USS Tucson (SSN-770)

USS "Tucson" (SSN-770), a "Los Angeles"-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Tucson, Arizona. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 10 June 1988 and her keel was laid down on 15 August 1991. She was launched on 20 March 1994 sponsored by Mrs. Diane C. Kent.

"Tucson" was supposed to be commissioned on 18 August 1995, however, Hurricane Felix threatened the Virginia coast, and the U.S. Navy decided to sortie the fleet, to prevent damage to ships in port if the hurricane made landfall. "Tucson" was the last ship to leave port, in case the prediction for landfall changed. As it turned out, the hurricane never did make landfall, but "Tucson" was at sea on 18 August. Upon returning to port, the commissioning ceremony was quickly rescheduled for 9 September 1995. At the new commissioning ceremony, the commanding officer, Commander Duane M. Baker, declared that for the next two hours, it was officially August 18th.

In June 1996, "Tucson" was struck by the USNS "Gilliland" (T-AKR-298) while moored in port at Newport News. A sudden windstorm caused the "Gilliland" to break free from its mooring and cross the harbor, colliding with "Tucson" and a destroyer parked behind her. While the destroyer suffered the most damage, "Tucson" suffered minor damage to the outboard stern plane and one of its AN/BRA-34 antennas was crushed.

From September 1996 to October 1996, "Tucson" changed its home port. "Tucson" left Norfolk, Virginia, passed through the Panama Canal and stopped in San Diego, California for 5 days. VIPs from Tucson, Arizona were allowed to ride on three separate short cruises, and then busloads of tourists from the city of Tucson came for tours of the submarine while in port. Following this port visit, "Tucson" continued on to arrive in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

"Tucson" left for its first Western Pacific deployment (maiden deployment) in February 1997. For historical context, note that prior to departure, tensions between the United Nations and Iraq had escalated drastically. In the 30 days leading up to departure, the government of Iraq had blocked access to the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) and had withdrawn cooperation with the UNSCOM monitoring teams.Cite web
url = http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/Chronology/chronologyframe.htm
title = December 1999
accessdate = 2008-03-22
year = December 1999
publisher = United Nations] The ship traveled as far west as the Persian Gulf before returning to Pearl Harbor in August 1997. It was during this period of time that the PBS series “Nova” filmed the episode “Battlegroups” aboard "Tucson".

On 19 May 2004, "Tucson" departed for a Western Pacific deployment.

List of Commanding Officers

"Tucson" in fiction

*In Tom Clancy's novel "The Bear and the Dragon", "Tucson" is charged with sinking China's only SSBN type submarine.
* In Clive Cussler's novel "Dragon", "Tucson" was the submarine used to search for Dirk Pitt after the undersea mining complex "Soggy Acres" was destroyed by aftershocks of a nuclear blast.

References

*NVR