Keeping the blogosphere posted on the goings on of the world of submarines since late 2004... and mocking and belittling general foolishness wherever it may be found. Idaho's first and foremost submarine blog. (If you don't like something on this blog, please E-mail me; don't call me at home.)
USS Los Angeles (SSN 688) was decommissioned today in her namesake city. Articles discussing the occasion can be found here, here, and here; pictures of her arriving are here and here. This leaves USS Philadelphia (SSN 690) as the oldest commissioned submarine in the U.S. Navy.
posted by Bubblehead at 1:11 PM
I'm Joel Kennedy -- a married, 50-something year old retired submarine officer and esophageal cancer survivor with three kids who has finally made the transition to civilian life. Politically, I'm a Radical Moderate. (If you don't like something on this blog, please E-mail me. Don't call me at home.)
26 Comments:
I had the pleasure of serving in LOS ANGELES towards the end of her service life. Now that I'm on a hull that is over 10 yrs younger, I truly appreciate how well LA was built and maintained.
Despite her age, she ran like a champ, and I was proud to serve in her, with some great men.
1/23/2010 1:38 PM
Did the cribbage board make it to the Philly in one piece?
-LT L
1/23/2010 1:40 PM
No. It went to BREMERTON, oldest submarine in the Pacific.
1/23/2010 2:43 PM
Ah, didn't realize it was a PAC/LANT thing.
-LT L
1/23/2010 6:07 PM
Maybe with the decommissioning, the EM-Log will finally return!!
1/23/2010 10:15 PM
That pig should have been decommed 10 years ago.
1/25/2010 4:42 AM
You mean oldest Fast Attack, correct?
1/25/2010 12:20 PM
You mean oldest Fast Attack, correct?
1/25/2010 12:20 PM
He meant "oldest commissioned submarine". What would be older? USS Ohio? No, Ohio was laid down and commissioned 4-5 years after the LA. NR-1? Not commissioned..
So what do you mean by "does he mean Fast Attack"?
1/25/2010 3:49 PM
Funny to think that one of the thin-skinned city boats is the oldest we have, only because I had the 'pleasure' of serving on a boat that was older than me by a few months.
1/25/2010 10:37 PM
Wow, that hull looks showroom new.
1/26/2010 9:18 AM
I was in Newport News when the L.A. was commissioned in Norfolk. My XO volunteered me to be a driver for CHINFO and the actor Jackie Cooper to and from the ceremony. Cooper was a classy guy. CHINFO was highly reserved.
1/26/2010 10:08 AM
Funny to think that one of the thin-skinned city boats is the oldest we have, only because I had the 'pleasure' of serving on a boat that was older than me by a few months.
35+ years since she was launched, she's been around the block a time or two. And, I'm sure a majority of her crew is younger than her as well.
Seems strange that when we were decomming ATLANTA back in '99, folks were lamenting the early demise of these first-flight 688's. Of course, that was over 10 years ago!
1/26/2010 10:59 AM
hurray for hull-life extensions...don't mind the cracks - these are not the discrepancies you are looking for.
1/26/2010 1:10 PM
cracks keep it interesting...
1/26/2010 1:37 PM
630-738 I know she's been around the block a time or two. I just wanted to use the phrase "thin-skinned city boat"...we used to say it on ustafish to make ourselves feel better about our outdated boat. The LA although no older than me was hard at work doing her job while I was just a wee lad barely out of diapers.
1/26/2010 4:09 PM
TJ,
I know how you feel, I rode two of those "outdated" SSNs and one SSBN. Truth be known, I preferred all three of them over the 2 "modern" boats any day, hands down.
Gotta admit, the space on the MD was pretty sweet, though!
1/26/2010 7:14 PM
Back on the used-to-fish we called them city-shitty boats. Now that I've done 2 of each (plus a floating hotel vacation tour) my opinion hasn't changed. Love & miss the 637 layout.
1/27/2010 4:43 PM
I never served on a "City" boat, but I did have the chance to visit several and ride 1 for a short while, and I agree with STSC and 630-738, I'll take a 637 layout any day.
1/28/2010 3:23 AM
STSC Said...Back on the used-to-fish we called them city-shitty boats. Now that I've done 2 of each (plus a floating hotel vacation tour) my opinion hasn't changed. Love & miss the 637 layout.
637's rock, the sports car of the SSN's. Served on 4 of them (Seahorse, Tunny, Silversides, Spadefish). Driving to PD and rolling out 10' before ordered depth, hitting it and sticking was a pleasure as compared to a 5th flt 688 (Asheville). Getting to P/D on an 88I was such a painful experience. Can't iamagine the pain a dive must go through to break through the ice.
1/28/2010 5:45 AM
Without disclosing too much, what was it about the 637 that made it more enjoyable than the 688s? I did SSBNs and one smoke boat so am having a difficult time envisioning the 637/688 difference.
1/28/2010 10:08 AM
As an ELT, there were a couple of sweet aspects to 637's also. The nuc lab being in OPSUL at the top of the ladder to the mess decks was cool, plus if you had family visit the boat, you could let them peak into the lab to see where you spent much of your time (and who knows what some may have done on dependent cruises). Plus, the engine room layout meant you were rarely bothered in AMR2LL, which was pretty sweet as well.
1/28/2010 9:32 PM
Living conditions made the 637 class more enjoyable. I preferred the layout much more, especially living in the bow compartment. Apart from when snorkeling, it was quieter and more relaxed than in a 688. I will admit that I only lived in 688 CPO quarters, so I can't really judge life in blueshirt berthing.
No doubt that working in the Engine Room of a 688 was a more enjoyable environment than 637, especially if you are of the EM variety. SSMGs are infinitely easier to access.
1/29/2010 9:53 AM
This comment has been removed by the author.
1/29/2010 9:53 AM
That's certainly true about berthing - the 18-man was a great place to rack.
1/30/2010 11:17 AM
In my opinion one and all should browse on this.
2/27/2012 4:58 AM
It won't work in reality, that's exactly what I consider.
3/07/2012 1:09 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home