USS Louisville (SSN-724)

The USS Louisville (SSN-724) is a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine in the United States Navy. She is the second ship of the U.S. Navy to be named for the city of Louisville, Kentucky.

Commissioning and Construction: The contract to build the Louisville was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia, on March 2, 1983, and her keel was laid down on October 27, 1984. The submarine was launched on December 14, 1985, and commissioned on November 8, 1986.

Design and Capabilities: As a Los Angeles-class submarine, the Louisville is designed for a variety of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, strike warfare, intelligence gathering, and surveillance. She is equipped with Mark 48 torpedoes, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Her advanced sonar systems allow her to detect and track targets at long ranges.

Operational History: The USS Louisville has a distinguished operational history, participating in numerous deployments and exercises around the world. Notably, she was one of the first vessels to launch Tomahawk missiles during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. She has also conducted operations in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans. Throughout her service, the Louisville has earned numerous awards and commendations for her performance and contributions to national security.

Decommissioning: As of late 2023, the USS Louisville is scheduled for decommissioning sometime in the future, following a long and active career. Exact decommissioning details and dates have not been released. After decommissioning, the submarine will eventually enter the Navy's inactive ship recycling program.