USS Columbia (SSN-771)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Columbia.

USS Columbia (SSN-771)

History
United States
Name	USS Columbia
Namesake	Cities of Columbia, South Carolina, Columbia, Missouri, and Columbia, Illinois
Awarded	14 December 1988
Builder	General Dynamics Electric Boat
Laid down	21 April 1993
Launched	24 September 1994
Sponsored by	Hillary Rodham Clinton
Christened	24 September 1994
Completed	24 September 1994
Commissioned	9 October 1995
Homeport	Pearl Harbor
Motto	Preserving Freedom On The Seas
Status	in active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Los Angeles-class submarine
Displacement	6,000 long tons (6,096 t) light 6,927 long tons (7,038 t) full 927 long tons (942 t) dead
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
Speed	Surface: About 15 knots. Submerged: About 32 knots.
Complement	12 officers, 110 men
Armament	4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 12 x Vertical Launch Missile Tubes

USS Columbia (SSN-771), is the 60th flight II Improved Los Angeles class submarine, and is the eighth vessel of the United States Navy to bear that name. The earlier Columbia's were given their names for differing reasons; SSN-771 was specifically named in honor of Columbia, South Carolina, Columbia, Missouri, and Columbia, Illinois.

The contract to build Columbia was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 14 December 1988 and her keel was laid down on 21 April 1993. She was the 33rd Los Angeles class built by EB, and was launched on 24 September 1994 with the slide down a 1300-foot wooden ramp, the last American submarine to do so, giving her the title of "The Last Slider."

Columbia was sponsored by Hillary Rodham Clinton, and commissioned on 9 October 1995, with Commander Dale Govan in command. Currently, Columbia is commanded by Commander David L. Edgerton, and Master Chief Machinist's Mate Ruben Aguirre is the Chief of the Boat.

References

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