USS Boise (SSN-764)
USS Boise (SSN-764), a Los Angeles-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Boise, Idaho. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 6 February 1987 and her keel was laid down on 25 August 1988. She was launched on 23 March 1991, and commissioned on 7 November 1992.
 USS Boise underway | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name: | USS Boise |
| Namesake: | The City of Boise, Idaho |
| Awarded: | 6 February 1987 |
| Builder: | Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company |
| Laid down: | 25 August 1988 |
| Launched: | 23 March 1991 |
| Commissioned: | 7 November 1992 |
| Homeport: | Norfolk, Virginia |
| Motto: | A One Ship Fleet |
| Status: | in active service |
| Badge: |
 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Los Angeles-class submarine |
| Displacement: | |
| Length: | 110.3 m (361 ft 11 in) |
| Beam: | 10 m (32 ft 10 in) |
| Draft: | 9.4 m (30 ft 10 in) |
| Propulsion: | S6G nuclear reactor |
| Speed: |
|
| Complement: | 13 officers, 121 Enlisted |
| Sensors and processing systems: | BQQ-5 passive sonar, BQS-15 detecting and ranging sonar, WLR-8 fire control radar receiver, WLR-9 acoustic receiver for detection of active search sonar and acoustic homing torpedoes, BRD-7 radio direction finder |
| Armament: | 4 × 21-inch (533 mm) bow tubes, 10 Mk48 ADCAP torpedo reloads, Tomahawk land attack missile block 3 SLCM range 1,700 nautical miles (3,100 km), Harpoon anti–surface ship missile range 70 nautical miles (130 km), mine laying Mk67 mobile Mk60 captor mines |
Service history
During a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) carried out in 1999, Boise was reported "sunk" by Dutch diesel-electric powered submarine HNLMS Walrus. In the same exercise Walrus reportedly also took down eight other allied vessels, including the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Mount Whitney, flagship of the United States Sixth Fleet.
In 2002 Boise was assigned to the John F. Kennedy carrier strike group when the group took part in Operation Enduring Freedom.
In March 2003, Boise delivered some of the opening shots of Operation Iraqi Freedom when she launched a full load of Tomahawk missiles in support of the initial invasion. The ship and crew were later awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for their distinguished service in action.
As of February 2017, Boise is not dive certified as it awaits scheduled maintenance at Norfolk. Due to congestion and delays in Navy shipyards, it was planned that Boise would receive maintenance at a private shipyard during Fiscal Year 2019. However, due to unforeseen setbacks and delays, it is not expected to be repaired within the 2019 fiscal year.[1]
After a four year wait Boise has been moved into dry dock at Newport News. The wait has been attributed to a ten year lapse in capabilities and logistic setbacks discovered during the retrofit and restoration work done on submarines Helena and Columbus.[2] During the wait US Naval inspectors were able to thoroughly review the work being ordered, which will allow for a more cohesive process going forward.
References
This article includes information collected from the public domain sources Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships and Naval Vessel Register.
- "VCNO Moran: Navy Will Be 'Just Flat Out Out Of Money' Without Supplemental Funding; Would Cancel Flight Hours, Ship Avails". USNI News. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- Eckstein, Megan (26 May 2020). "NAVSEA Says Attack Sub Repairs Much Improved as USS Boise Enters Yard Following 4-Year Wait". USNI News. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
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