CAPT R. E. Beedle, USN: 21 Oct 1977 - 17 Feb 1981
CDR J. F. Shipway, USN: 18 Feb 1981 - Present Command:
Type Commander: CDR Submarine Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet
Squadron Commander: CDR Submarine Squadron SEVEN
Homeport:
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Basic History:
LOS ANGELES spent the first part of 1981 in local operations and preparing for the upcoming deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean. Significant operations during this period included an NTPI/DNSI on 12 January, FORACS on 14 January, and KILOEX 4A - 4D/80 on 19 January. On 18 February, Captain R. E. BEEDLE, USN was relieved by Commander J. F. Shipway, USN as Commanding Officer of USS LOS ANGELES (SSN 688). At the change
of command ceremony, the ship was awarded its second Meritorious Unit Commendation and Captain Beedle received the Legion of Merit for operations completed the previous year.
On 25 April, USS LOS ANGELES commenced her third Western Pacific deployment, operating in support of Commander, Task Force SEVEN FOUR. On 3 May, the ship moored alongside USS PROTEUS (AS 19) in Guam to replenish provisions and receive repair parts, getting underway on 4 May for Indian Ocean
operations. While in the Indian Ocean, LOS ANGELES made a brief stop alongside USS SAMUEL GOMPERS (AD 37) in Diego Garcia on 26 June and then commenced a transit to Cockburn Sound for a six day port visit to Perth, Western Australia. Arriving at HMAS Stirling 6 July, the ship was visited by many people, including Mr. Balcombe, the Commissioner of the Shire of Rockingham, and Miss Martha Carbone, the U. S. Consul. Upon departure from Perth, she transited to the Republic of the Philippines and
arrived at Subic Bay on 22 July to participate in ASUWEX 81-3. Afterwards she transited to Hong Kong, anchoring alongside USS HENRY B. WILSON (DDG 7) on 9 August for a port visit. The ship departed Hong Kong for Guam and a Western Pacific upkeep, making a brief stop in Subic Bay enroute.
USS LOS ANGELES departed Guam on 13 September, and operated in support of Commander Task Force ONE FOUR on a special submarine operation. On 1 October, the ship received the Commander
Submarine Squadron SEVEN Battle Efficiency "E" Award for the second consecutive year, and the Communications "C" Award.
On 14 October, USS LOS ANGELES became the first 688 class submarine to visit Yokosuka, Japan. While in Yokosuka, the ship was honored by a visit from Rear Admiral B. M. Kauderer, Commander Submarine Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet. Following the Yokosuka port call USS LOS ANGELES returned to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, arriving 24 October 1981.
The ship steamed a total of one hundred and thirty-three days underway and forty-nine days inport, for an operating tempo of seventy-three percent.
The month of November was spent in post deployment stand down and local operations, including Submarine Prospective Commanding Officer Operations on 30 November. The ship received notification on 28 November that it would be the Commander In Chief Pacific Fleets' recipient of the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for
fiscal year 1981.
Following a port visit to Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui, USS LOS ANGELES conducted a dependents cruise on 7 December, and spent the remainder of the month of December in port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, undergoing an upkeep at the Naval Submarine Base.
