USS Jacksonville

{{Short description|Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy}} {{Use American English|date=July 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=US Navy 090306-N-9588L-126 The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Jacksonville (SSN 699) heads out into the Elizabeth River for her final voyage from Naval Station Norfolk.jpg |image_caption=USS ''Jacksonville'' in 2009 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=United States |flag={{USN flag|2008}} |name=USS ''Jacksonville'' |namesake= City of Jacksonville, Florida |ordered=24 January 1972 |builder=General Dynamics Electric Boat |laid_down=21 February 1976 |launched=18 November 1978 |acquired= |commissioned=16 May 1981 |decommissioned=16 November 2021<ref name="dvids1" /> |in_service= |out_of_service=1 May 2018 |struck= |reinstated= |status=Decommissioned<ref name="dvids1" /> |badge= 150px }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class={{sclass|Los Angeles|submarine}} |displacement=5,720 tons light, 6,149 tons full, 429 tons dead |length={{convert|110.3|m|abbr=on}} |beam={{convert|10|m|abbr=on}} |draft={{convert|9.7|m|abbr=on}} |propulsion=One S6G reactor |speed= |range= |endurance= |test_depth= |complement=12 officers, 98 men |sensors= |EW= |armament= }} }}

'''USS ''Jacksonville'' (SSN-699)''', a nuclear powered {{sclass|Los Angeles|submarine|0}} attack submarine, is the only vessel of the United States Navy to be named for Jacksonville, Florida.

''Jacksonville'' was overhauled and modernized in 1988 and over the career span was involved in four collisions between 1982 and 2013. After completing a final deployment in 2017, ending 36 years of active service, the submarine was decommissioned in 2021.

==History== The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 24 January 1972 and her keel was laid down on 21 February 1976. She was launched on 18 November 1978 using the pontoon system designed for the launching of the {{sclass|Ohio|submarine|0}} Trident submarines. ''Jacksonville'' was sponsored by Mrs. Dorothy Jean Bennett, wife of Congressman Charles E. Bennett, and commissioned on 16 May 1981.

''Jacksonville''{{'}}s operations have included a variety of fleet exercises and deployments including two around-the-world cruises in 1982 and 1985, deployments to the western Atlantic Ocean in 1983, 1986, 1993 and 1994, and deployments to the Mediterranean Sea in 1987, 1993, 1997, 1999/2000, and 2001. She was deployed in 2001 during the events of 9/11 and stayed on station until relieved. In 1988, ''Jacksonville'' participated in a shock trials test program for ''Los Angeles''-class submarines, which was followed by a three-year major modernization overhaul in Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

''Jacksonville'' has been involved in four collisions with other vessels during her over 30 years of operation:

*While outbound with the inbound Turkish merchant vessel ''General Z. Dogan'' in the vicinity of Norfolk, Virginia on 22 March 1982.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/j/ssn-699/1982.pdf |title=Command history of USS JACKSONVILLE (SSN 699) |access-date=17 January 2013 |archive-date=24 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124132547/http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/j/ssn-699/1982.pdf |url-status=dead |last=Commanding Officer, USS JACKSONVILLE (SSN 699)}}</ref> *With a barge positioned across Chesapeake Bay's Thimble Shoal Channel, requiring the replacement of the submarine's sonar dome, on 21 September 1984.<ref>[http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/j/ssn-699/1983-84.pdf navy.mil]{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> *With the container ship ''Saudi Makkah'' near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, requiring repairs to the submarine's fairwater planes and rudder, on 17 May 1996.<ref>[http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/j/ssn-699/1996.pdf navy.mil]{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailypress.com/1996/05/18/sub-ship-collide-in-fog-off-coast/|title=Sub, Ship Collide In Fog Off Coast|work=tribunedigital-dailypress|date=18 May 1996 |access-date=17 January 2013|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402192129/http://articles.dailypress.com/1996-05-18/news/9605180038_1_coast-guard-saudi-arabia-saudi-makkah|url-status=live}}</ref> *With an unnamed fishing vessel while on regular patrol in the Persian Gulf on 10 January 2013. Her main periscope was sheared off in the collision.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hawaii-Based US Navy Sub Damaged in Persian Gulf |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/20558294/hawaii-based-us-navy-sub-damaged-in-persian-gulf/ |newspaper=Hawaii News Now |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115202409/https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/20558294/hawaii-based-us-navy-sub-damaged-in-persian-gulf/ |archive-date=15 January 2022 |location=Honolulu |date=10 January 2013 |access-date=15 January 2022 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The ship's commanding and executive officers were relieved for cause following the incident.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=72009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182528/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=72009 | archive-date=23 September 2015 | url-status=dead | title=USS Jacksonville Commanding Officer and Executive Officer Relieved of Duty | publisher=US Navy | work=Navy News Service | date=10 February 2013 | access-date=10 January 2016 | author=Commander Task Force 54 Public Affairs }}</ref>

In late 2009, ''Jacksonville''{{'}}s homeport was moved from Norfolk to Pearl Harbor.<ref>[http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/usw/fall_2009/submarine.html Submarine Excitement Heads West] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100948/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/usw/fall_2009/submarine.html |date=2 April 2015 }}. US Navy. Undersea Warfare Fall 2009 Issue No. 41.</ref>

On 20 December 2004 a small fire broke out aboard ''Jacksonville'' while she was undergoing a refueling overhaul at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The fire was immediately extinguished and the reactor was never in danger, though a shipyard firefighter and a sailor were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

In August 2017, ''Jacksonville'' completed her final deployment, ending 36 years of Submarine Service. On 11 December 2017, she arrived in Bremerton, Washington, to commence a months-long preparation for inactivation and decommissioning.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=103729|title=USS Jacksonville (SSN 699) Arrives in Bremerton for Decommissioning|publisher=United States Navy|id=NNS171212-02|date=12 December 2017|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-date=12 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212200736/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=103729|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 26 June 2019, ''Jacksonville'' held an inactivation ceremony at the U.S. Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, Washington. Former Commanding Officer Michael Brown and former Chief of the Boat (also former Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy) Terry Scott were among the speakers.<ref>thumb|USS Jacksonville Inactivation ceremony handout</ref>

On 16 November 2021, ''Jacksonville'' was decommissioned in a ceremony at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.<ref name="dvids1">{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/409640/uss-jacksonville-ssn-699-decommissioned|title=USS Jacksonville (SSN-699) Decommissioned|publisher=dvidshub.net|date=16 November 2021|access-date=23 November 2021}}</ref>

==Specifications== ''Jacksonville'' is {{convert|360|feet}} long with a beam of {{convert|33|feet}} and a draft of {{convert|32|ft|15|in}}. The submarine is equipped with an S6G reactor that allows 15 knots surfaced and 32 plus knots submerged. The submarine can operate with an approximate {{convert|800|feet}} depth range, {{convert|1200|feet}} safe depth, and {{convert|1800|feet}} crush depth.

''Jacksonville'' has a crew of 12 officers and 121 enlisted personnel. The armament is four 533mm TT MK 67, located amidship for Tomahawk missiles, MK 48 (and MK 48 ADCAP) torpedoes with 22 reloads plus 2 additional for emergencies. The submarine was decommissioned in 2021.

== References == This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register as well as various press releases and news stories. *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050323161711/http://www.sublant.navy.mil/factsheets/jacksonville.pdf Sublant Fact sheet on the U.S.S. Jacksonville.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jacksonville (SSN-699)}} Category:Ships built in Groton, Connecticut Category:Los Angeles-class submarines Category:Cold War submarines of the United States Category:Nuclear submarines of the United States Navy Category:Military in Jacksonville, Florida Category:1978 ships Category:Submarines of the United States