USS Jacksonville (SSN-699)

USS ''Jacksonville'' (SSN-699), a nuclear powered attack submarine, is the only vessel of the United States Navy to be named for Jacksonville, Florida.

''Jacksonville'' was overhauled and modernized in 1988 and over the career span was involved in four collisions between 1982 and 2013. After completing a final deployment in 2017, ending 36 years of active service, the submarine was decommissioned in 2021.

History

The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 24 January 1972 and her keel was laid down on 21 February 1976. She was launched on 18 November 1978 using the pontoon system designed for the launching of the Trident submarines. ''Jacksonville'' was sponsored by Mrs. Dorothy Jean Bennett, wife of Congressman Charles E. Bennett, and commissioned on 16 May 1981.

''Jacksonville''s operations have included a variety of fleet exercises and deployments including two around-the-world cruises in 1982 and 1985, deployments to the western Atlantic Ocean in 1983, 1986, 1993 and 1994, and deployments to the Mediterranean Sea in 1987 and 1993. In 1988, ''Jacksonville'' participated in a shock trials test program for ''Los Angeles''-class submarines, which was followed by a three-year major modernization overhaul in Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

''Jacksonville'' has been involved in four collisions with other vessels during her over 30 years of operation:

*While outbound with the inbound Turkish merchant vessel ''General Z. Dogan'' in the vicinity of Norfolk, Virginia on 22 March 1982.
*With a barge positioned across Chesapeake Bay's Thimble Shoal Channel, requiring the replacement of the submarine's sonar dome, on 21 September 1984.
*With the container ship ''Saudi Makkah'' near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, requiring repairs to the submarine's fairwater planes and rudder, on 17 May 1996.
*With an unnamed fishing vessel while on regular patrol in the Persian Gulf on 10 January 2013. Her main periscope was sheared off in the collision. The ship's commanding and executive officers were relieved for cause following the incident.

In late 2009, ''Jacksonville''s homeport was moved from Norfolk to Pearl Harbor.

On 20 December 2004 a small fire broke out aboard ''Jacksonville'' while she was undergoing a refueling overhaul at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The fire was immediately extinguished and the reactor was never in danger, though a shipyard firefighter and a sailor were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

In August 2017, ''Jacksonville'' completed her final deployment, ending 36 years of Submarine Service. On 11 December 2017, she arrived in Bremerton, Washington, to commence a months-long preparation for inactivation and decommissioning.

On 26 June 2019, ''Jacksonville'' held an inactivation ceremony at the U.S. Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, Washington. Former Commanding Officer Michael Brown and former Chief of the Boat (also former Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy) Terry Scott were among the speakers.

On 16 November 2021, ''Jacksonville'' was decommissioned in a ceremony at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Specifications

''Jacksonville'' is long with a beam of and a draft of . The submarine is equipped with an S6G reactor that allows 15 knots surfaced and 32 plus knots submerged. The submarine can operate with an approximate depth range, safe depth, and crush depth.

''Jacksonville'' has a crew of 12 officers and 121 enlisted personnel. The armament is four 533mm TT MK 67, located amidship for Tomahawk missiles, MK 48 (and MK 48 ADCAP) torpedoes with 22 reloads plus 2 additional for emergencies. The submarine was decommissioned in 2021.

References

This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register as well as various press releases and news stories.
Sublant Fact sheet on the U.S.S. Jacksonville.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jacksonville (SSN-699)
Ships built in Groton, Connecticut
Los Angeles-class submarines
Cold War submarines of the United States
Nuclear submarines of the United States Navy
Military in Jacksonville, Florida
1978 ships
Submarines of the United States