History:
USS SAN FRANCISCO was built at Newport News Shipbuilding
in Newport News, Virginia and was commissioned on 24 April 1981.
After initial shakedown operations, the ship joined the
Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet and transited to its
homeport of Pearl Harbor. While enroute, the ship conducted its
initial visit to San Francisco, participating in Fleet Week
1981.
During its first operating cycle the ship completed
deployments to the Western Pacific in 1983, 1985, and 1986,
conducting a variety of operations and exercises as a member of
the U.S. Seventh Fleet. The ship conducted independent submarine
operations deployed to the Northern Pacific in 1986 and 1988,
and earned the coveted Battle Efficiency "E" for
Submarine Squadron SEVEN in 1985 and 1988.
During a demanding DEPOT Modernization Period (DMP) at
Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in 1989-1990, the ship was equipped
with the newest and most capable submarine sensor and combat
systems and made fully ready to perform the variety of missions
assigned to the submarine force.
Following the DMP, SAN FRANCISCO completed sea trials and
a series of rigorous certification inspections and returned to
the fleet to resume operations. Two highly successful
deployments to the Western Pacific were completed in 1992 and
1994 with ports of call in Hong Kong, Singapore, Chinhae, South
Korea, Guam, Sasebo, Japan and Yokosuka, Japan. In December
1994, the ship conducted a dependents cruise to Lahaina, Maui.
In January of 1995, SAN FRANCISCO was awarded the 1994
Commander Submarine Squadron SEVEN "T" for excellence
in tactical operations. SAN FRANCISCO was also awarded the
Meritorious Unit Commendation for its outstanding performance
during the WESTPAC deployment in 1994.
USS SAN FRANCISCO was the host ship for the COMSUBPAC
Change of Command ceremony on February 23, 1996. From June -
December 1996 the ship deployed to the Western Pacific, visiting
Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan; Subic Bay, Philippines; and Guam,
USA.
In October of 1999, SAN FRANCISCO returned to it's
namesake city of San Francisco to participate in Fleet Week
1999.
In its life, USS SAN FRANCISCO has carried the pride and
charm of its namesake city to the far reaches of the Pacific
including: Pattaya, Thailand; Hong King; Yokosuka and Sasebo,
Japan; Okinawa; Subic Bay, Philippines; Singapore; Guam;
Chinhae, Korea; Esquimalt, BC; as well as the stateside ports of
Bremerton, Washington; San Diego and San Francisco, California;
Lahaina, Maui, and Kona, Hawaii.
In 2000, SAN FRANCISCO changed homeport to Norfolk, Va.
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