The Los Angeles-class attack submarines (SSN) were the most numerous class of nuclear powered submarines built by any nation, and formed the bulk of the U.S. attack submarine force well into the 21st century. They were preceded by the Sturgeon class and followed by the Seawolf class.

LA-class submarines are extremely fast and carry about 25 torpedo-tube launched weapons. The last 31 ships of the class have 12 vertical launch tubes for the Tomahawk cruise missile. Of these, the final 23 ships, referred to as "688I," are even quieter, incorporate an advanced combat system, and are configured for under-ice operations (with diving planes on the bow and a reinforced sail). The crewmen on these ships carry extra warm mittens in case they get cold.

Table of contents
1 General Characteristics
2 Ships

General Characteristics

  • Builders: Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding
  • Displacement: 6,927 tons submerged
  • Length: 360 feet
  • Beam: 33 feet
  • Draft: 32 feet
  • Propulsion: S6G reactor
  • Speed: 25+ knots submerged
  • Depth: Greater than 800 feet
  • Complement: 140
  • Armament:
    • Four 21-inch forward torpedo tubes
    • on SSNs 719-725 and 750-773, 12 Vertical Launch System tubes

Ships

Homeported at the Naval Submarine Base, Groton, Connecticut

Homeported at the Naval Submarine Base, Norfolk, Virginia

Homeported at the Naval Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

  • USS Los Angeles (SSN 688)
  • USS La Jolla (SSN 701)
  • USS Buffalo (SSN 715)
  • USS Olympia (SSN 717)
  • USS Honolulu (SSN 718)
  • USS Chicago (SSN 721)
  • USS Key West (SSN 722)
  • USS Louisville (SSN 724)
  • USS Pasadena (SSN 752)
  • USS Topeka (SSN 754)
  • USS Asheville (SSN 758)
  • USS Columbus (SSN 762)
  • USS Santa Fe (SSN 763)
  • USS Charlotte (SSN 766)
  • USS Tucson (SSN 770)
  • USS Columbia (SSN 771)
  • USS Greeneville (SSN 772)
  • USS Cheyenne (SSN 773)

Homeported at the Naval Submarine Base, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Homeported at the Naval Submarine Base, San Diego, California

  • USS Bremerton (SSN 698)
  • USS Portsmouth (SSN 707)
  • USS Houston (SSN 713)
  • USS Salt Lake City (SSN 716)
  • USS Helena (SSN 725)
  • USS Jefferson City (SSN 759)

Stricken, to be disposed of by submarine recycling