US Navy wrote off oldest nuc sub

26.01.2010
US Navy wrote off nuclear-powered submarine Los Angeles which was commissioned in 1976, reports The Los Angeles Times. The US national flag was laid on the sub's stern during the ceremony held at the port of San Pedro. In the nearest future the sub will sail its last cruise to Puget Sound Naval Ship Yard, Bremerton for further utilization.

It was planned in 1976 that USS Los Angeles would be in service for 30 years; however, early 2000-ies there was a decision to prolong the sub's service life, specifies myFOXIa. One year after commission, USS Los Angeles was dispatched to the Mediterranean and in 1978 it joined 7th Submarine Squadron and was attached to Pearl Harbor. Decommissioned USS Los Angeles was the oldest in-service sub in the US Navy.

Through its service, the sub which had become lead ship of the same-named project performed 18 distant cruises. After decommission of USS Los Angeles, 44 submarines of the project remains at the US Navy roll.

A Los Angeles-class submarine is powered by water-cooled and water-moderated reactor; its displacement is over 6,000 tonnes; hull length is 109 meters; max speed is 35 knots. Los Angeles subs are armed with four torpedo tubes and 12 vertical launch tubes for Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles.

All Los Angeles-class subs are currently under overhaul and modernization. That was reported mid-Nov, 2009 when Northrop Grumman received $635 mln from US Navy for maintenance of Los Angeles-class and Sea Wolf-class nuclear-powered submarines. Under the contract terms, Northrop Grumman will receive additional payments for works related to maintenance and upgrade of the subs.

Source: Lenta.Ru, photo: USS Los Angeles (navy.mil)