USS Norfolk (SSN-714)
_Arabian_Shark.jpg) 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 |
| Homeport: | Norfolk, Virginia |
| Motto: |
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| Status: | Decommissioned |
| Badge: |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class & 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 men |
| Armament: | 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes |
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. 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 the USS Norfolk fired the first ADCAP torpedo, sinking the USS Jonas Ingram (DD-938). Commander Ponessa was succeeded by Commander Harrop in 1988.
On 17 January 1989, Norfolk collided with the combat stores ship USS San Diego (AFS-6) 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 returned to port for inspection and repairs, but San Diego required dry dock repairs that would not be completed until 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 Norfolk, VA 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 (USA).[3]
References
- 1 2 "Norfolk III SSN-714". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command.
- ↑ "Navy relieves submarine commander after collision". The Free Lance-Star. 21 January 1989.
- ↑ Copeland, Kevin (11 December 2014). "USS Norfolk Decommissioned". US Navy News Service.
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- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Norfolk (SSN-714). |
- navsource.org: USS Norfolk
- official website
- Jonas Ingram Sinkex, but does not mention Norfolk