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USS Birmingham (SSN-695)
Encyclopedia
USS Birmingham (SSN-695), a Los Angeles-class submarine
, was the third ship of the United States Navy
to be named for Birmingham, Alabama
. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company
in Newport News, Virginia
on 24 January 1972 and her keel was laid down on 26 April 1975. She was launched
on 29 October 1977 sponsored by Mrs. Maryon Allen, and commissioned
on 16 December 1978, with Commander Paul L. Callahan in command.
Birmingham was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register
on 22 December 1997. Ex-Birmingham is scheduled to enter the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington
.
. The hull number (SSN-695) is easily readable on the submarine in the film. This denotes that the footage was taken during commissioning trials as the numbers are removed before active service.
Los Angeles class submarine
The Los Angeles class, sometimes called the LA class or the 688 class, is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines that forms the backbone of the United States submarine fleet. With 43 submarines on active duty and 19 retired, the Los Angeles class is the most numerous nuclear powered...
, was the third ship of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
to be named for Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company
Northrop Grumman Newport News
Newport News Shipbuilding , originally Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company , was the largest privately-owned shipyard in the United States prior to being purchased by Northrop Grumman in 2001...
in Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
on 24 January 1972 and her keel was laid down on 26 April 1975. She was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 29 October 1977 sponsored by Mrs. Maryon Allen, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 16 December 1978, with Commander Paul L. Callahan in command.
Birmingham was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on 22 December 1997. Ex-Birmingham is scheduled to enter the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
.
In fiction
Footage taken during the commissioning trials for the USS Birmingham was used in the film The Hunt for Red OctoberThe Hunt for Red October (film)
The Hunt for Red October is a 1990 thriller film based on the novel of the same name by Tom Clancy. It was directed by John McTiernan and stars Sean Connery as Captain Marko Ramius and Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan...
. The hull number (SSN-695) is easily readable on the submarine in the film. This denotes that the footage was taken during commissioning trials as the numbers are removed before active service.