Meanwhile, in spite of the comparative newness of the Seawolf and Virginia-class SSNs, the remaining Los Angeles-class SSNs will continue to be a potent component of America’s underwater arsenal for quite a few years to come. In December 2020, the Navy announced that an additional 11 of these venerable subs will be retired and relegated to the USN’s Ship/Submarine Recycling Program. Arguably the most famous of these is USS Dallas, thanks to her appearance in The Hunt for Red October. Two of the Los Angeles-class boats have been converted to moored training ships, while the Navy lists seven of the subs as decommissioned. 12 Los Angeles submarines were deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March/April 2003. As noted by Naval Technology, “Nine of the Los Angeles class submarines were deployed in the Gulf War in 1991, during which Tomahawk missiles were launched from two of the submarines. That said, the Los Angeles-class SSNs are still a combat-tested bunch. No submarine has been officially credited with sinking an enemy vessel since the Royal Navy’s HMS Conqueror did so to the Argentine Navy’s ARA General Belgrano during the Falklands War in 1982, although a North Korean midget submarine is strongly suspected as the culprit in the sinking of a South Korean navy corvette in 2010. They are configured for under-ice operations, with forward diving planes moved from the sail structure to the bow, and sails that have been strengthened for breaking through ice. They are quieter, incorporate an advanced BSY-1 sonar suite combat system, and can lay mines from their torpedo tubes. The Flight III subs are referred to as “688I” (for “Improved”). The Flight II subs were the first of the bunch to carry the Tomahawk VLS, and also had an upgraded reactor core. The SSNs 688 – 718 in Flight I, SSNs 719 – 750 in Flight II, and SSNs 751 – 773 in Flight III. ![]() “Attack submarines are designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships project power ashore with Tomahawk cruise missiles and Special Operation Forces (SOF) carry out Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions support battle group operations and engage in mine warfare.”Ī total of 62 Los Angeles-class subs have been built, and they are divided across three separate so-called Flights. System The Virginia class submarine is the Navy’s latest fast attack submarine that is capable of targeting, controlling, and launching MK 48 Advanced Capability torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles. The official Navy info page describes the task & purpose of attack submarines thusly: for the Los Angeles class submarine, providing similar mission performance and improved covertness. ![]() Thirty of these are equipped with twelve Vertical Launch System tubes for firing Tomahawk cruise missiles. The Los Angeles-class boats in particular comprise the backbone of the submarine fleet, with approximately 40 in commission – more than any other submarine class in the world. There are three classes of SSN in the USN arsenal – the Los Angeles, Seawolf, and Virginia classes. To America and her maritime allies, the Los Angeles-class boats are an undersea manifestation of St. Navy’s Los Angeles-class attack submarines, or SSNs, are veritable Angels of Death. ![]() The original full name of the City of Los Angeles, California, is El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula,” which means, “The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of Porciúncula.” Well, to enemy warships the U.S.
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