USS Augusta (SSN-710)

otherships|USS Augusta

USS "Augusta" (SSN-710), a "Los Angeles"-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Augusta, Maine. (There were three other ships named USS Augusta that were named for Augusta, Georgia). The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 31 October 1973 and her keel was laid down on 1 April 1982. She was launched on 21 January 1984 sponsored by Mrs. Diana D. Cohen, and commissioned on 19 January 1985, with Commander Thomas W. Turner in command.

The Soviet Navy claims that on 3 October 1986, "Augusta", commanded by James von Suskil, collided with the 667AU Nalim (Yankee-I) class ballistic missile submarine "K-219", commanded by Igor Britanov, off the coast of Bermuda.cite book |coauthors=Peter A. Huchthausen, Igor Kurdin, Robin A. White |title=Hostile Waters |format=Hardcover |edition=1st edition |year=1997 |month=September |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=0312169280 |pages=303] The United States Navy states that "K-219" was disabled by an internal explosion.

On 20 October 1986, shortly after "K-219" sank and "Augusta" had returned to patrol, she collided with something, and was forced to return to Groton for about US$3 million in repairs to her bow and sonar sphere. What she collided with is officially unknown. If not the K-219, it is suggested that she had been trailing a Delta-I ballistic missile submarine, and, unknown to "Augusta", being trailed in turn by a Victor class submarine. If abrupt maneuvers were made, "Augusta" could have collided with the Delta. Photographs exist of a Delta submarine with a large dent in its starboard bow, which the Soviet Navy identified as "K-279".

Beginning in July 1987, shortly after that repair work completed, "Augusta" began service as trials boat for the BQG-5D Wide Aperture Array (WAA) passive sonar system and carrying the prototype BQQ-10 ARCI sonars, which incorporate off-the-shelf computer components, allowing easy introduction of modular upgrades.

In 2003, the USS "Augusta" was one of a handful of submarines participating in Tomahawk Strikes against Iraq in the opening of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The boat successfully launched missiles against all assigned missions leaving the theater with 100% completion.

The USS "Augusta" underwent extensive maintenance during 2006 to prepare for six month deployment in 2007, which began in March and completed in September. "Augusta" is currently preparing to change its homeport to Norfolk Naval Shipyard where it will begin decommissioning.

External links

* [http://www.uss-augusta.com USS "Augusta" SSN-710 Official Alumni Association]
* [http://www.uss-augusta.blogspot.com USS Augusta SSN 710 Alumni News Blog]

References

This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register and various press releases, as well as