USS Augusta (SSN-710)

• Los Angeles-class Submarine: USS Augusta (SSN-710) was a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, the third ship of the U.S. Navy to be named after Augusta, Maine. • Commissioning: The submarine was commissioned on 19 January 1985, after being launched by Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut. • Cold War Service: Augusta played an active role during the final years of the Cold War, conducting intelligence-gathering and surveillance missions. • Collision Incident: In October 1986, Augusta was involved in a controversial incident believed to be a collision with a Soviet submarine, the K-219, although official details remain classified or disputed. • Tomahawk Missile Tests: Augusta was one of the first submarines to successfully launch Tomahawk cruise missiles during testing, helping to validate the weapon system for fleet-wide use. • Support for Operation Iraqi Freedom: The submarine participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, launching Tomahawk missiles against targets in Iraq. • Presidential Visit: In July 1991, President George H. W. Bush visited USS Augusta, marking a rare presidential visit to a submarine. • Innovative Technology: Augusta was among the first submarines equipped to support advanced digital sonar and fire control systems, improving its detection and combat capabilities. • Homeport: Its homeport was Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, throughout most of its career. • Decommissioning: USS Augusta was decommissioned on 24 February 2009, and entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington.