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USS Hampton (SSN-767)

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For other ships with the same name, see USS Hampton.
USS Hampton (SSN-767) seen at the North Pole in April 2004
USS Hampton at the North Pole in April 2004
History
US
NameUSS Hampton
NamesakeThe Cities of Hampton, Virginia, Hampton, Iowa, Hampton, South Carolina and Hampton, New Hampshire
Awarded6 February 1987
BuilderNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
Laid down2 March 1990
Launched3 April 1992
Sponsored byMrs. Laura Bateman
Commissioned6 November 1993
HomeportNaval Base Point Loma
Mottolist error: <br /> list (help)
Qui Desiderant Pacem Preparate Bellum
("Those who desire peace prepare for war")
Statusin active service
NotesRecertified for operations as of December 2007[1]
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeLos Angeles-class submarine
Displacementlist error: <br /> list (help)
6,000 long tons (6,096 t) light
6,927 long tons (7,038 t) full
927 long tons (942 t) dead
Length110.3 m (361 ft 11 in)
Beam10 m (32 ft 10 in)
Draft9.4 m (30 ft 10 in)
PropulsionS6G nuclear reactor
Complement12 officers, 98 men
Armamentlist error: <br /> list (help)
• 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
• 12 × vertical launch Tomahawk missiles

USS Hampton (SSN-767), a Los Angeles-class submarine, is the fourth ship of the United States Navy to bear this name. The earlier Hamptons were given their names for varying reasons, but SSN-767 was specifically named for four cities: Hampton, Virginia; Hampton, Iowa; Hampton, South Carolina; and Hampton, New Hampshire. There are 14 more "Hampton" towns in the United States.

The contract to build the Hampton was awarded to the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia (adjacent to the aforementioned Hampton, Va.) on 6 February 1987, and her keel was laid down on 2 March 1990. She was launched on 3 April 1992, sponsored by Mrs. Laura Bateman, and she was commissioned on 16 November 1993, with Commander David Antanitus in command.

In late April 2004 Hampton along with HMS Tireless (S88) surfaced through the ice together at the North Pole.

In February 2007, Hampton left Norfolk, Virginia for a seven month Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment. She traveled through the Panama Canal and arrived in Yokosuka, Japan. She completed two missions of national importance, and participated in two major, multinational naval exercises. She made port visits in Apra Harbor, Guam, White Beach, Okinawa, and Brisbane, Australia, as well as a brief stop in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, before arriving in San Diego, CA. She earned the Navy Expeditionary Medal during this time.[2]

On 17 September 2007, the Hampton's homeport was changed from Norfolk to San Diego, in a change from the Atlantic Fleet to the Pacific Fleet.

In an isolated incident from her safe operational record, in October 2007, six naval personnel were disciplined for fraudulently documenting the chemistry records of the Hampton's nuclear propulsion plant.[3][4] Shortly thereafter, the ship's commanding officer Commander Michael B. Portland was also relieved of his command because of a loss of confidence in his leadership, but he has not been charged with any offense.[1][5] In March 2008, the US Navy revealed that a total of 11 officers and enlisted men had been disciplined in connection with the fraudulent documentation and for cheating on qualification tests. In addition to the Captain, the submarine's engineer officer, the engineering department master chief petty officer, and the entire reactor laboratory division were dismissed from Naval nuclear plant duty and submarine service. No damage was discovered in the reactor core and the submarine has returned to operational status.[6]

USS Hampton completed a Western Pacific deployment from October 17, 2008 to April 17, 2009. She made port visits to Singapore, Yokosuka, Japan, Saipan, and Apra Harbor, Guam, before returning to home port in San Diego. She participated in the first submarine exercise between the United States and the Singapore Navy.

In 2010 and 2011, the USS Hampton won the Submarine Squadron 11 Battle Efficiency award.

  • USS Hampton
    USS Hampton
  • Hampton seen in Florida in 1993
    Hampton seen in Florida in 1993
Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Hampton (SSN-767).

References

  1. ^ a b ABC news report of commanding officer's relief for cause
  2. ^ http://www.subforce.navy.mil/factsheets/hampton.pdf
  3. ^ CNN Article regarding disciplined sailors
  4. ^ Washington Post article on nuclear safety issue
  5. ^ Submarine Commander Is Relieved of Duty
  6. ^ San Diego Union-Tribune, "11 Officers, Sailors From S.D.-Based Sub Disciplined", 10 March 2008.

Public Domain This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.

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