"Jacksonville's Stats, History and Stuff"

USS JACKSONVILLE's (SSN 699) emblem is similar to the Jacksonville city seal. The horseman is Andrew Jackson. The sunburst represents the "rebirth" of Jacksonville with the advent of consolidated city-county government in 1968 and the orange color represents the Florida sunshine. The motto "The Bold One" represents the tie between the ship and the "Bold New City of the South."

USS JACKSONVILLE (SSN 699) is named for Jacksonville, Florida. She is the first naval ship to bear the name. The first name for the city of Jacksonville was "Cowford" because cattle crossed the St. Johns River at the narrowest point where Jacksonville is now located. Cowford was settled in 1763 by the British. In 1822 the city was renamed Jacksonville in honor of its territorial governor Andrew Jackson. Since then, the city has survived a series of adversities: a seven year war with the Seminole Indians, a fire in 1854 that almost leveled the town, the turmoil of the Civil War and Reconstruction Period, a yellow fever epidemic in 1823, a terrible freeze in 1899 which completely destroyed the regions fruit industry, and finally a devastating fire in 1901 that left only one building standing in downtown Jacksonville. From these beginnings, Jacksonville has emerged as the largest and most populous city in Florida becoming the "Bold New City of the South"

- JACKSONVILLE was commissioned and commenced her operation in the United States Navy in May, 1981.

- From June to December 1982, JACKSONVILLE completed her first around-the-world cruise, including a transit of the Panama Canal and a liberty port visit to HMAS Stirling, Garden Island, Perth, Australia.

- In March 1983, JACKSONVILLE deployed to the north Atlantic and upon return to Norfolk at the end of April, was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation.

- In May 1984, JACKSONVILLE once again deployed on a three month Atlantic deployment, making liberty visits to Rosyth, Scotland and Portsmouth, England prior to returning to Norfolk in July 1984.

- In April 1985 thru November 1985, JACKSONVILLE circumnavigated the globe again becoming the first Los Angeles Class Submarine to make two around-the-world deployments. Port visits during this period included, Mombassa, Kenya; Diego Garcia; Perth, Australia; Subic Bay, Philippines; and Pearl harbor, Hawaii.

- From April to June 1986, JACKSONVILLE was deployed to the North Atlantic and made a port visit to Portsmouth, England.

- From January 1987 to June 1987, JACKSONVILLE deployed to the Mediterranean and conducted operations with the Sixth Fleet. This highly successful mission earned the ship the Sixth Fleet ASW "Hook Em" Award for anti-submarine warfare excellence.

- Between 1988 and 1992 JACKSONVILLE was in Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a major modernization overhaul to install the latest state of the art equipment.

- From January to June 1993, JACKSONVILLE deployed to the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean and made port visits to Gibraltar, La Madellana, Sardinia and Souda Bay, Crete. This highly successful deployment earned the ship her second Meritorious Unit Citation. Sailors onboard for this deployment earned the; Arctic Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Service Medal, NATO Medal, Sea Service Ribbon and Meritorious Unit Citation Ribbon.

- In May of 1994, JACKSONVILLE made a "namesake city" port-visit to Jacksonville, Florida. During this port-visit the ship made a one-day VIP cruise for city dignitaries as well as representatives from the cities NFL football team, Jacksonville Jaguars. The ship also attended a social which was attended by the Honorable Charles Bennett and his wife, the JACKSONVILLE's sponsor, Mrs. Charles E. Bennett.

- From September to December 1994, JACKSONVILLE deployed to the North Atlantic and made port visits to Bergen, Norway and Brest, France. JACKSONVILLE earned the COMSUBGRU 2 Silver Anchor Award for 1994.

- This is the ship's history up to point when I left in the summer of 1995. The JACKSONVILLE is continuing to write its history.....

Every Piece of History Has it's Dark Side: Ouch - Bent Wing (May 1996)

© 1997
Comments/Questions? E-mail me at: ssncob@hotmail.com

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