USS Baton Rouge: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy}} |
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{| border=1 align="right" cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 width=300 style="margin: 0 0 1em 0.5em" |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} |
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|style="text-align: center" colspan="2"|[[image:USS_Baton_Rouge_(SSN-689).jpg|300px|USS Baton Rouge - Navy photo]] |
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|- |
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{|{{Infobox ship begin}} |
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!style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy;"| Career |
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{{Infobox ship image |
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!style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy;"| [[Image:USN-Jack.png|48px|USN Jack]] |
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|Ship image=[[File:USS BR2.jpg|300px|USS Baton Rouge - Navy photo]] |
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|- |
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|Ship caption= |
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|Awarded: |
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}} |
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|[[8 January]] [[1971]] |
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{{Infobox ship career |
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|- |
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|Hide header= |
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|Laid down: |
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|Ship country=United States |
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|[[18 November]] [[1972]] |
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|Ship flag={{USN flag|1995}} |
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|- |
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|Ship name=USS ''Baton Rouge'' |
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|Launched: |
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|Ship namesake=[[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]] |
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|[[26 April]] [[1975]] |
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|Ship awarded= 8 January 1971 |
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|- |
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|Ship builder=[[Newport News Shipbuilding]] |
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|Commissioned: |
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|Ship original cost= |
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|[[25 June]] [[1977]] |
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|Ship laid down= 18 November 1972 |
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|- |
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|Ship launched=26 April 1975 |
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|Fate: |
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|Ship sponsor=Mrs. F. Edward Hebert |
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|submarine recycling |
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|Ship christened= |
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|- |
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|Ship completed= |
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|Stricken: |
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|Ship acquired= |
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|[[13 January]] [[1995]] |
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|Ship commissioned= 25 June 1977 |
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|- |
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|Ship recommissioned= |
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!colspan=2 style="color: white; background: navy;"| General Characteristics |
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|Ship decommissioned= 13 January 1995 |
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|- |
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|Ship in service= |
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|Displacement: |
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|Ship out of service= |
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|5780 tons light, 6143 tons full, 363 tons dead |
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|Ship renamed= |
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|- |
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|Ship reclassified= |
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|Length: |
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|Ship refit= |
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|110.3 meters (362 feet) |
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|Ship struck=13 January 1995 |
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|- |
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|Ship reinstated= |
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|Beam: |
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|Ship homeport= |
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|10 meters (33 feet) |
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|Ship motto= |
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|- |
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|Ship nickname= |
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|Draft: |
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|Ship honors= |
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|9.7 meters (32 feet) |
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|Ship captured= |
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|- |
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|Ship fate= Submarine recycling |
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|Propulsion: |
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|Ship notes= |
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|one [[S6G reactor]] |
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|Ship badge=[[File:USS Baton Rouge SSN-689.png|150px]] |
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|- |
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}} |
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|Speed: |
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{{Infobox ship characteristics |
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|15 knots surfaced, 32 knots submerged |
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|Hide header= |
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|- |
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|Header caption= |
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|Complement: |
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|Ship class={{sclass|Los Angeles|submarine}} |
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|12 officers, 98 men |
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|Ship displacement=*5,723 tons (surfaced) |
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|- |
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*6,927 tons (submerged)<ref name=HN.mil/> |
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|Armament: |
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|Ship length= {{convert|110.3|m|ftin|-1|abbr=on}} |
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|four 21-inch torpedo tubes |
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|Ship beam= {{convert|10|m|ftin|-1|abbr=on}} |
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|Ship height= |
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|Ship draft= {{convert|9.4|m|ftin|-1|abbr=on}} |
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|Ship depth= |
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|Ship decks= |
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|Ship power= |
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|Ship propulsion=[[S6G reactor|S6G nuclear reactor]], 2 turbines, 35,000 hp (26 MW), 1 auxiliary motor 325 hp (242 kW), 1 shaft |
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|Ship speed=*{{convert|15|kn|km/h}} surfaced |
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*{{convert|33|kn|km/h}} submerged 35 knots |
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|Ship range= |
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|Ship endurance= |
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|Ship test depth={{convert|290|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}} |
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|Ship complement=12 officers; 98 enlisted |
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|Ship time to activate= |
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|Ship sensors= |
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|Ship EW= |
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|Ship armament=*4 × 21 in (533 mm) bow tubes |
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*[[Mark 48 torpedo]] |
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*[[Harpoon (missile)|Harpoon missiles]] |
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*[[Tomahawk (missile)|Tomahawk cruise missile]] |
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|Ship armor= |
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|Ship notes= |
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}} |
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|} |
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'''USS ''Baton Rouge'' (SSN-689)''', a [[Los Angeles class submarine|''Los Angeles''-class]] [[submarine]], was the only ship of the [[United States Navy]] to be named for [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]]. The contract to build her was awarded to [[Newport News Shipbuilding]] and Dry Dock Company in [[Newport News, Virginia]] on [[8 January]] [[1971]] and her keel was laid down on [[18 November]] [[1972]]. She was [[ship naming and launching|launched]] on [[26 April]] [[1975]] sponsored by the wife of [[Felix Edward Hébert]], and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on [[25 June]] [[1977]] with Commander Thomas Maloney in command. |
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'''USS ''Baton Rouge'' (SSN-689)''' was a {{sclass|Los Angeles|submarine|0}} [[nuclear submarine|nuclear-powered attack submarine]] which served with the [[United States Navy]]. With her keel laid down on 18 November 1972, ''Baton Rouge'' was [[ship naming and launching|launched]] on 26 April 1975. She became the second ''Los Angeles''-class submarine to be [[ship commissioning|commissioned]], on 25 June 1977. In 1995, she was the first of her class to be decommissioned, after a collision with a Russian {{sclass2|Sierra|submarine|1}}. |
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On [[11 February]] [[1992]], at 2016 local time, while on patrol off [[Kildin Island]] near [[Severomorsk]], ''Baton Rouge'' collided with the [[Sierra class submarine|Sierra-class]] attack submarine [[Soviet submarine K-239|''K-239'']]. The [[United States Navy]] stated that the collision occurred more than 12 miles from the shore, in international waters. However, the [[Soviet Union]] (and now [[Russia]]) uses a different set of rules for defining the boundary between territorial and international waters, and their rules put the collision site inside their territorial waters. Both submarines were able to return to their respective bases under their own power. |
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''Baton Rouge'' was the first and currently only ship of the [[United States Navy]] to be named for [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]]. |
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==Design== |
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{{Image frame|width=180|align=right|content=[[File:Mk 48 torpedo maintenance 1982.JPEG|180px]]<br />[[File:Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile -crop.jpg|180px]]<br />[[File:Harpoon launched by submarine.jpg|180px]]|caption=The three main weapons of ''Los Angeles''-class submarines, and thus ''Baton Rouge'', are the [[Mark 48 torpedo]] ''(top)'', the [[Tomahawk (missile)|Tomahawk]] [[cruise missile]] ''(middle)'', and the [[Harpoon (missile)|Harpoon]] [[anti-ship missile]] ''(bottom)''.}} |
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''Baton Rouge'' was a nuclear attack submarine and, as such, was optimized for [[anti-submarine warfare]] (ASW) and [[Military strike|strike operations]].<ref name=NT.com>{{Cite web|title=USS Helena (SSN-725)|url=http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/la/|publisher=Naval Technology|access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> To this end, she carried a complement of 26 weapons, including the [[Mark 48 torpedo|Mark 48 ADCAP]] torpedoes – the main weapon of U.S. Navy submarines, [[Harpoon (missile)|Harpoon]] [[anti-ship missile]]s and subsonic [[Tomahawk (missile)|Tomahawk]] [[cruise missile]]s. The latter has a range of either 280 or 1,600 miles (450 or 2,500 km), depending on whether it is [[Anti-ship missile|anti-ship]] or strike variant, and is nuclear-compatible, although this capability is normally not deployed on ''Los Angeles''-class submarines.<ref name=NT.com/> Since the boat did not incorporate the [[vertical launching system]] found on later ''Los Angeles''-class submarines, the Harpoons and Tomahawks were torpedo tube-launched. ''Baton Rouge'' can also lay Mobile Mark 67 and [[Mark 60 CAPTOR]] [[Naval mine|mines]].<ref name=NT.com/> |
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The boat's propulsion system comprised a S6G pressurized-water reactor based on the [[D2G reactor]] of the {{sclass|Bainbridge|cruiser|5}} and {{sclass|Truxtun|cruiser|4}}es of [[cruiser]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.military-today.com/navy/los_angeles_class.htm|title=Los Angeles class|publisher=Military-today.com|access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> Heat produced from the S6G reactor converted water into steam, powering two turbines, and thus the [[propeller shaft]] (see ''[[Nuclear marine propulsion]]''). Although the U.S. Navy discloses the boat's submerged speed to be "25+ knots (28+ miles per hour; 46.3+ km/h),"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_print.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4&page=1|title=U.S. Navy Fact Sheet: Attack Submarines – SSN|work=US Navy|access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> non-military sources have claimed that ''Los Angeles''-class submarines' top speed to be in excess of {{Convert|33|kn|mph km/h}}.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Mike|last=Mount|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/01/10/nuclear.submarine.update/|title=Officials: U.S. submarine hit undersea mountain|publisher=CNN|date=22 January 2005|access-date=5 January 2012|quote=The U.S. Navy submarine accident that killed one sailor and injured 24 others occurred when the vessel – traveling at high speed – hit an undersea mountain head-on... The commander of the {{USS|San Francisco|SSN-711|6}}, Kevin Mooney, has not been relieved of duty... The submarine was traveling in excess of 33 knots – about 35 mph – when its nose hit the undersea formation head-on, officials said.}}</ref> The nuclear reactor fuel load had a lifespan of ten years.<ref name=NT.com/> |
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A crucial component in ''Baton Rouge''{{'}}s ability to perform her mission were the comprehensive defensive, navigational and sonar systems. Among her several sonar sets were the TB-23/29 thin line [[Sonar#Passive sonar|passive]] [[towed array sonar]], the Ametek BQS 15 close range high frequency [[Sonar#Active sonar|active sonar]] and the Raytheon SADS-TG active detection sonar. These systems collaborated to give ''Baton Rouge'' good [[situational awareness]].<ref name=NT.com/> The boat's electronic support measures included a direction finding system, interceptor and a radar warner.<ref name=NT.com/> |
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==Construction and commissioning== |
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The contract to build ''Baton Rouge'' was awarded to [[Newport News Shipbuilding]] of [[Newport News, Virginia]], on 8 January 1971, and her keel was laid down on 18 November 1972.<ref>{{Cite web|url={{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=ssn689}}|title=Baton Rouge (SSN-689)|work=[[Naval Vessel Register]]|date=1 March 1999|access-date=4 January 2012}}</ref> Launched on 26 April 1975 in the presence of [[Ship sponsor|sponsor]] Mrs. Felix Edward Hebert, wife of the United States representative from the first district and the former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, ''Baton Rouge'' was commissioned on 25 June 1977.<ref name=HN.mil>{{Cite web|last1=Mann|first1=Raymond A.|last2=Cressman|first2=Robert J.|title=Baton Rouge|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b3/baton-rouge-i.htm|work=US Navy|date=28 February 2006|access-date=4 January 2012|archive-date=7 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107175345/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b3/baton-rouge-i.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Commissioning of the Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine USS ''Baton Rouge''|work=US Navy|url=http://navsource.org/archives/08/pdf/0868900.pdf|access-date=6 January 2012}}</ref> |
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Based at [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]] and assigned to [[Submarine Squadron 8]], ''Baton Rouge''{{'}}s immediate history following the commissioning was characterized by [[shakedown cruise|shakedown training]] in [[New London, Connecticut]], among other tests. During 5–29 July, she performed drills off the [[New England]] coast, returning to Norfolk for a month-long post-[[shakedown cruise|shakedown]] [[Maintenance, repair, and operations|upkeep]].<ref name=HN.mil/> From September 1977 to August 1978, she participated in numerous other tests, such as acoustic trials in [[Exuma Sound]], The Bahamas, and weapons tests off [[Port Everglades]], Florida. During this time, she returned periodically to Norfolk, and docked alongside {{USS|L. Y. Spear|AS-36|6}}, for upkeep, the longest of which spanned from February to August.<ref name=HN.mil/> |
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==Operational history== |
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In preparations for her first overseas assignment, ''Baton Rouge'' was deployed to New London in September for training before returning to Norfolk for last-minute checks prior to the deployment.<ref name=HN.mil/> She left port on 19 October 1978, and raised her first port of call in [[La Maddalena]], [[Sardinia]], on 1 November. ''Baton Rouge'' also visited [[La Spezia]] and took part in a variety of ASW exercises through the winter of 1978 and 1979.<ref name=HN.mil/> |
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[[File:USS BR3.jpg|left|thumb|USS ''Baton Rouge'' underway near La Maddalena, Italy on 8 November 1984.|200px]] |
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The submarine returned to Norfolk from her first overseas assignment in March 1979. After post-deployment stand-down, ''Baton Rouge'' resumed normal operations later that year. These included participation in two major ASW exercises and visits to such widely separated places as [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]], and [[Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax]], [[Nova Scotia]].<ref name=HN.mil/> In July, she was assigned to [[Submarine Squadron 8]] but continued to use Norfolk as her base of operations. During September–October, ''Baton Rouge'' participated in a major NATO exercise – Operation Ocean Safari – which took her across the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] once more and included a call at [[Rotterdam]], the [[Netherlands]]. She returned to Norfolk from that mission during the latter part of October and spent the remainder of 1979 in a restricted availability.<ref name=HN.mil/> |
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In 1980, she was deployed to the [[Indian Ocean]] and circumnavigated the earth, passing through the [[International Date Line]] and the [[Panama Canal]]. For the deployment, she was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation when she arrived in Norfolk.<ref name=NS.de>{{Cite web|title=USS Baton Rouge (SSN 689)|url=http://navysite.de/ssn/ssn689.htm|publisher=Navysite.de|access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> As was the case in the Indian Pacific in 1980, in 1981 ''Baton Rouge'' again came under the command of [[United States Fleet Forces Command|Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet]] (CINCLANTFLT), after which she received the Meritorious Unit Commendation.<ref name=NS.de/> For the third time, ''Baton Rouge'' came under the command of CINCPACFLT when she made her second deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.<ref name=NS.de/> |
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In the mid-1980s, the boat underwent an eighteen-month overhaul at the [[Norfolk Naval Shipyard]]. The overhaul, which ended in spring 1986, saw the addition to ''Baton Rouge'' the AN/BQQ-5C [[sonar]] system, the CCS Mk-1 digital [[fire-control system]], and the ESGN [[navigation system]].<ref name=NS.de/> She made her third deployment to the Mediterranean in November 1986, and her fourth in January 1990.<ref name=NS.de/> Between these two assignment, ''Baton Rouge'' conducted a deployment to the North Atlantic, and was awarded her second Meritorious Unit Commendation.<ref name=NS.de/> |
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<!-- |
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{{Location map+|World|width=900|float=center|caption=Locations of importance for the USS ''Baton Rouge'' |
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|places= |
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{{Location map~|World|lat=36.5|long=-76.2|background=|label=<small>[[Norfolk Naval Shipyard]] and [[Naval Station Norfolk]]</small>|position=top}} |
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{{Location map~|World|lat=47.5585|long=-122.6442|background=|label=<small>[[Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility|Puget Sound Naval Shipyard]]</small>|position=top}} |
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{{Location map~|World|lat=69.1910|long=34.2055|background=|label=<small>[[Kildin Island]]</small>|position=top}} |
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{{Location map~|World|lat=44.06|long=09.49|background=|label=<small>[[La Spezia]]</small>|position=top}} |
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}} |
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{{Location map~|World|lat=26.0860|long=-80.1152|background=|label=<small>[[Port Everglades]]</small>|position=top}} |
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{{Location map~|World|lat=36.4855|long=-76.1750|background=|label=<small>[[Norfolk Naval Shipyard]]</small>|position=top}} |
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{{Location map~|World|lat=36.567|long=-76.188|background=|label=<br /><small>[[Naval Station Norfolk]]</small>|position=top}}--> |
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===Collision with the ''Kostroma''=== |
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[[File:USS BR1.jpg|right|thumb|USS ''Baton Rouge'' prior to deactivation in 1995|200px]] |
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{{See also|Submarine incident off Kildin Island}} |
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At 20:16 local time on 11 February 1992, while on patrol off [[Kildin Island]] near [[Severomorsk]], ''Baton Rouge'' collided with the Russian {{sclass2|Sierra|submarine|0}} attack submarine [[Russian submarine B-276 Kostroma|K-276 ''Kostroma'']].<ref name=Collision/> The United States Navy stated that the collision occurred more than 12 miles (22 km) from the shore, in [[international waters]].<ref name=Collision>{{Cite journal|last=Miasnikov|first=Eugene|title=Submarine Collision off Murmansk: A Look from Afar|journal=Center for Arms Control, Energy and Environmental Studies|publisher=The Submarine Review|date=April 1993|pages=6–14}}</ref> Initially the U.S. Navy denied any damage suffered by ''Baton Rouge'', but it was later disclosed that the boat suffered two cuts, as well as dents and scrapes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/28/world/pentagon-describes-damage-to-sub-after-arctic-collision.html|title=Pentagon Describes Damage To Sub After Arctic Collision|work=The New York Times|date=28 February 1992|access-date=6 January 2011|quote=Navy divers had discovered two cuts, as well as dents and scrapes, in the hull of [the] submarine that collided with a Commonwealth of Independent States submarine on 11 Feb.... The Pentagon previously said the Baton Rouge...had not been damaged in the collision...}}</ref> ''Kostroma'' was fully repaired by 29 June 1992 and continues in service to this day,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://warfare.be/?linkid=1760&catid=306#prof|author=Yanko, Eugene|title=945 Sierra Class|publisher=Warfare.ru|year=2009}}</ref> while ''Baton Rouge'' was removed from service soon afterward. "Baton Rouge" was repaired to be 100% operational after the accident. The Navy was looking to make cuts in all classes of vessels at the time. ''Baton Rouge'' was just unlucky enough to be decommissioned for this reason. This is recorded in Russian navy lore as a victory and the ''Kostroma'' crew painted the number "1" bordered by a star on the sail, as did Soviet submarines during World War II to indicate the number of their victories. |
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==Decommissioning== |
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Less than two years later, on 1 November 1993, ''Baton Rouge'' was placed in commission in reserve. On 13 January 1995, she became the first ''Los Angeles''-class submarine to be decommissioned and stricken from the [[Naval Vessel Register]], after less than 18 years in commission. As part of post-Cold War restructuring, the U.S. Navy decided to decommission 14 of the first 31 ships in the [[List of Los Angeles-class submarines|''Los Angeles''-class]] instead of refueling them, most at between 17 and 19 years of service. Some of ''Baton Rouge''{{'}}s sister ships served for 35 years or more after refueling. Ex-''Baton Rouge'' entered the Nuclear Powered [[Ship-Submarine Recycling Program]], and dismantling of the boat was complete by 30 September 1997. |
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<gallery class="center"> |
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File:USS Baton Rouge (SSN-689).jpg|''Baton Rouge'' during sea trials 1977 |
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File:USS Baton Rouge (SSN-689) Sea trials May 1977.jpg|''Baton Rouge'' during sea trials 1977 |
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File:Baton Rouge scrapped.jpg|''Baton Rouge'' shortly after her decommissioning in February 1995 |
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</gallery> |
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==References== |
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{{DANFSNVR}} |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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Less than two years later, on [[1 November]] [[1993]], ''Baton Rouge'' was placed in commission in reserve. On [[13 January]] [[1995]], she became the first [[Los Angeles class submarine|''Los Angeles''-class submarine]] to be decommissioned and stricken from the [[Naval Vessel Register]], after only 17½ years in commission. Many of her sister ships have served 25 years or more. ex-''Baton Rouge'' entered the Nuclear Powered [[Ship and Submarine Recycling Program]] and ceased to exist on [[30 September]] [[1997]]. |
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{{Commons category|USS Baton Rouge (SSN-689)}} |
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== References == |
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*[http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08689.htm Baton Rouge (SSN-689)] |
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This article includes information collected from the [[Naval Vessel Register]], various press releases, |
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*[http://www.lostsubs.com/SSN-689.htm USS Baton Rouge (SSN-689) / Barracuda] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131210338/http://www.lostsubs.com/SSN-689.htm |date=31 January 2012 }} |
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and "Submarine Collision off Murmansk: A Look from Afar," by Eugene Miasnikov, as reprinted in ''The Submarine Review'' (April, 1993, pp. 6-14). |
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*[https://youtube.com/watch?v=HfNBIhAHR3k USS Baton Rouge (SSN-689) Decommissioning Cruise Video during Panama Canal Oct 1993 Transit] |
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<!-- non-breaking space to keep AWB drones from altering the space before the navbox--> |
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{{Los_Angeles_class_submarine}} |
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{{Los Angeles class submarines}} |
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{{1992 shipwrecks}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Baton Rouge (Ssn-689)}} |
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[[Category:Los Angeles class submarines|Baton Rouge]] |
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[[Category:Los Angeles-class submarines]] |
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[[Category:Cold War submarines of the United States]] |
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[[Category:Nuclear submarines of the United States Navy]] |
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[[Category:1975 ships]] |
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[[Category:Ships built in Newport News, Virginia]] |
Revision as of 07:19, 5 October 2023
History | |
---|---|
Name | USS Baton Rouge |
Namesake | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
Awarded | 8 January 1971 |
Builder | Newport News Shipbuilding |
Laid down | 18 November 1972 |
Launched | 26 April 1975 |
Sponsored by | Mrs. F. Edward Hebert |
Commissioned | 25 June 1977 |
Decommissioned | 13 January 1995 |
Stricken | 13 January 1995 |
Fate | Submarine recycling |
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, 2 turbines, 35,000 hp (26 MW), 1 auxiliary motor 325 hp (242 kW), 1 shaft |
Speed |
|
Test depth | 290 m (950 ft) |
Complement | 12 officers; 98 enlisted |
Armament |
|
USS Baton Rouge (SSN-689) was a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine which served with the United States Navy. With her keel laid down on 18 November 1972, Baton Rouge was launched on 26 April 1975. She became the second Los Angeles-class submarine to be commissioned, on 25 June 1977. In 1995, she was the first of her class to be decommissioned, after a collision with a Russian Sierra-class submarine.
Baton Rouge was the first and currently only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Design
Baton Rouge was a nuclear attack submarine and, as such, was optimized for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and strike operations.[2] To this end, she carried a complement of 26 weapons, including the Mark 48 ADCAP torpedoes – the main weapon of U.S. Navy submarines, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and subsonic Tomahawk cruise missiles. The latter has a range of either 280 or 1,600 miles (450 or 2,500 km), depending on whether it is anti-ship or strike variant, and is nuclear-compatible, although this capability is normally not deployed on Los Angeles-class submarines.[2] Since the boat did not incorporate the vertical launching system found on later Los Angeles-class submarines, the Harpoons and Tomahawks were torpedo tube-launched. Baton Rouge can also lay Mobile Mark 67 and Mark 60 CAPTOR mines.[2]
The boat's propulsion system comprised a S6G pressurized-water reactor based on the D2G reactor of the Bainbridge and Truxtun classes of cruiser.[3] Heat produced from the S6G reactor converted water into steam, powering two turbines, and thus the propeller shaft (see Nuclear marine propulsion). Although the U.S. Navy discloses the boat's submerged speed to be "25+ knots (28+ miles per hour; 46.3+ km/h),"[4] non-military sources have claimed that Los Angeles-class submarines' top speed to be in excess of 33 knots (38 mph; 61 km/h).[5] The nuclear reactor fuel load had a lifespan of ten years.[2]
A crucial component in Baton Rouge's ability to perform her mission were the comprehensive defensive, navigational and sonar systems. Among her several sonar sets were the TB-23/29 thin line passive towed array sonar, the Ametek BQS 15 close range high frequency active sonar and the Raytheon SADS-TG active detection sonar. These systems collaborated to give Baton Rouge good situational awareness.[2] The boat's electronic support measures included a direction finding system, interceptor and a radar warner.[2]
Construction and commissioning
The contract to build Baton Rouge was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding of Newport News, Virginia, on 8 January 1971, and her keel was laid down on 18 November 1972.[6] Launched on 26 April 1975 in the presence of sponsor Mrs. Felix Edward Hebert, wife of the United States representative from the first district and the former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Baton Rouge was commissioned on 25 June 1977.[1][7]
Based at Norfolk and assigned to Submarine Squadron 8, Baton Rouge's immediate history following the commissioning was characterized by shakedown training in New London, Connecticut, among other tests. During 5–29 July, she performed drills off the New England coast, returning to Norfolk for a month-long post-shakedown upkeep.[1] From September 1977 to August 1978, she participated in numerous other tests, such as acoustic trials in Exuma Sound, The Bahamas, and weapons tests off Port Everglades, Florida. During this time, she returned periodically to Norfolk, and docked alongside USS L. Y. Spear, for upkeep, the longest of which spanned from February to August.[1]
Operational history
In preparations for her first overseas assignment, Baton Rouge was deployed to New London in September for training before returning to Norfolk for last-minute checks prior to the deployment.[1] She left port on 19 October 1978, and raised her first port of call in La Maddalena, Sardinia, on 1 November. Baton Rouge also visited La Spezia and took part in a variety of ASW exercises through the winter of 1978 and 1979.[1]
The submarine returned to Norfolk from her first overseas assignment in March 1979. After post-deployment stand-down, Baton Rouge resumed normal operations later that year. These included participation in two major ASW exercises and visits to such widely separated places as Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Halifax, Nova Scotia.[1] In July, she was assigned to Submarine Squadron 8 but continued to use Norfolk as her base of operations. During September–October, Baton Rouge participated in a major NATO exercise – Operation Ocean Safari – which took her across the Atlantic once more and included a call at Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She returned to Norfolk from that mission during the latter part of October and spent the remainder of 1979 in a restricted availability.[1]
In 1980, she was deployed to the Indian Ocean and circumnavigated the earth, passing through the International Date Line and the Panama Canal. For the deployment, she was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation when she arrived in Norfolk.[8] As was the case in the Indian Pacific in 1980, in 1981 Baton Rouge again came under the command of Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), after which she received the Meritorious Unit Commendation.[8] For the third time, Baton Rouge came under the command of CINCPACFLT when she made her second deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.[8]
In the mid-1980s, the boat underwent an eighteen-month overhaul at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The overhaul, which ended in spring 1986, saw the addition to Baton Rouge the AN/BQQ-5C sonar system, the CCS Mk-1 digital fire-control system, and the ESGN navigation system.[8] She made her third deployment to the Mediterranean in November 1986, and her fourth in January 1990.[8] Between these two assignment, Baton Rouge conducted a deployment to the North Atlantic, and was awarded her second Meritorious Unit Commendation.[8]
Collision with the Kostroma
At 20:16 local time on 11 February 1992, while on patrol off Kildin Island near Severomorsk, Baton Rouge collided with the Russian Sierra-class attack submarine K-276 Kostroma.[9] The United States Navy stated that the collision occurred more than 12 miles (22 km) from the shore, in international waters.[9] Initially the U.S. Navy denied any damage suffered by Baton Rouge, but it was later disclosed that the boat suffered two cuts, as well as dents and scrapes.[10] Kostroma was fully repaired by 29 June 1992 and continues in service to this day,[11] while Baton Rouge was removed from service soon afterward. "Baton Rouge" was repaired to be 100% operational after the accident. The Navy was looking to make cuts in all classes of vessels at the time. Baton Rouge was just unlucky enough to be decommissioned for this reason. This is recorded in Russian navy lore as a victory and the Kostroma crew painted the number "1" bordered by a star on the sail, as did Soviet submarines during World War II to indicate the number of their victories.
Decommissioning
Less than two years later, on 1 November 1993, Baton Rouge was placed in commission in reserve. On 13 January 1995, she became the first Los Angeles-class submarine to be decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register, after less than 18 years in commission. As part of post-Cold War restructuring, the U.S. Navy decided to decommission 14 of the first 31 ships in the Los Angeles-class instead of refueling them, most at between 17 and 19 years of service. Some of Baton Rouge's sister ships served for 35 years or more after refueling. Ex-Baton Rouge entered the Nuclear Powered Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, and dismantling of the boat was complete by 30 September 1997.
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Baton Rouge during sea trials 1977
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Baton Rouge during sea trials 1977
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Baton Rouge shortly after her decommissioning in February 1995
References
This article includes information collected from the public domain sources Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships and Naval Vessel Register.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Mann, Raymond A.; Cressman, Robert J. (28 February 2006). "Baton Rouge". US Navy. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "USS Helena (SSN-725)". Naval Technology. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
- ^ "Los Angeles class". Military-today.com. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
- ^ "U.S. Navy Fact Sheet: Attack Submarines – SSN". US Navy. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
- ^ Mount, Mike (22 January 2005). "Officials: U.S. submarine hit undersea mountain". CNN. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
The U.S. Navy submarine accident that killed one sailor and injured 24 others occurred when the vessel – traveling at high speed – hit an undersea mountain head-on... The commander of the USS San Francisco, Kevin Mooney, has not been relieved of duty... The submarine was traveling in excess of 33 knots – about 35 mph – when its nose hit the undersea formation head-on, officials said.
- ^ "Baton Rouge (SSN-689)". Naval Vessel Register. 1 March 1999. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ^ "Commissioning of the Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine USS Baton Rouge" (PDF). US Navy. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "USS Baton Rouge (SSN 689)". Navysite.de. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
- ^ a b Miasnikov, Eugene (April 1993). "Submarine Collision off Murmansk: A Look from Afar". Center for Arms Control, Energy and Environmental Studies. The Submarine Review: 6–14.
- ^ "Pentagon Describes Damage To Sub After Arctic Collision". The New York Times. 28 February 1992. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
Navy divers had discovered two cuts, as well as dents and scrapes, in the hull of [the] submarine that collided with a Commonwealth of Independent States submarine on 11 Feb.... The Pentagon previously said the Baton Rouge...had not been damaged in the collision...
- ^ Yanko, Eugene (2009). "945 Sierra Class". Warfare.ru.