SSN 711 San Francisco
Los Angeles Class
Namesakes
C-5 San Francisco
CA-38 San Francisco
Homeport
Apra Harbor, Guam
Official Homepage
SSN 711 San Francisco
USS SAN FRANCISCO (SSN711) was built at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia and was commissioned on 24 April 1981. After initial shakedown operations, the ship joined the Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet and transited to its homeport of Pearl Harbor. While enroute, the ship conducted its initial visit to San Francisco, participating in Fleet Week 1981.
During its first operating cycle the ship completed deployments to the Western Pacific in 1982, 1985, and 1986, conducting a variety of operations and exercises as a member of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. The ship conducted independent submarine operations deployed to the Northern Pacific in 1986 and 1988, and earned the coveted Battle Efficiency "E" for Submarine Squadron SEVEN in 1985 and 1988.
During a demanding DEPOT Modernization Period (DMP) at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in 1989-1990, the ship was equipped with the newest and most capable submarine sensor and combat systems and made fully ready to perform the variety of missions assigned to the submarine force.
Following the DMP, SAN FRANCISCO completed sea trials and a series of rigorous certification inspections and returned to the fleet to resume operations. Two highly successful deployments to the Western Pacific were completed in 1992 and 1994 with ports of call in Hong Kong, Singapore, Chinhae, South Korea, Guam, Sasebo, Japan and Yokosuka, Japan. In December 1994, the ship conducted a dependents cruise to Lahaina, Maui.
In January of 1995, SAN FRANCISCO was awarded the 1994 Commander Submarine Squadron SEVEN "T" for excellence in tactical operations. SAN FRANCISCO was also awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its outstanding performance during the WESTPAC deployment in 1994.
USS SAN FRANCISCO was the host ship for the COMSUBPAC Change of Command ceremony on February 23, 1996. From June - December 1996 the ship deployed to the Western Pacific, visiting Yokosuka and Sasebo Japan; Subic Bay Philippines; and Guam USA.
In its life, USS SAN FRANCISCO has carried the pride and charm of its namesake city to the far reaches of the Pacific including: Pattaya, Thailand; Hong King; Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan; Okinawa; Subic Bay, Philippines; Singapore; Guam; Chinhae, Korea; Esquimalt, BC; as well as the stateside ports of Bremerton, Washington; San Diego and San Francisco, California; Lahaina, Maui, and Kona, Hawaii.
The San Francisco arrived at her new home port of Apra, Guam on December 18, 2002.
SSN 711 is the third U.S. Navy fighting ship to carry the name of SAN FRANCISCO.
In early January 2005, the USS San Francisco, while on its way to making a port visit in Australia ran aground and hit the ocean floor, approximately 560 kilometers south of Guam, in the middle of the East Marianas Basin. The incident reportedly caused one critical injury and a number of minor ones to some of the submarine's crew. The submarine resurfaced following the accident and proceeded to return to its homeport of Guam.