USS Hampton (SSN-767)

Career
Awarded:	6 February 1987
Laid down:	2 March 1990
Launched:	3 April 1992
Commissioned:	16 November 1993
Status:	Operations temporarily suspended, October 2007 [1]
Homeport:	San Diego, California
General characteristics
Displacement:	6000 tons light, 6927 tons full, 927 tons dead
Length:	110.3 m (362 ft)
Beam:	10 m (33 ft)
Draft:	9.4 m (31 ft)
Propulsion:	one S6G reactor
Complement:	12 officers, 98 men
Armament:	4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes, 12 vertical launch Tomahawk missiles
Motto:	Qui Desiderant Pacem Preparate Bellum ("Those who desire peace prepare for war")

USS Hampton (SSN-767), a Los Angeles-class submarine, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to bear that name. The earlier Hamptons were given their names for differing reasons; SSN-767 was specificially named for four cities: Hampton, Virginia; Hampton, Iowa; Hampton, South Carolina; and Hampton, New Hampshire. There are 14 more Hamptons in the United States. The contract to build Hampton was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia (adjacent to the afformentioned Hampton, Va) on 6 February 1987 and her keel was laid down on 2 March 1990. She was launched on 3 April 1992 sponsored by Mrs. Laura Bateman, and commissioned on 16 November 1993, with Commander David Antanitus in command. In late April 2004 Hampton along with HMS Tireless (S88) surfaced through the ice at the North Pole. On September 17 2007 Hampton relocated from its previous homeport in Norfolk, VA to San Diego, CA. In October 2007, six naval personnel were disciplined for fraudulently documenting chemistry records of the ship's nuclear propulsion plant.^[2][3] Shortly thereafter, the ship's commanding officer Cmdr. Michael B. Portland was also relieved of his duty because of a loss of confidence in his leadership; he was not charged with any offense. ^[4][5]

Image gallery

USS Hampton

Hampton seen in Florida in 1993

External links

USS Hampton official home page

References

1. ^ ABC news report of commanding officer's relief for cause
2. ^ CNN Article regarding disciplined sailors
3. ^ Washington Post article on nuclear safety issue
4. ^ ABC news report of commanding officer's relief for cause
5. ^ Submarine Commander Is Relieved of Duty

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