USS Augusta Inactivated After 23 Years

[unhappycamper]

USS Augusta Inactivated After 23 Years
Navy News | February 08, 2008

GROTON, Conn. - The Los Angeles class fast-attack submarine USS Augusta (SSN 710) conducted an inactivation ceremony at the Naval Submarine Base New London's Shepherd of the Sea chapel Feb. 7.

Augusta lived up to its motto, "protecting the frontier" for more than two decades. Most recently, she returned from a six-month deployment to the U.S. European Command's area of responsibility September 2007, where she completed a wide range of joint requirements supporting national security.

Retired Capt. Thomas Turner, Augusta's first commanding officer, was the guest speaker and relived his experience in bringing the ship to life.

"The feeling as the crew ran aboard at the commissioning was incredible," said Turner.

"The crew is what makes the ship a ship. Everything else is just an empty hull."


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,161710,00.html

[Jack Bone]

1. hmmmm..intresting..thanx for the post!

:kick:

[catnhatnh]

2. Just a question....

Why can we fly 50 year old aircraft into combat while we retire much younger naval vessels....I mean the aircraft is relatively lightly built and has probably been overstressed (beyond design parameters) at least dozens of times and the submarine most likely not....So why fly the senior and retire the sophmore?

[unhappycamper]

3. The sort answer: becasue we need to keep the sub line in production.

Besides, new subs are only about $2,500,000,000 or so.