After serving the United States Navy for 33 years, the USS Los Angeles (SSN 688) will arrive in Los Angeles later Today for a final visit that includes a decommissioning ceremony Jan. 23. USS Los Angeles departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Jan. 14, and is stopping in Los Angeles en route to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for inactivation. The visit will include participation by the crew in numerous public events ongoing throughout the weekend.

According to Gregg Smith, spokesperson for Navel Weapons Station Seal Beach, “The sub was originally commissioned in 1976, and has reached the end of her service life. She will be replace by a unit of the Virginia class.”

The Los Angeles is a nuclear powered fast attack submarine and is the lead ship in her class. This fleet is gradually being phased out and replaced by the newest subs, the Virginia class. Production on the Virginia Class subs is scheduled to reach two ships per year starting in 2011. At 377 feet in length, the newer class subs are about 17 feet longer, with a beam of about 34’10”, compared to 32’10” for the Los Angeles class. In addition to improved electronics, the Virginia subs are designed to run quieter. Both classes have a compliment of 134 officers and crew.

These attack subs are designed for undersea warfare, surface warfare, strike warfare, mining operations, special forces delivery, reconnaissance, carrier battle group support and escort, and intelligence collection.

“Los Angeles has been on the Pearl Harbor waterfront for 32 years, and it is with some sadness that we are now making our final voyage,” said Cmdr. Steven Harrison, Commanding Officer, USS Los Angeles. “I am very proud of each and every Sailor onboard. We all have worked very hard to keep this warship at the forefront of submarine operations and the crew has done a fantastic job meeting every operational requirement.”

Launched on April 6, 1974 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry-dock Company in Newport News, Va., USS Los Angeles was commissioned on Nov. 13, 1976. She hosted President Jimmy Carter and the First Lady on May 27, 1977, for an at-sea demonstration of the capability of the nation’s newest fast-attack submarine. She then made her first operational deployment to the Mediterranean Sea in 1977 and was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation.
In 1978, Los Angeles transferred to the Pacific Fleet and was assigned to Submarine Squadron SEVEN, home ported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The sub and her crew operated with distinction over the next 32 years, conducting 17 Pacific deployments.

Due to security concerns, the decommissioning ceremony is by invitation only. The crew is expected to attend a Kings hockey game while they are in port, but there are no public events scheduled for the ship.