USS Olympia (SSN-717)
History
United States
NameUSS Olympia
NamesakeCity of Olympia
Awarded15 September 1977
BuilderNewport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia, U.S.
Laid down31 March 1981
Launched30 April 1983
Commissioned17 November 1984
Decommissioned5 February 2021
Out of service6 August 2020
HomeportPearl Harbor
Motto
  • Este Paratus
  • ("We Are Ready")
StatusInactive
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeLos Angeles-class submarine
Displacement
  • 5,763 long tons (5,855 t) surfaced
  • 6,130 long tons (6,228 t) submerged
  • 6,136,730 long tons (6,235,206 t) dead
Length362 ft (110.3 m)
Beam33 ft (10 m)
Draft32 ft (9.8 m)
PropulsionS6G reactor
Complement12 officers, 98 men
Armament4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes

USS Olympia (SSN-717) is a Los Angeles-class submarine of the United States Navy. She is the 30th Los Angeles class nuclear powered fast attack submarine.[1]

Etymology

Olympia is the second ship of the U.S. Navy to be named for Olympia, Washington.[2]

History

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.[3]

Olympia was assigned to Submarine Squadron 7 (SUBRON SEVEN) and was homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

In 1998, Olympia became the first Pacific-based submarine to pass through the Suez Canal in over 35 years.[4]

O'Kane cribbage board

When USS Bremerton (SSN-698) became inactive in August 2018, Olympia became the oldest commissioned attack submarine in active service in the Pacific Fleet. Keeping with a tradition that dates back to World War II, Richard O'Kane's cribbage board was transferred from Bremerton to Olympia's wardroom.[5] When Olympia transferred to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for decommissioning on 29 October 2019, the board was then transferred to the wardroom of USS Chicago (SSN-721), which was then the oldest active fast attack submarine in the Pacific Fleet.[6] USS Providence (SSN-719) is the oldest fast attack submarine in active service, but currently assigned to the Atlantic Fleet.

Inactivation and decommissioning

Olympia arrived in Bremerton, Washington on October 31, 2019, for inactivation and decommissioning.[7] She was officially placed in reserve status, inactivated but in commission on August 6, 2020 and decommissioned on February 5, 2021.[1] Like all other recent U.S. submarines, the vessel will be recycled via the Navy's Ship-Submarine Recycling Program.

Awards

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References

  1. ^ a b "About USS OLYMPIA (SSN 717)". Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  2. ^ "USS Olympia Completes Around-the-World Deployment". Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  3. ^ "USS Olympia Arrives in Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton for Namesake Visit". Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  4. ^ "USS Olympia (SSN-717) Nuclear-Powered Submarine". Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  5. ^ "O'Kane Cribbage board passed to USS Olympia (SSN-715)". Bremerton-Olympic Peninsula Council Navy League of the US. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  6. ^ "The O'Kane Cribbage Board Is Passed Down". Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  7. ^ "USS Olympia arrives in Bremerton for decommissioning". Kitsap Daily News. 30 October 2019.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Olympia (SSN-717).
Los Angeles-class submarines
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