USS Olympia (SSN-717)

USS "Olympia" (SSN-717), a "Los Angeles"-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Olympia, Washington. 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 31 March 1981. She was launched on 30 April 1983 sponsored by Mrs. Dorothy Williams, and commissioned on 17 November 1984, with Captain William Hughes in command. In 1998, the USS Olympia became the first Pacific-based submarine to pass through the Suez Canal in over 35 years. The USS Olympia is also the first submarine in the US Navy to have a fast leak casualty, the first ship in the Pacific Fleet to finish pre-shipyard availability ahead of schedual, and the first ship to "cross the line" during an extended shipyard availability at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The latter two events under the command of Cmdr. J.E. Horton.

External links

* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/SSN717.htm Naval Vessel Register entry for USS "Olympia"]

References

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