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.
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.
ReplyDeleteDespite her age, she ran like a champ, and I was proud to serve in her, with some great men.
Did the cribbage board make it to the Philly in one piece?
ReplyDelete-LT L
No. It went to BREMERTON, oldest submarine in the Pacific.
ReplyDeleteAh, didn't realize it was a PAC/LANT thing.
ReplyDelete-LT L
Maybe with the decommissioning, the EM-Log will finally return!!
ReplyDeleteThat pig should have been decommed 10 years ago.
ReplyDeleteYou mean oldest Fast Attack, correct?
ReplyDeleteYou mean oldest Fast Attack, correct?
ReplyDelete1/25/2010 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"?
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.
ReplyDeleteWow, that hull looks showroom new.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteFunny 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.
ReplyDelete35+ 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!
hurray for hull-life extensions...don't mind the cracks - these are not the discrepancies you are looking for.
ReplyDeletecracks keep it interesting...
ReplyDelete630-738 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.
ReplyDeleteTJ,
ReplyDeleteI 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!
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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteSTSC 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.
ReplyDelete637'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.
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.
ReplyDeleteAs 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.
ReplyDeleteLiving 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.
ReplyDeleteNo 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.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThat's certainly true about berthing - the 18-man was a great place to rack.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion one and all should browse on this.
ReplyDeleteIt won't work in reality, that's exactly what I consider.
ReplyDelete