Ship-Submarine Recycling Program on 1 February 2010 in Bremerton, completed 30 November 2012.

USS Baton Rouge was laid down on 18 November 1972, launched on 26 April 1975 and completed on 25 June 1977. She was deployed to New London in September 1977 for training and back to Norfolk for last-minute checks and fixes. She sailed on 19 October 1978 for La Maddalena, Sardinia, visited La Spezia and was part of several NATO ASW exercises in 1978-1979 back to Norfolk in March 1979. She later took part in two major ASW exercises, visited Lauderdale and Halifax. In July she joined SubRon 8, HP Norfolk. In September–October she took part in Operation Ocean Safari in the Atlantic, visiting Rotterdam. In 1979 she was in restricted availability.
In 1980 she was in Indian Ocean for a circumnavigation via Panama, being awarded the Navy Unit. She was in the Pacific in 1980 and in 1981 came under the command of CINCLANTFLT after a Meritorious Unit Commendation and made a second MedTod.
In the mid-1980s, she had a 18-month overhaul at Norfolk, ending in the spring of 1986. Baton Rouge received at this occasion the AN/BQQ-5C sonar, CCS Mk-1 and ESGN nav system. She made a 3rd Med Tod by November 1986 4th by January 1990 and a deployment to the North Atlantic (2nd Meritorious Unit Commendation).
At 20:16 on 11 February 1992 while off Kildin Island near Severomorsk she collided with the Russian Sierra-class SSN K-276 Kostroma. The US argued that this happened 12 miles from the shore (international waters) and initially even denied any damage suffered, later disclosed. Kostroma was fully repaired in 1992 but Baton Rouge was removed from service as part of budget cuts. The Russian side deduced this as a “victory” and even painted a number “1” bordered by a star on the sail, a WW2 tradition. She was decommissioned on 13 January 1995 after 17 years, 6 months and 19 days of service and disposed of by submarine recycling until 1997.

USS Philadelphia was laid down at GD Electric Boat in Groton on 12 August 1972, launched on 19 October 1974 and completed on 25 June 1977. In June 1980 she departed Groton for a world cruise to the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, and Pacific under the command Edward S. Little, including a stop in Western Australia and HMAS Stirling in Rockingham, 23 December 1980, for R&R and Christmas in Australia, she was back home bt late January 1981.
She was deployed in the Med in 1979, 1982, 1986, 1991 (Desert Storm), 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009 (CENTCOM) and only one Western Pacific deployment in 1980. She won a 1983 Navy Unit Commendation, 6 Meritorious Unit Commendations, 8 Battle “E” among others.
In 1988 she was the first to test the TLAM-D capability and in 1994, she had first refueling overhaul at Portsmouth. In 1998, she was modified to carry a Dry Deck Shelter and to operate the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV). On 5 September 2005 she was in the Persian Gulf 30 nautical miles (60 km) NE of Bahrain when colliding with a Turkish merchant ship MV Yasa Aysen for light Damage but CRD Steven M. Oxholm was relieved from command. In 2006 she completed the first-ever Pre-Inactivation Restricted Availability (PIRA) at Portsmouth.
On 20 July 2009 the Navy announced she would be inactivated on 10 June 2010 and she was indeed decommissioned on 25 June 2010. She performed a . She also spent a fair amount of time in the Atlantic Ocean, including deployments to the Northern part of the Ocean in 1983, 1992, 1996, 1997, and 1999, and one Eastern Atlantic
Currently waiting for disposal after 33 years of service.

USS Memphis was laid down at Newport News Shipbuilding on 4 February 1971, launched on 23 June 1973 and completed on 3 April 1976, 17 December 1977. In March 1981 she her round-the-world cruise via Panama, joining the 6th and 7th Fleets. In 1989 she tested composite hull structures and unmanned underwater vehicles as well as advanced sonars and hull friction reduction among others, going into Flight III Los Angeles and the Seawolf class. In February 1993 she ran aground offshore of Dania Beach, Florida. By January 1994 she had her major overhaul at Portsmouth Naval and additions for her R&D role, assigned to Submarine Development Squadron 12 in Groton. In 1998 she tested Lockheed Martin’s Undersea Systems Universal Gravity Module (UGM), a passive bottom profiler navigational system. She made 2 polar transits in 2005, and deployed for operationas against Iraq in 2006. She was decommissioned on 1 April 2011 after 33 years, 3 months and 15 days, Stricken, mothballed, pending fate.

USS Omaha was ordered at General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) in Groton on 31 January 1971, laid down on 27 January 1973, launched on 21 February 1976 and completed on 11 March 1978. After commission she was homeported to Groton and by late April 1978, to Pearl Harbor, joining SubRon 7 for sea trials, shakedown, and NavSea acoustic trials, certifications and on 15 November she had her PSA/SRA until June 1979.
In July 1979 Omaha she tested three SubRoc for certification and from 22 July she started her first EastPac, visiting Seattle for the Seafair Festival and Esquimalt. Long story short, here are her major highlights: Completed ComSubPac, visited Subic Bay, Hong Kong (dosging Typhoon Joe), paused at Guam on 28 July and sailed to the Indian Ocean for 2 months, Diego Garcia, Perth, and back to Pearl Harbor in December, winning the Navy Expeditionary Medal and a Meritorious Unit Commendation. She made another WestPac from June 1981 and had a SRA in September, then 3rd WestPac with Enterprise (CVAN-65) CBG and for CTG 70.6. She was at ASWEx 83-2U and visited Mombasa. After ASUWEx 83-1 (Philippine Sea) and Guam she visited Yokosuka.
In January 1984 she trained with the frigate Badger (FF-1071) and made her 4th deployment in the South China Sea and CTG 70.6 off Singapore, hosting the President of the Republic for dinner on board on 18–22 August, later dodging Typhoon Ike.
By November 1984 she took part in Exercise 1-85 (Philippine Sea) with Swordfish, Sargo, San Francisco, Bremerton and started her major overhaul at Pearl from 7 January 1985 until 13 April 1987. Sje made another Westpac from January 1988, and NorPac, KiloEx 12–14 May, ASWEx 88-2JA 18–20 May, Harpoon exercise in the South China Sea on 27–28 May. Next year she had an eight week NorPac deployment and took part in PacEX 89, visiting Alaska. Later she took part in RimPac 92, Lungfish 92 with HMAS Otway (S.59) and HMAS Ovens (S.70) and visiting Melbourne and Brisbane in December. By September 1993 she made another EastPac. In May 1994 she stopped at Chinhae and in June RimPac 94. She was decommissioned on 5 October 1995 after 17 years, 6 months and 24 days, Disposed of for submarine recycling, completed in 2012.

Cincinnati was ordered to Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) on 4 February 1971, laid down on 6 April 1974 and launched on 19 February 1977, completed on 11 March 1978. In August 1979, Cincinnati rescued a Finnish sailor off the east coast of Florida, falling from the freighter Finnbeaver 22h prior, a miracle.
In November 1980 after a Mediterranean patrol she was visited by former President Richard M. Nixon and Admiral Hyman Rickover. In 1981 under Commander Kurt T. Juroff she made a world cruise over 60,000 miles via the Indian Ocean. On 8–13 June 1981 she visited Western Australia and stopped at HMAS Stirling, Rockingham for R&R. She was decommissioned on 29 July 1996 after 18 years, 4 months and 18 days, disposed of by submarine recycling. However, an attempt was made to preserve her as a museum and memorial by the city concerned, funds were just not there. The sail and artifacts were still purchased for display on the riverfront.

USS Groton was General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton on 31 January 1971, laid down on 3 August 1973 launched on 9 October 1976 and completed on 8 July 1978 with Commander R. William Vogel, III. USS Groton had her first overseas deployment by March 1980 to the Indian Ocean and back to Groton via the Panama Canal on October 1980. No more logs. She was decommissioned on 7 November 1997 (19 years, 3 months and 30 days), Disposed of by submarine recycling.

USS Birmingham was ordered on Newport News Shipbuilding on 24 January 1972, laid down on 26 April 1975, launched on 29 October 1977 on completed on 16 December 1978. She was decommisioned on 22 December 1997 after 19 years and 6 days, disposed of by submarine recycling. No Logs.

USS New York City was ordered at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, laid down on 15 December 1973, launched on 18 June 1977, completed on 3 March 1979 with James A. Ross in command. She made four deployments to the western Pacific between 1981 and 1985 with fleet exercises. After modernization overhaul at Pearl Harbor from December 1985 to February 1988 she was sent for the Northern Pacific in November-December 1988, then a WestPac deployment in 1989, second Northern Pacific in early 1990, two WestPac in 1991, then eastern Pacific in 1992 and 1993, and western-eastern Pacific in 1994-1995. She was decommissioned on 30 April 1997 after 18 years, 1 month and 27 days, Stricken, sent submarine recycling. During her career she received 4 Meritorious Unit Commendations, 1 Navy Expeditionary Medal, 1 Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation.

Indianapolis was laid down on 19 October 1974, launched on 30 July 1977, completed on 5 January 1980. When commissioned, many survivors of the cruiser Indianapolis were present for the official ceremony. She was homeported to Pearl Harbor in 1980, until the end of her career. No logs. She made her final deployment from April to October 1997, being awarded the Battle E and Navy Unit Commendation. She was inactivated in 1998 with her sail and other parts dedicated as a memorial at the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, Indiana, on June 8, 2019. She was decommissioned on 22 December 1998, 18 years, 11 months and 17 days, stricken, awaiting disposal.

USS Bremerton was laid down on 8 May 1976, launched on 22 July 1978 and completed on 28 March 1981. On 11 March 1999, she torpedoed the derelict forebody of the merchant ship New Carissa off the Oregon coast. She made her first WestPac in September 2003 and homeported to Pearl Harbor. When USS Los Angeles was decommissioned, Bremerton became the oldest commissioned submarine in the US fleet and Richard O’Kane’s cribbage board was transferred on her. She was eventually inactivated in 2018, and the cribbage board transferred to USS Olympia (SSN-717). On 15 June 2016 she made her 15th deployment and was scheduled for decommissioning in 2017, but she had her life extended and on 20 July 17, 2017, she officially the longest-commissioned U.S. Navy submarine. On 6 April 2018, she amde her last deployment from Pearl Harbor and sailed to Puget Sound Naval. She was decommissioned on 21 May 2021 after 40 years, 1 month and 23 days Stricken, going through recycling at Bremerton.

USS Jacksonville was laid down on 21 February 1976, launched on 18 November 1978 and completed on 16 May 1981. She had a serie of fleet exercises and deployments and two around-the-world cruises in 1982 and 1985. Westpac in 1983, 1986, 1993 and 1994, MedTods in 1987 and 1993. In 1988 she took part in a shock trials test program for her class and has afterwards a three-year major modernization overhaul in Norfolk. During her career she also experienced four collisions with other vessels, like with a Turkish merchant (General Z. Dogan) pff Norfolk on 22 March 1982, a barge across Chesapeake Bay’s Thimble Shoal Channel on 21 September 1984 (sonar dome mushed and replaced) and finally with the the container ship Saudi Makkah near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay (fairwater planes and rudder repaired) on 17 May 1996 but also with an unnamed fishing vessel in the Persian Gulf (0 January 2013), having her main periscope sheared off and later repaired, but her commander and XO were relieved from command. In late 2009 she was homeported to Pearl Harbor. On 20 December 2004 there was small fire aboard while in refueling overhaul at Portsmouth Naval, immediately extinguished. By August 2017 she sailed for her final deployment and on 11 December 2017, arrived in Bremerton for inactivation and decommissioning. She was decommissioned on 16 November 2021 after 40 years and 6 months, stricken, final disposition pending.

USS Dallas was ordered on 31 January 1973, laid down on 9 October 1976, launched on 28 April 1979 and completed on 18 July 1981. She was the first of her class fitted with a brand new all-digital fire control system and sonar. Thus, she was attacjed for evaluation to Submarine Development Squadron 12 in New London. On 27 August 1981 she damaged her lower rudder when running aground, close to the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center site at Andros Island (Bahamas). She was repaired in New London.
From September 1988 USS Dallas entered SubRon 2, making a Depot Modernization Period making several deployments. She had her ERO at Portsmouth in 1998 and received a D2W core but also a removable Dry Deck Shelter she kept for a decade for special forces missions. She toured the Indian Ocean once, had four Mediterraneandeployments, two Persian Gulf, seven North Atlantic patrols.
As her decommissioned was planned already, Naval Sea Systems Command, the city of Dallas and the Dallas Navy League started to discuss her preservation in 2008 or at least items for a memorial, that would be later indeed purchase in her recycling phase scheduled for 2023. Initial decommission was for September 2014. But in 2013 there was plan to create a maritime museum supported by Mayor Mike Rawlings and a foundation was financing a new facility whilethe Navy exposed plans for deactivation FY2017 initially, now advanced for early 2015 to save $10 million in Pre-Inactivation Restricted Availability costs.
Eventually preservation went to naught. She was decommissioned on 4 April 2018 after 36 years, 8 months and 17 days. She was stricken, final disposition pending.
For her service she received 2 Meritorious Unit Commendations, 2 Navy Unit Commendations and 7 Battle E (1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2000 and 2013) plus the 1993 Battenberg Cup (best all-around ship) and 1999 Engineering “E”, Medical “M”.

La Jolla SSN-701 (later MTS-701) was ordered on 10 December 1973, laid down on 16 October 1976, launched on 11 August 1979 and completed on 24 October 1981.
During sea trials at the direction of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover she unexpectly made a depth excursion in a “crash back” test. By late 1982, 30 miles off San Francisco while at periscope depth she collided with USS Permit, surfaced. She had rudder damage but cause a paint scrape on Permit’s keel. She made a first Tomahawk firing while submerged at the Pacific Missile Test Center on 29 April 1983 and first West-Pac from August 1984 and February 1985, visiting the Philippines and Hong Kong, Chinhae and Yokosuka, earning a Navy Expeditionary Medal.
However on 11 February 1998 9 milesoff Chinhae in South Korea she collided and sank a 27-ton fishing trawler, crew rescued. In 2000, she received a Dry Deck Shelter (DDS). On 23 August 2004 she ended a 6-month WestPac after 5 international exercises such as Pacific Reach 2004.
She eventually became Moored Training Ship (MTS) in August 2017 after a conversion started on February 2015, completed in late 2019. In 2020 she was certified and cleared for student training. For this co,nversion she was cut in drydock into three sections, a portion taken out but new hull sections from General Dynamics Electric Boat added to accommodate many students. A newly prefab section was welded in place and compartment OPS with training and office spaces as well as an emergency safeguard system. She was decommissioned on 15 November 2019 after 38 years and 22 days. She was converted to a moored training ship at the Nuclear Power School by 2020 at Charleston, SC. permanently moored at Naval Support Activity Charleston since.

Phoenix was ordered on 31 October 1973, laid down on 30 July 1977, launched on 8 December 1979 and completed on 19 December 1981. Phoenix was assigned to SubRon 8 in Norfolk for 16 years. In her 1983 deployment she accompanied USS Carl Vinson Battle Group and performed oceanographic surveys and independent ASW operations. She also visited that year HMAS Stirling in Western Australia in Jul, making a 203-day, 65,000-mile (105,000 km) circumnavigation.
In 1984, she had her Consolidated Anti-Submarine Readiness Test (CART) and SRA, then fired 25 exercise torpedoes and ORSE, received the best notation for Tactical Effectiveness Factor during in her Tactical Readiness Evaluation (TRE). 1985-1986, saw her in the Mediterranean/North Atlantic earning a Meritorious Unit Commendation and major NATO exercise and won an outstanding communications performance award for 1985. In 1986 she took part in FLEETEX and PCO Operations, awarded the “Top Performer” in TRE and “Blue E” (Supply Management) for 1986. She had a second Meritorious Unit Commendation in 1987 and Medical “Yellow M.”
Sehe completed her MK-48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP) testing in early 1988 and was at FLEETEX, gaining the highest percentage of “hits” in this. She spent 1989 in Norfolk in Depot Modernization Period (DMP) followed by Sea Trials and Certification, then FLEETEX.
By 1991, she headed for the Mediterranean and earned the 6th Fleet “Hook ‘Em” award for ASW excellence, deployed with USS Forrestal. She was upgraded in 1992 and was in the Atlantic for 1993 and 1994, winning a 3rd Meritorious Unit Commendation for superb performance until March 1995 by SubRon 8 and other awards. She continued in the Atlantic in 1996-1997 but was inactivated on 18 September 1997 at Norfolk, then Portsmouth for decommissioning, stricken on 29 July 1998 after 16 years, 7 months and 10 days, final disposition pending.

Boston was ordered on 10 December 1973 to GDC, laid down on 11 August 1978, launched on 19 April 1980 and completed on 30 January 1982. No logs. Due to cutbacks in the Defense Budget she missed her mid-life nuclear refueling, and was decommissioned after a short service: She was decommissioned indeed on 19 November 1999 after 17 years, 9 months and 20 days, Disposed of by submarine recycling. She entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton on 1 October 2001, completed on 19 September 2002 but her sail and upper rudder were preserved at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, New York state.
She was also a much-decorated ship with meritorious service and outstanding performance. She notably won the coveted Arleigh Burke Fleet Award, Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award, for Pacific and Atlantic service among others.

Baltimore was ordred on 31 October 1973, laid down on 21 May 1979, launched on 13 December 1980 and completed on 24 July 1982. Her logo was “From Sails to Atoms,” as inscribed on the ships original plaque. She was decommissioned on 10 July 1998 after 15 years, 11 months and 16 days, Stricken, final disposition pending. No logs published yet.

“City of Corpus Christi” in her entire name was laid down on 4 September 1979, launched on 25 April 1981 and completed on 8 January 1983. Her patch was chosen by the crew based an art contest sponsored by the Corpus Christi, Texas city government. No logs published yet. During the naval Exercise Malabar with the Indian Navy, US and Japan in a simulated battle, INS Sindhudhvaj claimed a “kill” on Corpus Christi (Soviet-built Kilo class upgraded with Indian USHUS sonar). She was decommissioned on 3 August 2017 after 34 years, 6 months and 26 days, stricken, final disposition pending.

Albuquerque was laid down on 27 December 1979, launched on 13 March 1982 and completed on 21 May 1983. The rest iof the year was spent in tests, examinations, certifications, and inspections and post-shakedown availability in 1984, back for fixes on 15 April. In May this was for weapons and combat systems certifications and a first fleet exercise, plus midshipman training cruise. In August she was home port and prepared for her first Atlantic deployment. In 1985 she had a two-month patrol from 27 February until May. Here are the marking events of the later years:
In 1986 May and September she sailed to Scotland and England. She patrolled off Long Island, New York when on 17 July 1996 and investigation determined placed them among the possible cause for the destruction of TWA Flight 800.
In 1999 she had a 6 month Med cruise with USS Theodore Roosevelt CBG. She worked at a Special Operations Force (SOF) delivery platform and launched Tomahawks in Operation Noble Anvil. She had a refueling overhaul in 2001. In 2004 she was deployed from Rota followed by a 6-month with Harry S. Truman CBG until April 2005 and winning a Battle E for 2004, remaining at Groton SubRon 2.
In July 2005 fire-control technician Ariel Weinmann deserted until arrested in 2006 and charged with espionage, larceny, and destruction of government property. In August 2009 USS Albuquerque was HP to Naval Base Point Loma, Pacific with a 6-month WestPac and back to San Diego. She visited Australia, Japan and Guam and took part in Talisman Sabre 2011. She made another Westpac in 2013 over 30,000 nm stopping at Sasebo and Saipan as well as joined exercises wirh the JMSDF and Thai Navies. She was in Puget sound on 28 October 2015 after inactivation in San Diego on 16 October 2015, decommissioned on 27 February 2017 after 33 years, 9 months and 6 days, stricken, final disposition pending.

Portsmouth was ordfered 10 December 1973, laid down on 8 May 1980, launched on 18 September 1982 and completed on 1 October 1983 with Commander Donald M. Olson. 2 weeks after commissioning she started by supporting the rescue operations in Grenada, being awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
In 1984 Portsmouth she was homeported to Groton, Connecticut, and later in permanent homeport at Ballast Point Submarine Base, San Diego with SubRon 11. In 1985 she started herfirst Western Pacific operations (WestPac) with port-calls in Japan and Australia, first USN sub to visit Fiji and first to make a liberty call in Hong Kong. She deployed to the 5th Fleet, Nimitz Battle Group in 1995–1996, awarded the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and COMSUBRON 11 Battle “E”.
She was deployed to 7th Fleet in 1997, crew awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal and COMSUBRON 11 Battle “E” as the most battle effective in squadron.
She was decommissioned on 10 September 2004 after20 years, 11 months and 9 days, Stricken, final disposition pending.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul was ordred on 31 October 1973, laid down on 20 January 1981 and launched on 19 March 1983, commissioned on 10 March 1984 with Commander Ralph Schlichter. She was the first vessel named for the Twin Cities as a whole. Logs missing. She took part in Operation Desert Shield and the Gulf War, first to launch Tomahawk missiles designated for strikes against Iraq. 4 crew members were washed overboard on 29 December 2006 in Plymouth Sound while exiting Devonport while surfaced in heavy weather. Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas Higgins (Chief) and Sonar Technician Michael Holtz were never recovered. Commander Edwin Ruf was court martialled and received a letter of reprimand, relieved of command. She made an inter-fleet transfer from Norfolk to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in July 2007 for decommissioning. She was decommissioned on 28 August 2008 after 24 years, 5 months and 18 days, disposed of by submarine recycling.
In 2022, her sail and rudder were shipped to Minnesota, undergoing restoration at the Military Museum for display in a new new facility in 2025.

Ordered on 10 December 1973 as USS Providence, SSN-709 was renamed USS Hyman G. Rickover as the admiral and “father of the nuclear sub fleet” in his honor as he deceased. She was the only exception to the rule of city names. She was laid down on 24 July 1981, launched on 27 August 1983 and completed on 21 July 1984.
Her crest was designed by the wife of a former crewmember and symbolically represents Admiral Rickover and the boat with four white stars and his 64 years of active naval service. USS Rickover had her initial sea trials from 16 May 1984 with Admiral Kinnaird R. McKee aboard as Director of the Office of Naval Nuclear Propulsion (Department of Energy). They were completed in the shortest time ever and Admiral complimented the crew on their fine performance.
At 12:08, 21 July 1984 she was officially commissioned by Vice Admiral Bernard M. Kauderer (U.S. Atlantic Fleet). She was later featured prominently in the documentary “Submarine: Steel Boats-Iron Men” in 1989, aired in November 1991. No service logs published yet. She was inactivated on 14 December 2006 sent to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 2007 for inactivation process. She was decommissioned on 14 December 2006 after a cereer of 22 years, 4 months and 23 days, stricken, final disposition pending in 2016.

Augusta was laid down on 1 April 1983, launched on 21 January 1984, completed on 19 January 1985. The US DoD reported $2.7 million worth of repairs after an undersea collision on routine training patrol. On 31 October 1986 she was dry-docked at Electric Boat to have her sonar dome replaced, repairs completed on 13 December 1986. The Soviet Navy claimed she collided on 3 October 1986 with the Project 667AU Nalim (Yankee-I) K-219 under command of Igor Britanov off the coast of Bermuda. This was denied by the Pentagon and instead claiming she was disabled by an internal explosion, werheas CBS news reported this event “very possibly”. In July 1987, she became a trials boat for the BQG-5D Wide Aperture Array passive sonar system. She also carried a prototype of the BQQ-10 ARCI sonar testing off-the-shelf computer components for easier modular upgrades and cost cuts. In 2003, she was part of the Tomahawk Strikes against Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom).
She had extensive maintenance in 2006 before a 6-month deployment in 2007 until September, homeported to Norfolk before deactivation in January 2008. She was decommissioned on 11 February 2009 after 24 years and 23 days and disposed of by submarine recycling.

San Francisco was later renamed MTS-711. Originally she was ordered to Newport News on 1 August 1975 laid down on 26 May 1977, launched on 27 October 1979, and completed on 24 April 1981 with J. Allen Marshall in command. She was assigned to the Pacific Fleet after shakedown and Pearl Harbor. She made westpacs on 1982, 1983, 1985, and 1986 for the 7th Fleet and won a Battle “E” in 1985, Navy Unit Commendation and second “E” for SubRon 7, crew awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal in 1988. She was modernized from 1989 to 1990 and made 2 more deployments in 1992 and 1994 earning the “T” (tactical) and a Meritorious Unit Commendation for 1994. Logs missing. By December 2002 she was homeported to Apra Harbor, Guam and in 2009 to Naval Base Point Loma, San Diego.
On 8 January 2005 at 02:43 GMT she grounded on an undersea mountain 364 nautical miles (675 km) SE of Guam at flank speed under 525 feet (160 m) “in the vicinity of the Caroline Islands” and not marked properly. It was quite serious as the crew was later reported struggling to regain positive buoyancy and surface after the forward ballast tanks were ruptured. 98 crewmen were injured in the collision, Machinist’s Mate Second Class Joseph Allen Ashley later dying on 9 January. She had both her forward ballast tanks and sonar dome, pressure hull mushed but not not breached so she made it to Guam on 10 January with USCGC Galveston Island, othger ships and planes in escort. She wa spatched up to return to Puget Sound in May 2005 and Commander Kevin Mooney was reassigned to a shore unit in Guam during the investigation which ended by relieving Mooney of his command with a letter of reprimand as well as 6 crewmen for dereliction of duty, reduced in rank with letters of reprimand whereas 20 other officers and men received awards and letters of commendation and mdeals for their actions in what could have been far more severe.
The charts in use were updated but procedures had not been repsected.
USS San Francisco had her refuel to be kept in service until 2017, but before, she had her entire bow section replaced at Puget Sound by the one of USS Honolulu, just retired at a cost of $79 million ($170 million to refuel and overhaul).
Back to Point Loma she made her 6th deployment in October 2016, then homeported to Norfolk for as a moored training ship (MTS) at the Navy’s Nuclear Power Training Unit in Charleston and from 11 May 2017 ‘In Commission Special’ for MTS conversion over 32-month until mid-2021. She was however decommissioned on 15 May 2022 after 41 years and 21 days and Converted as planned to an uncrewed moored training ship for the Nuclear Power School as of 2021 in Charleston, SC. Still around today.

Atlanta was laid down on 17 August 1978, launched on 16 August 1980, completed on 6 March 1982 with Robin J. White in command.
On 29 April 1986 Atlanta ran aground in the Strait of Gibraltar, damaging her sonar gear and puncturing a ballast tank in the bow section. The boat proceeded to Gibraltar under her own power. After a week, the Atlanta returned to Norfolk, VA under its own power, and was repaired in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia.
During Atlanta’s brief career, she completed six deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and three deployments to the western Atlantic. She was the first submarine certified to employ the Mark 48 torpedo and both Harpoon missiles and Tomahawk missiles. She was also the first nuclear-powered submarine assigned to directly support an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).
She was decommissioned on 16 December 1999 after 17 years, 9 months and 10 days, stricken, final disposition pending.

Houston was laid down on 29 January 1979, launched on 21 March 1981 and completed on 25 September 1982. No logs. Major event: 2008 radiation leak. On 1 August 2008 the Navy reported to CNN that USS Houston had been leaking radioactive water for months while on patrol to Japan, Guam and Hawaii. The issue was dicovered in servicing at Pearl Harbor and one crewman was exposed but not injured. Officials talked of “negligible” amount of radioactivity and it was realized this was going on over two years, and still this was a fairly low amount.
On 28 October 2015 she made ha last deployment from Pearl Harbor, after completing her final scheduled deployment. She was decommissioned at Naval Base Kitsap—Bangor on 26 August 2016 after 33 years, 11 months and 1 day and transferred to Pearl. She was stricken, final disposition pending.

Norfolk was ordered on 20 February 1976, laid down on 1 August 1979, launched on 31 October 1981 and completed on 21 May 1983. She had extensive trials of the ADCAP, and performed secret acoustic experiments. First active deployment was in the Atlantic to shadow the declining Soviet navy. On 23 July 1988 she fired her first live ADCAP torpedo sinking ex-USS Jonas Ingram. On 17 January 1989 she collided with combat stores ship USS San Diego in the Thimble Shoals channel. Her starboard side wa smushed on the port side of San Diego but no injuries and her CO relieved of command. She transited to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay and more dydock repairs, completed 10 April 1989. COMSUBLANT issued orders limiting submarine speed and gave instructions for restricted waters. On 25 August 2004, she was bacl at NS Norfolk after her long Engineering Refueling Overhaul at Portsmouth. She was decommissioned on 11 December 2014 of 31 years, 6 months and 20 days. She was stricken, final disposition pending.

Buffalo was ordered on 23 February 1976 but laid down on 25 January 1980, launched on 8 May 1982 and completed on 5 November 1983. She was assigned to SubRon 8 in Norfolk and by 1984, after a 5-month post-shakedown she crossed the Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor HP and SubRon 1. First WestPac was in 1985. She was the first of her type to drop anchor near the coast of Pattaya Beach in Thailand. She made a second WestPac in 1987, being awarded a 1st Battle E, and won it in 1988-91. In 1990 she made a Western and Eastern Pacific deployment before dry-dock overhaul in Pearl Harbor and modernization in SubRon 7. Next she made several Eastern and Western Pacific deployements, being commended by the CNO for her 1997 deployment.
In 1998, she made an EastPac with Joint Operations with USGC and CGC, awarded the Coast Guard Special Operations Ribbon. In 1999, she made a WestPac, earning a new “E” and another in 2001.
In 2002, Buffalo she was the first drydocked in Hawaii to undergo the long refueling process here. By late November 2005 she launched an underwater glider to catch and transmit satcom intel. In 2007 she was homeported to Para Harbor, Guam, SubRon 15 for 11 missions of national security many port visits and three more Battle “E” awards as well as the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy and Meritorious Unit Commendation. She was deployed for 5.5 years from Guam, but returned to Pearl Harbor in early 2013 and SubRon 1 for a long Pre-Inactivation Restricted Availability, and from 23 December 2016 her final WestPac. She departed on May 2017 Pearl Harbor for home. She was decommissioned on 30 January 2019 after 35 years, 2 months and 25 days and stricken, final disposition pending.

Salt Lake City was ordered on 15 September 1977, laid down on 26 August 1980, launched on 16 October 1982, and completed on 12 May 1984.
Full logs not published yet. Among other notable events she became “USS Dallas” in the film The Hunt for Red October as Actor Scott Glenn trained aboard even as honorary commander for a brief time for in preparation as “Bart Mancuso”. The boat’s interiors were copied as props in studio.
On 22 October 2004, she returned from a deployment with USS John C. Stennis CBG, western Pacific but took part Summer Pulse ’04 with Port calls of Guam, Sasebo, Yokosuka, Singapore, and Oahu. She had her inactivation ceremony in San Diego, 26 October 2005 and transited under polar ice. She was decommissioned on 15 January 2006 after 21 years, 8 months and 3 days and disposed of by submarine recycling. Her awards included three Battle “E”, 2 Navy Unit Commendations, 4 Meritorious Unit Commendations.

USS Olympia was laid down on 31 March 1981, launched on 30 April 1983 and completed on 17 November 1984. She was assigned to Submarine Squadron 7 and homeported in Pearl Harbor. In 1998 she was the first Pacific-based subm to pass through the Suez Canal for over 35 years. Whe inactivated by August 2018, she was the oldest commissioned attack sub. of the Pacific Fleet. Richard O’Kane’s cribbage board was transferred to her Olympia’s wardroom, following the tradition to later end in the wardroom of USS Chicago (SSN-721), the new oldest active sub. She was decommissioned on 5 February 2021 after 36 years, 2 months and 19 days, stricken, final disposition pending.

USS Honolulu was the last of Flight I. The next Flight not only included VLS for the first time, but many other improvements as to make a new sub-class. She was laid down on 10 November 1981 at Newport News (like those above) and launched on 24 September 1983, completed on 6 July 1985 with Commander Robert M. Mitchell in command. She was unique on several grounds, notably her split stern planes having independent hydraulic systems for extra agility and redundancy for safety.
Her patrols (logs missing) were commemorated by ten surfboards signed by the crews aboard, one kept board, the other seven stored at Pearl Harbor.
Honolulu served in the Pacific Fleet, making her farewell ceremony in Pearl Harbor on 15 April 2006 under PacFleetCO Admiral Gary Roughead and put to sea in early May 2006 for her final patrol which ended at Puget Sound in October 2006. She was decommissioned on 2 November 2007, after 22 years, 4 months and 27 days of service and disposed of by submarine recycling. Her forward section was transferred to USS San Francisco to repair extensive damage after a severe grounding in 2005.