USS San Francisco Undocks Early

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS San Francisco (SSN 711) successfully undocked 20 days ahead of schedule at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Det. San Diego, Nov. 1, saving the Navy more than $1 million and settting the stage for an on-time or early delivery of the submarine to the fleet.

The Los Angeles-class, submarine pulled into floating dry dock Arco (ARDM 5) June 30, for an extensive Pre-Inactivation Restricted Availability (PIRA), the largest work period ever conducted by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard at its San Diego detachment.

"It was imperative that we get the boat back in the water and the crew focusing on what it is supposed to do tactically," said Assistant Project Superintendent Ricky Davis. "With this national security asset back in the water, we can drive towards completion of the availability and San Francisco can focus on final preparations for fleet tasking."

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command, provides the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet with quality overhaul work in a safe, timely and affordable manner. This includes a full spectrum of in-house support - from engineering services and production shops, to unique capabilities and facilities, to off-site support - all of which serves the multifaceted assortment of Fleet requirements.

USS San Francisco Returns to Fleet

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Michael Story, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS San Francisco (SSN 711) sailed into San Diego harbor April 17, where it arrived at its new homeport at Naval Submarine Base Point Loma.

This journey comes after a three-year restoration period at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS and IMF) in Washington state.

The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine collided with an uncharted undersea mountain Jan. 8, 2005, and was placed in the dry dock facility for repairs after a 5,600-nautical mile open ocean transit from Apra Harbor, Guam to PSNS and IMF.

After leaving the dry dock facility April 7, the submarine successfully completed sea trials and began her transit toward San Diego.

"Sea trials went well and the San Francisco is in great material condition. We put her through a rigorous, comprehensive set of tests and she performed superbly," said San Francisco Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Nathan Martin.

The change of station to San Diego is a result of the Navy's plan to maintain 60 percent of the submarine force in the U.S. Pacific Fleet, as outlined in the 2006 Quadrennial Review.

"It's been a lot of hard work up in Washington, but I'm really glad that we're down here [in San Diego]," said Lt. Paul Carnan, San Francisco's quality assurance and electrical assistant officer. "A lot of other guys on the boat put a lot of effort forward and I think it shows. We had successful sea trials and we're all really glad to be down here and to be operational now."

"The crew had done an outstanding job of preparing themselves, their families, and the ship for San Francisco's return to service and change of homeport," Martin said. "They worked very hard to make this process and the ship successful. Their dedication and determination have been awe-inspiring. I couldn't be more optimistic about the future of San Francisco and her exceptional crew."

This submarine is the third U.S. Navy ship to carry the name San Francisco.

Commissioned April 24, 1981, San Francisco is crewed by approximately 12 officers and 115 enlisted personnel.

USS San Francisco Departs Puget Sound Naval Shipyard

USS San Francisco (SSN 711) departed Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) April 7, after more than three years of maintenance work to her bow, forward ballast tanks and associated mechanical and weapon systems.

The challenging maintenance involved PSNS and IMF cutting more than one million pounds from the now decommissioned USS Honolulu (SSN 718) forward ballast tanks and sonar sphere. The bow restoration also involved many piping systems, mechanical linkages, combat systems components used for torpedo systems and sonar sounding equipment that facilitates control and operation of the submarine.

"We continued to press forward through tough circumstances and overcame varied obstacles," said Cmdr. John Lund, superintendent of the San Francisco repair team. "That says a lot about the team effort involved in this challenging project."

San Francisco arrived at PSNS in September 2005 following a 5,600-mile open ocean surface transit from Guam.

On Jan. 8, 2005, the submarine collided with an undersea mountain approximately 350 miles south of Guam. A Sailor was killed and several others sustained various injuries during the accident.

The submarine is headed to her new homeport of San Diego.