USS Boston (SSN 703)

- decommissioned -

USS BOSTON was the 16^th nuclear powered attack submarine in the LOS ANGELES-class. She was last homeported in Groton, CT., and after being decommissioned she was berthed at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash. for the next two years until taken from its berth at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on October 31, 2001. BOSTON then went to the drydock where the scrapping commenced. Scrapping was completed in January 2002. The USS BOSTON Shipmates, Inc. was however, able to save the sail and rudder for display. These sections went to the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park in Buffalo, NY for display. BOSTON was the first LOS ANGELES-class submarine to be preserved in such a manner.

The BOSTON was the seventh ship in the Navy named after the city of Boston, Mass.

USS BOSTON finished her last successful deployment on November 16, 1998, when she returned home to Groton, CT., after she had participated in Exercise UNITAS 39 from July 8 to November 10. UNITAS is a yearly, multinational naval deployment exercise. Every year since 1960, several United States Navy vessels have circumnavigated the South American continent, participating in maneuvers with local navies. This circumnavigation alternates each year between clockwise and counterclockwise.

Other US Naval Forces participating in the exercise included USS DOYLE (FFG 39), USS MOOSBRUGGER (DD 980), USS LA MOURE COUNTY (LST 1194) and the USCGC MOHAWK.

General Characteristics:	Awarded: December 10, 1973
	Keel Laid: August 11, 1978
	Launched: April 19, 1980
	Commissioned: January 30, 1982
	Decommissioned: November 19, 1999
	Builder: Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT
	Propulsion system: one nuclear reactor
	Propellers: one
	Length: 360 feet (109.73 meters)
	Beam: 33 feet (10 meters)
	Draft: 32,15 feet (9.8 meters)
	Displacement: Surfaced: approx. 6,000 tons
	Displacement: Submerged: approx. 6,900 tons
	Speed: Surfaced: approx. 15 knots
	Speed: Submerged: approx. 32 knots
	Armament: four 533 mm torpedo tubes for Mk-48 torpedoes, Harpoon missiles
	Cost: approx. $900 million
	Crew: 12 Officers, 115 Enlisted

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS BOSTON. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Click here to view the list.

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Click here to see which USS BOSTON memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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Awards of USS BOSTON:

1983	CINCLANTFLT Golden Anchor Award
1983	Red "E" for Engineering Excellence
1983-1984	Meritorious Unit Commendation
1984	Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbon
1984	Arleigh Burke Award Nominee for Greatest Improvement in Battle Efficiency
1985	Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbon
1985	Red "E" for Engineering Excellence
1985	Green "C" for Communications Excellence
1985	Silver Anchor Award
1985	Meritorious Unit Commendation
1986	Green "C" for Communications Excellence
1986	Red "E" for Engineering Excellence
1987	Yellow "M" for Medical Excellence
1987	CINCLANTFLT Silver Anchor Award
1987	CINCLANTFLT Golden Anchor Award Runner Up
1988	CINCLANTFLT Golden Anchor Award
1989	CINCLANTFLT Silver Anchor Award
1990	Green "C" for Communications Excellence
1991	Supply Blue "E" for Supply Excellence
1991	Meritorious Unit Commendation
1993	White Tactical "T" for Tactical Proficiency
1995	Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbon
1995	Arleigh Burke Award for Greatest Improvement in Battle Efficiency
1996	Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbon
1995-1996	Meritorious Unit Commendation
1996	Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for Most Battle-Ready Ship in Atlantic Fleet
1997	Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation
1997	Red "DC" for Damage Control Excellence
1998	Red and Green "N" for Navigation Excellence

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USS BOSTON today:

USS BOSTON was decommissioned on November 19, 1999. On October 31, 2001, BOSTON went to the drydock where the scrapping commenced. Scrapping was completed in January 2002. The USS BOSTON Shipmates, Inc. was however, able to save the sail and rudder for display. These sections went to the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park in Buffalo, NY for display. BOSTON was the first LOS ANGELES-class submarine to be preserved in such a manner.

On the first photo the rudder foundation still needs to be dug for the exhibit and the installed. Also, there is still much welding, installation of plate covers and painting needs to be done. The second photo was taken on April 24, 2004. The next step in the project is tackling the mounting of the rudder in the display. Both photos were taken by Bruce McCausland.

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USS BOSTON Image Gallery:

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The following two photos and the patch were sent to us by Bruce McCausland, plankowner of the USS BOSTON (SSN 703). The first photo (left) shows the BOSTON in Groton, CT., in 1982 or 1983. The second photo (right) shows the submarine during a port visit to Fremantle, Australia, in September 1983 during its maiden deployment.

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