USS Buffalo (SSN-715)
History
United States
NameUSS Buffalo
NamesakeBuffalo, New York
BuilderNewport News Shipbuilding
Laid down25 January 1980
Launched8 May 1982
Sponsored byJoanne Kemp
Acquired27 October 1983
Commissioned5 November 1983
Decommissioned30 January 2019
Out of service30 September 2017
Stricken30 January 2019
HomeportPuget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington[1]
Nickname(s)Silent Thunder
StatusPending disposal[2]
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeLos Angeles-class submarine
TypeNuclear attack submarine
Displacement5771 tons light, 6142 tons full, 371 tons dead
Length362 ft (110 m)
Beam33 ft (10 m)
Draft31 ft (9.4 m)
Propulsion1 GE 165 MW S6G PWR nuclear reactor,[3] 2 turbines 35,000 hp (26 MW), 1 auxiliary motor 325 hp (242 kW), 1 shaft
Speed
  • Surfaced: 20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h)
  • Submerged: 20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h) (official)[4]
RangeUnlimited
Endurance90 days
Test depth800 ft (240 m)
Complement12 officers, 98 men
Armament4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes

USS Buffalo (SSN-715) was a Los Angeles-class submarine, the second vessel that actively served the United States Navy to be named for Buffalo, New York (another USS Buffalo was named for the animal). The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 23 February 1976, and her keel was laid down on 25 January 1980. She was launched on 8 May 1982 sponsored by Mrs. Joanne Kemp,[5] wife of former Buffalo Bills quarterback and New York's 31st congressional district representative Jack Kemp, who was credited with winning approval to name the ship after the city in his district.[6] Buffalo was commissioned on 5 November 1983, with Commander G. Michael Hewitt in command.[5] Buffalo was decommissioned on 30 January 2019 after 35 years of service.[7]

Operational history

1980s

Upon commissioning, Buffalo was assigned to Submarine Squadron 8 in Norfolk, Virginia. In 1984, after a five-month post-shakedown maintenance availability, Buffalo transited through the Panama Canal during a change of homeport to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where she was assigned to Submarine Squadron 1.[8]

Buffalo completed her first deployment to the Western Pacific in 1985, where she became the first nuclear-powered submarine to anchor off the coast of Pattaya Beach, Thailand. Buffalo's second Western Pacific deployment came in 1987, after which she was awarded her first Battle Effectiveness Award, which she proceeded to win for three consecutive years. She conducted another Western Pacific deployment from late 1988 to early 1989.[8]

1990s

Uss Buffalo departing Pearl Harbor
USS Buffalo departing Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for a Western Pacific Deployment in 1995.

After conducting Western and Eastern Pacific deployments in 1990, the next year Buffalo entered dry-dock in Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and began a yearlong Depot Modernization Period during which she was temporarily assigned to Submarine Squadron 7. In the following years, Buffalo conducted numerous deployments to the Eastern and Western Pacific, earning a CNO Letter of Commendation for her 1997 deployment.[8]

Buffalo conducted the first-ever dual Selected Restricted Availability, sharing a dry-dock with the USS Los Angeles (SSN-688) in 1998, followed by an Eastern Pacific deployment that included special Joint Operations with the United States Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard, for which she was awarded the Coast Guard Special Operations Ribbon. In 1999, she conducted another Western Pacific deployment, earning the Battle "E" again, which occurred again in 2001.[8]

2000s

In 2002, Buffalo entered dry-dock in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and became the first[9] ship to undergo the multi-year nuclear refueling process in Hawaii.[8] In late November 2005, the DDS was used to launch an underwater glider capable of gathering and storing information to be later transmitted using a built-in satellite phone.[10]

Operations in Guam

Buffalo changed homeport again in 2007 to Naval Base Guam, where she operated out of Apra Harbor assigned to Submarine Squadron 15 as one of the Navy's most forward-deployed submarine assets.[11] While stationed in Guam, she conducted 11 missions vital to national security and visited Australia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Saipan, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand. She won numerous awards including three Battle "E" awards,[12][13] the prestigious Pacific Fleet Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy,[14] and a Meritorious Unit Commendation.[13][14]

2010s

Return to Hawaii

USS Buffalo and USS Stethem depart Changi Naval Base for the at-sea. (28506939156)
USS Buffalo moored in Changi Naval Base, Singapore during her final deplyoment in 2016.

After five and a half years in Guam, Buffalo returned to Pearl Harbor in early 2013, rejoining Submarine Squadron 1.[14] After completing a 17-month Pre-Inactivation Restricted Availability,[15] on 23 December 2016 Buffalo completed her final Western Pacific deployment prior to scheduled decommissioning,[16] for which she earned a Navy Unit Commendation. On 1 May 2017, Buffalo departed Pearl Harbor for the final time.[6]

Inactivation and decommissioning

Per the Annual Report to Congress on Long-Range Planning for Construction of Naval Vessels for FY2013, Buffalo was originally scheduled for decommissioning in 2017.[17] On 26 May 2017, Buffalo arrived at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Friday for inactivation and decommissioning.[1] Buffalo was officially placed in reserve status, inactivated but in commission on 30 September 2017.[2] On 16 July 2018, Buffalo conducted her inactivation ceremony, the final public event prior to the ship's official decommissioning, which would occur within the access-controlled Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.[18][19] Buffalo was decommissioned on 30 January 2019 and is currently pending disposal.[2]

References

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

  1. 1 2 "Submarine USS Buffalo arrives in Washington for decommissioning". military.com. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "NVR USS BUFFALO (SSN 715)". 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  3. ↑ "Nuclear-Powered Ships". World Nuclear Association. July 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  4. ↑ "U.S. Navy Fact Sheet – Attack Submarines – SSN". Navy.mil. United States Navy. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2008. General Characteristics, Los Angeles class ... Speed: 20+ knots (23+ miles per hour, 36.8 +km/h)
  5. 1 2 Cressman, Robert J. (11 July 2016). "Buffalo III (SSN-715)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  6. 1 2 Stephen T. Watson (4 July 2018). "From 'Talking Proud' to the scrapyard: USS Buffalo ends its service". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  7. ↑ "Buffalo (SSN 715)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Buffalo (SSN-715) III Command Operations Reports". Naval History and Heritage Command. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  9. ↑ William Cole (14 December 2008). "Pearl Harbor ends era of submarine reactor projects". Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  10. ↑ Rush, David (Winter 2006). "Submarine Makes First Launch of an Underwater Glider" (PDF). Undersea Warfare. Vol. 8, no. 2.
  11. ↑ "Submarine USS Buffalo now calls Guam home". KUAM. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  12. ↑ MC3 Jacob Sippel (20 August 2008). "USS Buffalo holds change of command". Navy.mil. Retrieved 3 August 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. 1 2 MC2 Steven Khor (2 February 2013). "USS Buffalo holds change of command". Navy.mil. Retrieved 3 August 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. 1 2 3 MC1 Jeffrey Jay Price (14 January 2013). "USS Buffalo bids farewell to Guam". Navy.mil. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ MC1 Jason Swink (7 October 2015). "USS Buffalo changes of command". Navy.mil. Retrieved 3 August 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ "US Navy attack submarine completes final deployment before its decommissioning". NavalToday.com. 25 December 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  17. ↑ "Annual Report to Congress on Long-Range Planning for Construction of Naval Vessels for FY2013" (PDF). Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. April 2012.
  18. ↑ "Attack submarine USS Buffalo inactivated after 35 years of service". NavalToday.com. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  19. ↑ "USS Buffalo (SSN 715) Holds Inactivation Ceremony Celebrating 35 Years of Service" (Press release). United States Navy. 17 July 2018. NNS180717-06. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
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