USS ''Norfolk'' (SSN-714), a

attack submarine An attack submarine or hunter-killer submarine is a submarine specifically designed for the purpose of attacking and sinking other submarines, surface combatants and merchant vessels. In the Soviet and Russian navies they were and are called ...

, was the third ship of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

to be named for Norfolk, Virginia.

History

The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 20 February 1976 and her keel was laid down on 1 August 1979. She was launched on 31 October 1981 sponsored by Mrs.

Caspar Weinberger Caspar Willard Weinberger (August 18, 1917 – March 28, 2006) was an American statesman and businessman. As a prominent Republican, he served in a variety of state and federal positions for three decades, including chairman of the Californ ...

, and commissioned on 21 May 1983. ''Norfolk'' conducted extensive trials of the next-generation torpedo, ADCAP, as well as advanced and secret acoustic experiments. The ship also made an active deployment during one of the final spurts of activity from the declining Soviet navy. On 23 July 1988 ''Norfolk'' fired the first ADCAP torpedo, sinking the ex-. On 17 January 1989, ''Norfolk'' collided with the

combat stores ship Combat stores ships, or storeships, were originally a designation given to ships in the Age of Sail and immediately afterward that navies used to stow supplies and other goods for naval purposes. Today, the United States Navy and the Royal Navy ...

in the Thimble Shoals channel as both vessels were headed to sea. ''Norfolk'' struck her starboard side into the port side of ''San Diego''. There were no injuries, but both ships suffered damage. ''Norfolk''s commanding officer was subsequently relieved of command. The sub made a surface transit to

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is a base of the United States Navy located adjacent to the city of St. Marys in Camden County, Georgia, on the North River in southeastern Georgia, and 38 miles (61 km) from Jacksonville, Florida. The Submari ...

for drydocking and repairs within a few days, and ''San Diego'' required dry dock repairs that were completed 10 April 1989. As a result of this collision, COMSUBLANT issued orders limiting submarine speed and passing activities while in the restricted waters of the Hampton Roads channels. On 25 August 2004, ''Norfolk'' returned to

Naval Station Norfolk Naval Station Norfolk is a United States Navy base in Norfolk, Virginia, that is the headquarters and home port of the U.S. Navy's Fleet Forces Command. The installation occupies about of waterfront space and of pier and wharf space of the Hampt ...

after a 22-month Engineering Refueling Overhaul (ERO) at

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Founded in 1800, PNS is U.S. Navy's oldest continuo ...

Kittery, Maine Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals. The southernmost town i ...

. ''Norfolk'' was decommissioned on 11 December 2014 at her homeport of Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.

References

External links

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Navsource: USS ''Norfolk''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norfolk (SSN-714) Ships built in Newport News, Virginia Los Angeles-class submarines Cold War submarines of the United States Nuclear submarines of the United States Navy United States submarine accidents Maritime incidents in 1989 1981 ships