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
Name: Minneapolis-Saint Paul
Namesake: Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota
Ordered: 31 October 1973
Laid down: 20 January 1981
Launched: 19 March 1983
Commissioned: 10 March 1984
Decommissioned: 28 August 2008
Out of service: 22 June 2007
Stricken: 28 August 2008
Homeport: Pearl Harbor, HI
Status: Stricken, to be disposed of by submarine recycling
General characteristics
Class and type: Los Angeles-class submarine
Displacement:
  • 5,695 tons light
  • 6,068 tons full
  • 373 tons dead
Length: 110.3 m (361 ft 11 in)
Beam: 10.0 m (32 ft 10 in)
Draft: 9.7 m (31 ft 10 in)
Propulsion: 1 × S6G reactor
Range: Unlimited distance; 20–25 years
Complement: 12 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 WA in July 2007 for decommissioning. Custody of Minneapolis-Saint Paul was transferred to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in August 2008. [3]

  • Rota, Spain (3 January 2007) – Minneapolis–Saint Paul (SSN 708) Commanding Officer Cmdr. Edwin J. Ruff, speaks at a memorial service for Senior Chief Electronics Technician Thomas Higgins and Sonar Technician Submarine 2nd Class Michael Holtz held at Naval Station Rota.
  • Rota, Spain (3 January 2007) – Crew members of the Los Angeles-class submarine Minneapolis–Saint Paul (SSN 708) and Sailors stationed at Naval Station Rota gather for a memorial service for Senior Chief Electronics Technician Thomas Higgins and Sonar Technician Submarine 2nd Class Michael Holtz.
  • PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (15 October 2007) – Minneapolis–Saint Paul (SSN 708) returns to Pearl Harbor for the final time.
  • Naval Station Norfolk, Va. (5 November 2004) – The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Minneapolis–Saint Paul (SSN 708) prepares to moor at Naval Station Norfolk after a completion of six-month deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
  • Norfolk, Va. (3 April 2007) – The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Minneapolis–Saint Paul (SSN 708), returns from her final six-month deployment before inactivation.
  • Norfolk, Va. (22 June 2007) – Eleven of 12 former commanding officers of the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Minneapolis–Saint Paul (SSN 708) pose with the submarine's current Commanding Officer Cmdr. Woods R. Brown II, right
  • Norfolk, Va. (3 December 2004) – Cmdr. Edwin J. Ruff, Jr. relieves Cmdr. David S. Ratte as commanding officer aboard the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Minneapolis–Saint Paul (SSN 708) in a ceremony on board Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
  • Rota, Spain (22 January 2007) – Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Justin Solarz, assigned to Naval Station Rota's Harbor Security Division, observes the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Minneapolis–Saint Paul (SSN 708) from his patrol boat as the submarine prepares to get underway.
  • St. Paul, Minn. (27 September 2005) – Machinist Mate 2nd Class Palmer, assigned to the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (SSN 708) answers questions at St. Paul's Arlington High School.

References
  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.

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