USS Boston (SSN-703)

USS "Boston" (SSN-703), a "Los Angeles"-class submarine, was the seventh ship of the United States Navy to be named for Boston, Massachusetts.

The contract to build "Boston" was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 10 December 1973 and her keel was laid down on 11 August 1978. She was launched on 19 April 1980 sponsored by Mrs. Edward Hidalgo, and commissioned on 30 January 1982, with Captain Jon M. Barr in command.

In 1998 "Boston" participated in a UNITAS South America deployment.

Decommissioning

"Boston" was decommissioned on 19 November 1999 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 19 November 1999. Ex-"Boston" entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, on 1 October 2001 and on 19 September 2002 ceased to exist. Her sail and upper rudder were preserved for display at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park in Buffalo, New York.

Awards

"Boston" was a much-decorated ship. The crew distinguished themselves on numerous occasions by meritorious service and outstanding performance. Awards included the Arleigh Burke Fleet Award and the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award, both of which are presented to one ship in the Pacific and one ship in the Atlantic. Her other awards included:

* 1983: CINCLANTFLT Golden Anchor Award, Red "E" for Engineering Excellence, Meritorious Unit Commendation
* 1984: Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbon, Arleigh Burke Award Nominee for Greatest Improvements in Battle Efficiency, Meritorious Unit Commendation
* 1985: Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbon, Red "E" for Engineering Excellence, Green "C" for Communication Excellence, Silver Anchor Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation
* 1986: Green "C" for Communication Excellence, Red "E" for Engineering Excellence,
* 1987: Yellow "M" for Medical Excellence, CINCLANFLT Silver Anchor Award, CINCLANFLT Golden Anchor Award Runner-up
* 1988: CINCLANFLT Silver Anchor Award
* 1989: CINLANFLT Silver Anchor Award
* 1990: Green "C" for Communication Excellence
* 1991: Supply Blue "E" for Supply Excellence, Meritorious Unit Commendation
* 1993: White Tactical "T" for Tactical Efficiency
* 1995: Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Arleigh Burke Award for Greatest Improvements in Battle Efficiency
* 1996: Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for Most Battle-Ready Ship in Atlantic Fleet
* 1997: Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation, Red "DC" for Damage Control Excellence
* 1998: Red and Green "N" for Navigation Excellence

In fiction

"Boston" appears in the Tom Clancy novel "Red Storm Rising", launching cruise missiles against military airfields inside the Soviet Union. While escorting her damaged sister USS|Providence|SSN-719|2 to safety she is sunk by torpedoes fired from an Alfa class submarine.

References