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USS Honolulu (SSN-718)
Encyclopedia
USS Honolulu (SSN-718), was a Los Angeles-class submarine
, was the third ship of the United States Navy
to be named for Honolulu, Hawaii
. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company
in Newport News, Virginia
on 15 September 1977 and her keel was laid down on 10 November 1981. She was launched
on 24 September 1983 sponsored by Mrs. Joan B. Clark, and commissioned
on 6 July 1985, with Commander Robert M. Mitchell in command.
Honolulu featured unique split stern planes that operated from independent hydraulic systems. With this redundant configuration, the inboard and outboard planes could be operated independently, preventing a failure of one or the other from causing an uncontrolled dive.
Honolulu’s patrols are commemorated by ten surfboard
s signed by the crews aboard her at the time. The latest three are kept on board the submarine; the other seven are stored at Pearl Harbor
.
Honolulu held a farewell ceremony in Pearl Harbor on 15 April, 2006, that included remarks by Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Lieutenant Governor James Aiona
, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Gary Roughead
and former Honolulu commanding officer Vice Admiral Jonathan Greenert. Honolulu put to sea in early May 2006 for her final patrol. Her last patrol ended at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
in October 2006 where she was placed on stand down, on her way to decommissioning.
and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register
on 2 November 2007. Ex-Honolulu entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington
.
The forward section of ex-Honolulu was transferred to USS San Francisco (SSN-711)
, repairing extensive damage caused by a severe grounding San Francisco experienced in 2005. The "challenging, one-of-a-kind project" was completed on 20 October 2008.
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 Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
. 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 15 September 1977 and her keel was laid down on 10 November 1981. 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 24 September 1983 sponsored by Mrs. Joan B. Clark, 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 6 July 1985, with Commander Robert M. Mitchell in command.
Honolulu’s patrols are commemorated by ten surfboard
Surfboard
A surfboard is an elongated platform used in the sport of surfing. Surfboards are relatively light, but are strong enough to support an individual standing on them while riding a breaking wave...
s signed by the crews aboard her at the time. The latest three are kept on board the submarine; the other seven are stored at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
.
Honolulu held a farewell ceremony in Pearl Harbor on 15 April, 2006, that included remarks by Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Lieutenant Governor James Aiona
James Aiona
James R. "Duke" Aiona, Jr. is an American politician who served as Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii from 2002 to 2010. He is of Hawaiian, Chinese, and Portuguese descent...
, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Gary Roughead
Gary Roughead
Gary Roughead is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who last served as the 29th Chief of Naval Operations from September 29, 2007 to September 22, 2011. He previously served as Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, from May 17, 2007, to September 29, 2007. Prior to that he served as...
and former Honolulu commanding officer Vice Admiral Jonathan Greenert. Honolulu put to sea in early May 2006 for her final patrol. Her last patrol ended at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility is a United States Navy shipyard covering 179 acres on Puget Sound at Bremerton, Washington...
in October 2006 where she was placed on stand down, on her way to decommissioning.
Final Deposition
Honolulu was decommissionedShip decommissioning
To decommission a ship is to terminate her career in service in the armed forces of her nation. A somber occasion, it has little of the elaborate ceremony of ship commissioning, but carries significant tradition....
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 2 November 2007. Ex-Honolulu entered 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...
.
The forward section of ex-Honolulu was transferred to USS San Francisco (SSN-711)
USS San Francisco (SSN-711)
USS San Francisco , a Los Angeles-class nuclear submarine, is the third ship or boat of the United States Navy to be named for San Francisco, California.-History:...
, repairing extensive damage caused by a severe grounding San Francisco experienced in 2005. The "challenging, one-of-a-kind project" was completed on 20 October 2008.