A U.S. Navy submarine named after a seaside San Diego neighborhood is retiring after 34 years of service.
USS La Jolla left Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam last week. The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine will travel from Hawaii to the East Coast for decommissioning. She will then be used for training at Naval Support Activity Charleston in South Carolina.
The La Jolla was commissioned in 1981 and was the first submarine to fire a Tomahawk cruise missile while submerged, according to the Navy. She was also the first Los Angeles-class submarine homeported in San Diego.
The La Jolla’s bell will soon be on display at the Maritime Museum of San Diego as a homage to her namesake.
Based in Pearl Harbor, the USS La Jolla is named after our local community and docked here yesterday for a short visit. It is the first submarine to fire a Tomahawk cruise missile while submerged!
