USS San Juan (SSN-751)

USS "San Juan" (SSN-751), a "Los Angeles"-class submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for San Juan, Puerto Rico. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 30 November 1982 and her keel was laid down on 9 August 1985. She was launched on 6 December 1986 sponsored by Mrs. Sherrill Hernandez, and commissioned on 6 August 1988, with Commander Charles Young in command.

"San Juan" was the first Los Angeles class (688-class) submarine to receive a number of significant improvements to the class's basic design, creating the 688I (for "improved 688"). "San Juan" and all following submarines in her class are quieter, incorporate an advanced AN/BSY-1 "busy one" combat control system/sonar suite, and have dedicated tubes for vertical launch of the Tomahawk cruise missile. The externally visible changes are also significant, as "San Juan" had her forward diving planes moved from the sail to the bow and made retractable. Together, the retractable bow planes, strengthening of the sail, and installation of additional depth control and support systems make it possible for "San Juan" to break through polar and near-polar ice as a part of 'normal' ship operations.

On 19 March 1998, south of Long Island, New York, "San Juan" collided with USS "Kentucky" (SSBN-737). "Kentucky" suffered damage to its rudder but no injuries occurred on either ship; the "San Juan's" forward ballast tank was breached, but the ship was able to surface and return to port.

"San Juan" fired the Mark 48 torpedo that deliberately sank the USNS "Butte" in a target exercise on 3 July 2006. "San Juan" is also a primary testing platform for new, advanced systems being developed by the Navy.

On 13 March 2007, the boat was the subject of a search & rescue mission by elements of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group when a red flare was spotted in her projected vicinity, suggesting an emergency. Communications were established by the early hours of the next day (the "San Juan" had been submerged) and no problems were indicated. [Cite web
url = http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/14/missing.submarine.ap/index.html
title = Missing Submarine
accessdate = 2008-03-01
publisher = CNNdead link|date=February 2008]

Notes

References

*NVR

External links

* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/SSN751.htm Naval Vessel Register entry for USS "San Juan"]