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US Navy - Attack SubmarineSSN 714 - USS Norfolk |
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Type, class: Attack Submarine, nuclear propulsion - SSN; Los Angeles class (Flight I) Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock, Newport News, Virginia, USA
STATUS: Awarded: February 20, 1976 Laid down: August 1, 1979 Launched: October 31, 1981 Commissioned: May 21, 1983 Decommissioned: December 11, 2014
Homeport: - Namesake: City of Norfolk, Virginia Ships Motto: VI PER CONCORDIAM (strenght through unity) Technical Data: see: INFO > Los Angeles class Attack Submarine - SSN |
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 Norfolk, Virginia - September 2014  Norfolk, Virginia - September 2014  Norfolk, Virginia - August 2014  Norfolk, Virginia - November 2012  Suez Canal - October 2012  December 2010  October 2010  October 2010  Norfolk, Virginia - September 2010  Norfolk, Virginia - March 2010  Norfolk, Virginia - March 2010  Norfolk, Virginia - December 2009  Norfolk, Virginia - December 2009  Norfolk, Virginia - September 2008  Norfolk, Virginia - September 2008  Norfolk, Virginia - July 2008  Norfolk, Virginia - June 2008  Norfolk, Virginia - June 2008  Souda Bay, Crete, Greece - June 2008  Souda Bay, Crete, Greece - June 2008  Souda Bay, Crete, Greece - June 2008  Souda Bay, Crete, Greece - June 2008  Souda Bay, Crete, Greece - June 2008  Arabian Sea - April 2008  Norfolk, Virginia - December 2007  Norfolk, Virginia - May 2006  Norfolk, Virginia - May 2006  Manama, Bahrain - January 2006  Norfolk, Virginia - November 2005  Norfolk, Virginia - August 2004  March 1999  1994  1994                 1987  1987  1984  1984  commissioning ceremony - May 1983  commissioning ceremony - May 1983       launching ceremony - October 1981  launching ceremony - October 1981  launching ceremony - October 1981  launching ceremony - October 1981 |
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USS Norfolk (SSN 714): USS Norfolk (SSN-714), a Los Angeles-class attack submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Norfolk, Virginia. 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, and commissioned on 21 May 1983, with Commander Kenneth R. Karr in command (Commander Karr was promoted to the Pentagon later that year and retired from the NPEB as a Captain in 1988). With the second Commanding Officer, Alfred Ponessa, 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 the USS Norfolk fired the first ADCAP torpedo, sinking the USS Jonas Ingram (DD-938). Commander Ponessa was succeeded by Commander Harrop in 1988. On 17 January 1989, Norfolk was involved in a collision with the combat stores ship USS San Diego (AFS-6) off Cape Charles Light, VA as both vessels were headed to sea. Norfolk was outbound for an engineering inspection, an event which occupied all of the ships most experienced officers. The Officer of the Deck was the ship's most junior officer, a non-nuclear-trained Lieutenant Junior-Grade, and the Commanding Officer himself was new to the ship, sick and hoarse that day. While trying to pass the San Diego in a turn in the channel, the current set Norfolk towards an outer buoy on the port side. Overcorrecting for this event, Norfolk delivered a glancing blow to the ship on her starboard side, San Diego. There were no injuries, and neither ship suffered significant structural damage. Upon returning to dockside later that day, Norfolk's commanding officer was relieved, and the sub proceeded on the surface to Kings Bay, Georgia, for inspection and repairs. 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 Norfolk, VA after a 22-month Engineering Refueling Overhaul (ERO) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. Norfolk was decommissioned on 11 December 2014 at her homeport of Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia (USA). source: wikipedia (2015) - - - NORFOLK - December 11, 2014 (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Norfolk (SSN 714) was decommissioned December 11 during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk. The submarine will remain in Norfolk until in leaves in January to begin the decommissioning process at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine. Norfolk is currently under the command of Cmdr. Christopher Polk, who became the submarine's 17th and final commanding officer during a ceremony on Oct. 10, 2014. "Anyone who has ever served in the Navy understands there is a special bond between a ship and her crew," said Polk. "With every one of the ship's successes, and the occasional failure, we live and die. While on board, we experience the full spectrum of emotions - happiness and/sadness, joy and anger, and confidence and fear. We love her, we curse her; we feel out of place, we feel right at home. But through it all, our spirits breathe life into this ship. "None of us want to acknowledge the inevitable, least of all me. The ship has a particularly special place in my heart since I was fortunate enough to previously serve on board as a department head and I still consider that assignment as the turning point in my naval career. Without my Norfolk experience, I never would have achieved my ultimate goals of command at sea and command of the Norfolk." The 360-foot submarine is the third naval ship to be named in honor of its namesake city of Norfolk, Virginia. It was built by Newport News Shipbuilding and was commissioned May 21, 1983 by then Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger. Norfolk was also the Navy's 133rd nuclear-powered submarine, the 89th attack submarine, and the 24th Los Angeles-class submarine. In addition to Polk, Mayor Paul Fraim, city of Norfolk, retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Joseph J. Krol, Norfolk's second commanding officer and former associate administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration's Office of Emergency Operations, and Capt. Paul Snodgrass, commander, Submarine Squadron 6 were the featured speakers. "It is a real thrill for me to be here today, as we honor this crew and all who sailed before them on USS Norfolk," said Krol. "I am a Norfolk Sailor and just one of more than 1,000 submariners who have served on board the ship. Thank you, captain, for inviting me to participate, as I am very proud to have been a small part of the accomplishments produced by those who have sailed on this magnificent ship. "It has always been fashionable to say that a successful Naval vessel is a great ship, and I have always thought that a strange expression. But, Norfolk has been and is a great ship. However, it is not the ship which has delivered so much success over the past 31-plus years. Norfolk joined the fleet on May 21, 1983 and was a key player during the huge transition in submarine warfare that has spanned her entire life. She was designed and constructed as primarily an anti-submarine warfare platform but that all changed from the bipolar Cold War to today's chaotic and unpredictable asymmetrical war involving various state supported and non-state actors worldwide. "The crews that sailed Norfolk in 31-plus established a huge legacy were at the forefront of this development change. Throughout the vast changes in the military and the Navy that have taken place since the Cold War ended, this ship has soldiered on and delivered. The only way this could have happened is through the efforts every day of every year by the crews that manned this ship." The ship returned from its maiden deployment in the Mediterranean Sea in November 1984 and returned to its homeport in Norfolk from its last deployment on Aug. 26, 2014, where it operated in the European Command and Central Command areas of responsibilities. "It is an honor for me to have this rare opportunity to represent the city at USS Norfolk's decommissioning ceremony," said Fraim. "To each of you who presently serve on-board Norfolk, and to all who have had the privilege of serving in the past, please know how very proud we are that your boat was named for this city and proud that it has sailed around the world in defense of the freedom we are so blessed to enjoy here at home. "Norfolk and her citizens are fiercely proud of our military heritage, proud of our relationship with the Navy, and proud that we have had the privilege of giving more than most cities in defense of our nation. For 31 years, your boat has sailed the world's oceans carrying our city's name through times of war and times of peace. On behalf of the citizens of Norfolk, thank you to all who have served our nation on-board USS Norfolk. We will never forget her or you." During its 31 years of active service, Norfolk completed 15 deployments to the North Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, U.S. Central Command and U.S. European Command. The ship has received six Battle Efficiency awards; two Arleigh Burke awards; four Meritorious Unit Commendations; a Navy Unit Commendation; and two Armed Forces Service Medals. "It is a true honor to attend this ceremony to celebrate a ship that has always answered the call of our nation," said Snodgrass. "We are in the midst of generations of submariners who share a common spirit, and exemplify the USS Norfolk motto "Vi per Concordium" which translates from Latin as "strength through unity." While others went about their normal lives, these men have lived that motto and have stood the watch to maintain our nation's security - completing 15 overseas deployments, carrying out our nation's tasking through the Cold War, Gulf War, Kosovo Conflict, Global War on Terror and many other conflicts and periods of tension, some named others unnamed." Almost 140 Sailors will be on Norfolk when it leaves in January for the trip to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and begin the formal decommissioning process. Ninety-three Sailors will stay after the first crew release scheduled in February 2015. Twenty-nine of those 93 Sailors will be moving families and 24 Sailors will travel unaccompanied. All lament being the final crew, but understand there is still work ahead. "The crew is excited and at the same time saddened to this Battle "E" winning ship being decommissioned," said Senior Chief Logistics Specialist Kevin Gibbs, the submarine's senior enlisted advisor or chief of the boat (COB). "Norfolk has served the Submarine Force and the U.S. Navy honorably, and has contributed significantly to our nation's defense and that of our allies. While we are disheartened in seeing this great warrior go, we are ready to face the challenge in ensuring USS Norfolk exits our submarine force with the utmost dignity. It has been an honor for me to serve on this great warship with this amazing crew on her last deployment." Snodgrass and Polk echoed the COB's sentiments. "Over the past several years, the Norfolk crew has developed a rallying cry, "when you want more, 714," continued Snodgrass. "Since 1983, USS Norfolk has always given more. The current crew is the reigning Submarine Squadron 6 2013 Battle Efficiency awardee. This crew returned from a very successful six month deployment to Central Command this past August. Half way through that deployment, the crew was informed that the ship would be decommissioned. This news may have caused some crews to let down their guard, but not Norfolk. This crew ran to the finish line, carrying out all tasking and demonstrating the highest level of skill. After deployment, the crew completed a rigorous propulsion plant evaluation this past month with stellar results, the best in our squadron. This crew gave more and. I am proud of them. USS Norfolk crew members and families, I thank you for your service to our nation, and contribution to the Submarine Force." "All of us can feel a special pride in knowing that we are Norfolk's final crew and have the honor of ensuring that she is treated with the respect she deserves in her final days," said Polk. "Our experiences on this boat have been a microcosm of our lives and we should never forget the lessons we learned on these sacred deckplates. In this manner, we can honor her best by keeping her spirit alive in our thoughts, our words and our deeds. This submarine is called Norfolk, but we are Norfolk." source: US Navy |
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