USS Norfolk (SSN-714)

USS "Norfolk" (SSN-714), a "Los Angeles"-class 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 (Commander Karr was promoted to the Pentagon later that year and retired from the NPEB as a Captain in 1988).

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. Commander Ponessa was succeeded by Commander Harrop in 1989.

On January 17th, 1989, "Norfolk" was involved in a collision with USS "San Diego" (T-AFS-6) off Cape Charles Light, VA as both vessels were headed to sea. "Norfolk" was outbound for an engineering inspection, an event which occupied all of the ships most experienced officers. The Officer of the Deck was the ship's most junior officer, a non-nuclear-trained Lieutenant Junior-Grade, and the Commanding Officer himself was new to the ship, sick and hoarse that day. While trying to pass the San Diego in a turn in the channel, the current set "Norfolk" towards an outer buoy on the port side. Overcorrecting for this event, "Norfolk" delivered a glancing blow to the ship on her starboard side, "San Diego". There were no injuries, and neither ship suffered significant structural damage. Upon returning to dockside later that day, "Norfolk's " commanding officer was relieved, and the sub proceeded on the surface to Kings Bay, Georgia, for inspection and repairs. 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 August 25 2004, "Norfolk" returned to Norfolk, VA after a 22-month Engineering Refueling Overhaul (ERO) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine.

External links

* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/SSN714.htm nvr.navy.mil: USS "Norfolk"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08714.htm navsource.org: USS "Norfolk"]
* [http://www.csg2.navy.mil/Norfolk/norfolk.htm official website]