USS Boston (SSN-703)
Encyclopedia
USS Boston (SSN-703), a Los Angeles-class submarine
, was the seventh ship of the United States Navy
to be named for Boston, Massachusetts.
The contract to build Boston was awarded to the Electric Boat
Division of General Dynamics
Corporation in Groton, Connecticut
on 10 December 1973 and her keel was laid down on 11 August 1978. She was launched
on 19 April 1980 sponsored by Mrs. Edward Hidalgo, and commissioned
on 30 January 1982, with Captain Jon M. Barr in command.
In 1998 Boston participated in a UNITAS South America
deployment.
on 19 November 1999. Ex-Boston entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington
, on 1 October 2001 and on 19 September 2002 ceased to exist. Her sail and upper rudder were preserved for display at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park
in Buffalo, New York .
, both of which are presented to one ship in the Pacific
and one ship in the Atlantic
. Her other awards included:
novel Red Storm Rising
, launching cruise missiles
against military airfields inside the Soviet Union
. While escorting her damaged sister to safety she is sunk by torpedo
es fired from an Alfa class submarine
.
Los Angeles class submarine
The Los Angeles class, sometimes called the LA class or the 688 class, is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines that forms the backbone of the United States submarine fleet. With 43 submarines on active duty and 19 retired, the Los Angeles class is the most numerous nuclear powered...
, was the seventh ship of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
to be named for Boston, Massachusetts.
The contract to build Boston was awarded to the Electric Boat
Electric boat
While a significant majority of water vessels are powered by diesel engines, with sail power and gasoline engines also remaining popular, boats powered by electricity have been used for over 120 years. Electric boats were very popular from the 1880s until the 1920s, when the internal combustion...
Division of General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
Corporation in Groton, Connecticut
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
on 10 December 1973 and her keel was laid down on 11 August 1978. She was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 19 April 1980 sponsored by Mrs. Edward Hidalgo, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 30 January 1982, with Captain Jon M. Barr in command.
In 1998 Boston participated in a UNITAS South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
deployment.
Decommissioning
Boston was decommissioned on 19 November 1999 and stricken from the Naval Vessel RegisterNaval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on 19 November 1999. Ex-Boston entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
, on 1 October 2001 and on 19 September 2002 ceased to exist. Her sail and upper rudder were preserved for display at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park
Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park
The Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, formerly known as The Buffalo Naval and Servicemen's Park, is a museum on the shore of Lake Erie in Buffalo, New York. It is home to several decommissioned US Naval vessels, including the Cleveland-class cruiser , the Fletcher-class destroyer ,...
in Buffalo, New York .
Awards
Boston was a much-decorated ship. The crew distinguished themselves on numerous occasions by meritorious service and outstanding performance. Awards included the Arleigh Burke Fleet Award and the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund AwardMarjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award
The Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award is presented annually by the U.S. Navy's Chief of Naval Operations to one ship in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and one in the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, both of which are presented to one ship in the Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and one ship in the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. Her other awards included:
- 1983: CINCLANTFLT Golden Anchor Award, Red "E" for Engineering Excellence, Meritorious Unit CommendationMeritorious Unit CommendationThe Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
- 1984: Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbon, Arleigh Burke Award Nominee for Greatest Improvements in Battle Efficiency, Meritorious Unit Commendation
- 1985: Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbon, Red "E" for Engineering Excellence, Green "C" for Communication Excellence, Silver Anchor Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation
- 1986: Green "C" for Communication Excellence, Red "E" for Engineering Excellence,
- 1987: Yellow "M" for Medical Excellence, CINCLANFLT Silver Anchor Award, CINCLANFLT Golden Anchor Award Runner-up
- 1988: CINCLANFLT Silver Anchor Award
- 1989: CINLANFLT Silver Anchor Award
- 1990: Green "C" for Communication Excellence
- 1991: Supply Blue "E" for Supply Excellence, Meritorious Unit Commendation
- 1993: White Tactical "T" for Tactical Efficiency
- 1995: Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Arleigh Burke Award for Greatest Improvements in Battle Efficiency
- 1996: Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for Most Battle-Ready Ship in Atlantic Fleet
- 1997: Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation, Red "DC" for Damage Control Excellence
- 1998: Red and Green "N" for Navigation Excellence
In fiction
Boston appears in the Tom ClancyTom Clancy
Thomas Leo "Tom" Clancy, Jr. is an American author, best known for his technically detailed espionage, military science, and techno thriller storylines set during and in the aftermath of the Cold War, along with video games on which he did not work, but which bear his name for licensing and...
novel Red Storm Rising
Red Storm Rising
Red Storm Rising is a 1986 techno-thriller novel by Tom Clancy and Larry Bond about a Third World War in Europe between NATO and Warsaw Pact forces, set around the mid-1980s...
, launching cruise missiles
BGM-109 Tomahawk
The Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. It has been improved several times and, by way of corporate divestitures...
against military airfields inside the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. While escorting her damaged sister to safety she is sunk by torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es fired from an Alfa class submarine
Alfa class submarine
The Soviet Union/Russian Navy Project 705 was a class of hunter/killer nuclear powered submarines. The class is also known by the NATO reporting name of Alfa...
.