USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (SSN-708)

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For other ships of the same name, see USS Minneapolis and USS Saint Paul.

Career

Awarded:	31 October 1973
Laid down:	20 January 1981
Launched:	19 March 1983
Commissioned:	10 March 1984
Fate:	Active in service as of 2007.
Homeport:	NS Norfolk, Virginia
General Characteristics
Displacement:	5695 tons light, 6068 tons full, 373 tons dead
Length:	110.3 meters (362 feet)
Beam:	10 meters (33 feet)
Draft:	9.7 meters (32 feet)
Propulsion:	one S6G reactor
Complement:	12 officers, 98 men

USS Minneapolis–Saint Paul (SSN-708), a Los Angeles-class submarine, was the first vessel of the United States Navy to be named for the metropolitan area of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, although each city had been honored twice before. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 31 October 1973 and her keel was laid down on 20 January 1981. She was launched on 19 March 1983 sponsored by Mrs. Penny Durenberger (wife of Senator David Durenberger), and commissioned on 10 March 1984, with Commander Ralph Schlichter in command.

While Minneapolis-St. Paul was the first vessel named for the Twin Cities as a whole, she is the third ship to be named for Minneapolis as well as the third to be named for St. Paul. The previous St. Paul, CA-73, was the last big-gun heavy cruiser in the United States Navy, and held the distinction of having fired the final shot of World War Two.

[edit] History

Seven years of history go here.

Minneapolis–Saint Paul took part in Operation Desert Shield and the Gulf War and was the first submarine to carry Tomahawk missiles specifically designated for use in strikes against Iraq during the Gulf War.

Fifteen years of history go here.

Four crew members were washed overboard by heavy waves on December 29, 2006 in Plymouth Sound, England as the ship was exiting HMNB Devonport on the surface following a port call. This resulted in the deaths of Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas Higgins (Chief of the Boat) and Sonar Technician (Submarines) 2nd Class Michael Holtz. After the preliminary investigation, Commander Edwin Ruff, the Commanding Officer, received a punitive letter of reprimand and was relieved of command.^[1]

Minneapolis-St. Paul is scheduled to decommission on 27 September 2007, upon her decommissioning, for the first time since 1934 there will be no commissioned ship in the US Navy named for any city in Minnesota.