The Greatest Generation

The Strategy Page ^ | 2/1/2010 | The Stategy Page

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The U.S. Navy has retired the USS Los Angeles (SSN 688). This was the lead ship of the Los Angeles class nuclear attack submarine (SSN). The Los Angeles entered service in 1976. It is one of three classes of SSNs in American service, and was the backbone of the American SSN force during the last years of the Cold War. The mainstay of the American submarine force is still the Los Angeles class. Sixty-two of these submarines were built, 44 of which remain in front-line service, making it probably the largest class of nuclear submarines that will ever be built. With four 21-inch (533-millimeter) torpedo tubes, it carries twenty-six weapons. These would be either the Mk 48 torpedo (50 kilometer range), the UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile (130 kilometer range), or the BGM-109 Tomahawk (3,100 kilometer range). The last 31 Los Angeles-class SSNs add the Mk 45 vertical-launch system (VLS), which carries another twelve Tomahawks, making them closer to guided-missile submarines (SSGN). It could launch cruise missiles or Harpoon anti-ship missile The sub had a top speed of over nearly 60 kilometers an hour and is believed capable of diving to 300 meters. The boat normally carried a crew of 129. The basic design underwent several changes as more boats were built. The final 23 built were so different that they were referred to as 688i class boats.

[freedumb2003]

This bums me up as much as when they retired the F-14. :(

Time marches on, but it is never pleasant to see the ones we love move on.

And yes, I am serious.

[rlmorel]

I know how you feel. I know JUST how you feel.