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USS Topeka (SSN-754)

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The USS Topeka (SSN-754) prepares to dock with the assistance of a tugboat.
History
US
NameUSS Topeka
NamesakeThe City of Topeka, Kansas
Awarded28 November 1983
BuilderGeneral Dynamics Electric Boat
Laid down13 May 1986
Launched23 January 1988
Sponsored byElizabeth Dole
Commissioned21 October 1989
HomeportNaval Base Point Loma
MottoDefender of the Heartland
Fatein active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeLos Angeles-class submarine
Displacementlist error: <br /> list (help)
5,726 long tons (5,818 t) light
6,131 long tons (6,229 t) full
405 long tons (411 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
Test depth400 m (1,312 ft)
Complement12 officers, 98 men
Armamentlist error: <br /> list (help)
• 4 × 21 in (533 mm) bow tubes
• 12 × vertical launch Tomahawk missiles

USS Topeka (SSN-754), a Los Angeles-class submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Topeka, Kansas. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 28 November 1983 and her keel was laid down on 13 May 1986. She was launched on 23 January 1988 sponsored by Elizabeth Dole and commissioned on 21 October 1989, with Commander Timothy Reichert in command.[1]

The Topeka and USS Albany form a unique sub-class among Los Angeles class submarines. The pressure hulls of both ships were partially manufactured using stronger HY-100, instead of the HY-80 steel used in the manufacturing of all other Los Angeles class submarines. This was done to test construction methods using this steel, which would later be employed in the assembly of the new Seawolf-class submarines. In theory, this permits the Albany and Topeka to dive to a slightly greater depth than any other member of the Los Angeles class, though it remains unclear if this ability has ever been tested by either vessel.[2]

History

In 1993 the mini series Submarines: Sharks of Steel used the Topeka to produce segments of their program. During New Year's Eve 2000 the USS Topeka straddled the international dateline, thus was famously "in two millenniums at once".[3]

In October 2002, after completing a Modernization Period in Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Topeka shifted homeport to San Diego, California, from Pearl Harbor.

Awards

COMSUBRON 11 Battle "E" - 1993/1995 In August 2004, Topeka returned to San Diego after six months of operations with the Seventh Fleet, including three missions significant to national security that earned the boat the Navy Expeditionary Medal and Navy Unit Commendation Medal. The ship and crew earned the Battle Efficiency "E" Award for 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

In the 2009 live-action movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, USS Topeka was part of a Carrier Battle Group stationed permanently in the Laurentian Abyss to guard the dumping site of the Megatron. When several Decepticons arrived and dived to reach Megatron, the submarine spotted them and set off a pursuit. USS Topeka is also featured in TV series 24 in season 5 when terrorists intend to use its weapons against civilians in Los Angeles.

References

  • Miller, David (2002). The Illustrated Directory of Submarines of the World. Motor Books International. ISBN 0-7603-1345-8.
  1. ^ "Elizabeth Dole refers to sponsoring USS Topeka in a speech."
  2. ^ "The Illustrated Directory of Submarines of the World" 2002, p. 377.
  3. ^ "U.S. NAVY SUBMARINE STRADDLES HISTORY"

This article includes information collected from the public domain sources Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships and Naval Vessel Register.