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USS Dallas (SSN-700)
Encyclopedia
USS Dallas (SSN-700) is a Los Angeles-class
nuclear-powered
attack submarine of the United States Navy
. It is the Navy's second ship of that name, and the first to be named for the city of Dallas, Texas
, although another two ships were scheduled but never completed.
Division of General Dynamics
Corporation in Groton, Connecticut
on 31 October 1973 and her keel was laid down on 9 October 1976. She was launched
on 28 April 1979 sponsored by Mrs. William P. Clements, Jr., and commissioned
on 18 July 1981, with Captain Donald R. Ferrier in command. Dallas was the first submarine of the SSN 688 class to be originally built with an all-digital fire control (tracking and weapon) system and sonar system.
After commissioning, Dallas was attached to Submarine Development Squadron TWELVE, New London, Connecticut
, where she was involved in many research and development projects. Since September 1988, Dallas has been a member of Submarine Squadron TWO, New London, Connecticut. During her time with Squadron TWO, she completed the first ever Depot Modernization Period and various overseas deployments.
Dallas recently completed an Engineered Refueling Overhaul
(ERO) at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
in Kittery, Maine
. As a part of the overhaul, Dallas was fitted with a removable Dry Deck Shelter
configuration. This large chamber, fitted aft of the sail, has an array of air, water and hydraulic systems that allow Dallas to employ the latest submarine arsenal: the Swimmer Delivery Vehicle
— a highly mobile and virtually undetectable means of carrying out special forces
missions.
Dallas has completed one deployment to the Indian Ocean
, four Mediterranean Sea
deployments, two Persian Gulf deployments, and seven deployments to the North Atlantic.
On 27 August 1981 Dallas damaged her lower rudder when she ran aground while approaching the Atlantic Underwater Test and Evaluation Center site at Andros Island, Bahamas. The submarine worked herself free after several hours and returned on the surface to New London, Connecticut
, for repairs.
s, two Navy Unit Commendation
s and was awarded the Battle Efficiency E for FY 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1999 and 2000. Further recognition includes nomination for the 1993 Battenberg Cup
as the best all-around ship in the fleet and the 1999 Engineering "E" and Medical "M".
novel The Hunt for Red October
and its film adaptation
.
The ship is used in a more minor role in several other Clancy books; as such, the actual ship's crew adopted the film's tagline "The Hunt Is On" as an unofficial ship's motto. For the filming in the Pacific Ocean, USS Houston
was the primary submarine used. The USS Louisville
was used in two scenes, the drydock scene at the fictional "Patuxent, Maryland
" graving dock, and the scene where Jack Ryan is attempting to board the Dallas. According to coverage of the filming in Sea Classics magazine, one USS Dallas sailor took leave, from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
in Kittery, Maine
, to fly to California to participate in the filming.
The USS Dallas also makes an appearance in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
mission "The Only Easy Day... Was Yesterday" and in the Stargate SG-1
episode "Small Victories (Part 2)".
The USS Dallas also makes an appearance in the first person shooter Video Game Duke Nukem 3D.
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...
nuclear-powered
Nuclear marine propulsion
Nuclear marine propulsion is propulsion of a ship by a nuclear reactor. Naval nuclear propulsion is propulsion that specifically refers to naval warships...
attack submarine 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...
. It is the Navy's second ship of that name, and the first to be named for the city of Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, although another two ships were scheduled but never completed.
Career
The contract to build Dallas was awarded to the Electric BoatElectric 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 31 October 1973 and her keel was laid down on 9 October 1976. 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 28 April 1979 sponsored by Mrs. William P. Clements, Jr., 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 18 July 1981, with Captain Donald R. Ferrier in command. Dallas was the first submarine of the SSN 688 class to be originally built with an all-digital fire control (tracking and weapon) system and sonar system.
After commissioning, Dallas was attached to Submarine Development Squadron TWELVE, New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, where she was involved in many research and development projects. Since September 1988, Dallas has been a member of Submarine Squadron TWO, New London, Connecticut. During her time with Squadron TWO, she completed the first ever Depot Modernization Period and various overseas deployments.
Dallas recently completed an Engineered Refueling Overhaul
Refueling and Overhaul
In the United States Navy, Refueling and Overhaul refers to a lengthy process or procedure performed on nuclear-powered Naval ships, which involves replacement of expended nuclear fuel with new fuel and a general maintenance fix-up, renovation, and often modernization of the entire ship...
(ERO) at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard , often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is used for remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships...
in Kittery, Maine
Kittery, Maine
Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,543 at the 2000 census. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals...
. As a part of the overhaul, Dallas was fitted with a removable Dry Deck Shelter
Dry Deck Shelter
A Dry Deck Shelter is a removable module that can be attached to a submarine to allow divers easy exit and entrance while the boat is submerged...
configuration. This large chamber, fitted aft of the sail, has an array of air, water and hydraulic systems that allow Dallas to employ the latest submarine arsenal: the Swimmer Delivery Vehicle
Swimmer Delivery Vehicle
Swimmer Delivery Vehicles are midget submersibles designed to transport frogmen from a combat swimmer unit or naval Special Forces underwater, over long distances. SDVs carry a pilot, co-pilot, and combat swimmer team and their equipment, to and from maritime mission objectives on land or at sea...
— a highly mobile and virtually undetectable means of carrying out special forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
missions.
Dallas has completed one deployment to the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
, four Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
deployments, two Persian Gulf deployments, and seven deployments to the North Atlantic.
On 27 August 1981 Dallas damaged her lower rudder when she ran aground while approaching the Atlantic Underwater Test and Evaluation Center site at Andros Island, Bahamas. The submarine worked herself free after several hours and returned on the surface to New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, for repairs.
Command Operations Reports
As filed by the ship's commanding officer with the U.S. Navy's Director of Naval History, these reports are available here for Dallas.Awards
Dallas received two Meritorious Unit CommendationMeritorious Unit Commendation
The 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....
s, two Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Unit Commendation
The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944...
s and was awarded the Battle Efficiency E for FY 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1999 and 2000. Further recognition includes nomination for the 1993 Battenberg Cup
Battenberg Cup
The Battenberg Cup is an award given annually as a symbol of operational excellence to the best ship or submarine in the United States Navy Atlantic Fleet. The cup was originally awarded as a trophy to the winner of cutter or longboat rowing competitions between crews of American and British naval...
as the best all-around ship in the fleet and the 1999 Engineering "E" and Medical "M".
In fiction
Dallas features prominently 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 The Hunt for Red October
The Hunt for Red October
The Hunt for Red October is a 1984 novel by Tom Clancy. The story follows the intertwined adventures of Soviet submarine captain Marko Aleksandrovich Ramius and CIA analyst Jack Ryan.The novel was originally published by the U.S...
and its film adaptation
The Hunt for Red October (film)
The Hunt for Red October is a 1990 thriller film based on the novel of the same name by Tom Clancy. It was directed by John McTiernan and stars Sean Connery as Captain Marko Ramius and Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan...
.
The ship is used in a more minor role in several other Clancy books; as such, the actual ship's crew adopted the film's tagline "The Hunt Is On" as an unofficial ship's motto. For the filming in the Pacific Ocean, USS Houston
USS Houston (SSN-713)
USS Houston , a Los Angeles-class attack submarine, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for Houston, Texas. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 1 August 1975 and her keel was laid down on 29...
was the primary submarine used. The USS Louisville
USS Louisville (SSN-724)
USS Louisville , a , was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for Louisville, Kentucky. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 11 February 1982 and her keel was laid down on 24 September 1984. ...
was used in two scenes, the drydock scene at the fictional "Patuxent, Maryland
Patuxent, Maryland
Patuxent is an unincorporated community in Charles County, Maryland, United States. Maxwell Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974....
" graving dock, and the scene where Jack Ryan is attempting to board the Dallas. According to coverage of the filming in Sea Classics magazine, one USS Dallas sailor took leave, from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard , often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is used for remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships...
in Kittery, Maine
Kittery, Maine
Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,543 at the 2000 census. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals...
, to fly to California to participate in the filming.
The USS Dallas also makes an appearance in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game consoles and the Microsoft Windows operating system. Officially announced on February 11, 2009, the game was released worldwide on...
mission "The Only Easy Day... Was Yesterday" and in the Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
episode "Small Victories (Part 2)".
The USS Dallas also makes an appearance in the first person shooter Video Game Duke Nukem 3D.