USS Norfolk (SSN-714)

USS Norfolk (SSN-714), a Los Angeles-class attack submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Norfolk, Virginia.

USS Norfolk in 2008
History
United States
Name: Norfolk
Namesake: Norfolk, Virginia
Awarded: 20 February 1976
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding
Laid down: 1 August 1979
Launched: 31 October 1981
Sponsored by: Mrs. Caspar Weinberger
Commissioned: 21 May 1983
Decommissioned: 11 December 2014
Stricken: 11 December 2014
Homeport: Norfolk, Virginia
Motto:
  • Vi per Concordiam
  • (Latin: "Strength through Unity")
Status: Stricken, to be disposed of by submarine recycling
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type: Los Angeles-class submarine
Displacement: 5,751 tons light, 6,126 tons full, 375 tons dead
Length: 110.3 m (361 ft 11 in)
Beam: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
Draft: 9.7 m (31 ft 10 in)
Propulsion: S6G nuclear reactor
Complement: 12 officers, 98 enlisted
Armament: 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
For other ships with the same name, see USS Norfolk.

History

The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 20 February 1976 and her keel was laid down on 1 August 1979. She was launched on 31 October 1981 sponsored by Mrs. Caspar Weinberger, and commissioned on 21 May 1983, with Commander Kenneth R. Karr in command.

With the second Commanding Officer, Alfred Ponessa, Norfolk conducted extensive trials of the next-generation torpedo, ADCAP, as well as advanced and secret acoustic experiments. The ship also made an active deployment during one of the final spurts of activity from the declining Soviet navy. On 23 July 1988 Norfolk fired the first ADCAP torpedo, sinking the ex-USS Jonas Ingram. Commander Ponessa was succeeded by Commander Harrop in 1988.

On 17 January 1989, Norfolk collided with the combat stores ship USS San Diego in the Thimble Shoals channel as both vessels were headed to sea.[1] Norfolk struck her starboard side into the port side of San Diego. There were no injuries, but both ships suffered damage. Norfolk's commanding officer was subsequently relieved of command.[2] The sub made a surface transit to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay for drydocking and repairs within a few days,[3] and San Diego required dry dock repairs that were completed 10 April 1989.[1] As a result of this collision, COMSUBLANT issued orders limiting submarine speed and passing activities while in the restricted waters of the Hampton Roads channels.

On 25 August 2004, Norfolk returned to Naval Station Norfolk after a 22-month Engineering Refueling Overhaul (ERO) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine.

Norfolk was decommissioned on 11 December 2014 at her homeport of Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.[4]

References
  1. "Norfolk III SSN-714". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command.
  2. "Navy relieves submarine commander after collision". The Free Lance-Star. 21 January 1989.
  3. http://www.uscarriers.net/ssn714history.htm
  4. Copeland, Kevin (11 December 2014). "USS Norfolk Decommissioned". US Navy News Service.
Actor Jamie Farr aboard USS Norfolk in 2007.
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