USS Minneapolis–Saint Paul (SSN-708)

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.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
For ships with similar names, see USS Minneapolis and USS Saint Paul.

USS Minneapolis–Saint Paul (SSN-708)
History
United States
NameMinneapolis-Saint Paul
NamesakeMinneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota
Ordered31 October 1973
Laid down20 January 1981
Launched19 March 1983
Commissioned10 March 1984
Decommissioned28 August 2008
Out of service22 June 2007
Stricken28 August 2008
HomeportPearl Harbor, HI
StatusStricken, to be disposed of by submarine recycling.
General characteristics
Class and typeLos Angeles-class submarine
Displacement
  • 5,695 tons light
  • 6,068 tons full
  • 373 tons dead
Length110.3 m (361 ft 11 in)
Beam10.0 m (32 ft 10 in)
Draft9.7 m (31 ft 10 in)
Propulsion1 × S6G reactor
RangeUnlimited distance; 20–25 years
Complement12 officers, 98 enlisted

While Minneapolis–Saint 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 Saint Paul. The previous Saint Paul, was the last big-gun heavy cruiser in the United States Navy, and held the distinction of having fired World War II's final (naval) shots.

History

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.

Four crew members were washed overboard by heavy waves on 29 December 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][2]

Minneapolis–Saint Paul conducted inter-fleet transfer from Norfolk, Virginia, to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, in July 2007 for decommissioning. Custody of Minneapolis-Saint Paul was transferred to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in August 2008.[3] In 2022, the submarine's sail and rudder were shipped to Minnesota and are undergoing restoration at the Minnesota Military Museum for display at their new facility in 2025.[4]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (SSN-708).
  1. "Friday, January 19 - CNN.com". edition.cnn.com. CNN. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  2. Wilcock, David (21 June 2011). "Nuclear submarine incident 'close to catastrophe'". The Independent. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  3. "Minneapolis-Saint Paul". Naval Vessel Register. 21 January 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  4. "Plans Released for a new Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum". knsiradio.com. KNSI. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
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