USS Salt Lake City (SSN-716)

USS "Salt Lake City" (SSN-716), a "Los Angeles"-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Salt Lake City, Utah. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 15 September 1977 and her keel was laid down on 26 August 1980. She was launched on 16 October 1982 sponsored by Mrs. Kathleen Garn, and commissioned on 12 May 1984, with Commander Richard Itkin in command. "Salt Lake City" was featured in The History Channel's "Mail Call" when R. Lee Ermey answered viewer questions about life inside a submarine.

On 22 October 2004, "Salt Lake City" returned from a deployment with the "Stennis" carrier strike group in the western Pacific Ocean, after surging, over a month ahead of schedule, in support of Summer Pulse '04. Port calls during the deployment included Guam, Sasebo, Yokosuka, Singapore, and Oahu, Hawaii.

"Salt Lake City" earned numerous awards during her eight full deployments, including four Battle “E” Battle Efficiency Awards, three Navy Unit Commendations and two Meritorious Unit Commendations.

"Salt Lake City" conducted an inactivation ceremony in San Diego on October 26 2005, then departed for a transit under the polar ice. On 15 January 2006 she was decommissioned at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Over a year later, the hulk was taken under tow, arriving on 8 May 2007 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, where it will be recycled and scrapped.

References

* [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635156514,00.html Navy crew bids farewell to USS Salt Lake City]
* [http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=20838 USS Salt Lake City Retires from Active Duty]