USS Birmingham (SSN-695)

USS "Birmingham" (SSN-695), a "Los Angeles"-class submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Birmingham, Alabama. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 24 January 1972 and her keel was laid down on 26 April 1975. She was launched on 29 October 1977 sponsored by Mrs. Maryon Allen, and commissioned on 16 December 1978, with Commander Paul L. Callahan in command.

"Birmingham" was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 22 December 1997. Ex-"Birmingham" is scheduled to enter the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington.

In fiction

Footage taken during the commissioning trials for the USS "Birmingham" was used in the film "The Hunt for Red October". The hull number (SSN-695) is easily readable on the submarine in the film. This denotes that the footage was taken during commissioning trials as the numbers are removed before active service.

External links

* [http://www.ssn695.org/ Official Web Site of the USS "Birmingham" SSN 695]