USS La Jolla (SSN-701), a Los Angeles-class submarine, is named for La Jolla, California. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 10 December 1973 and her keel was laid down on 16 October 1976. She was launched on 11 August 1979 sponsored by Mrs. Bob Wilson, and commissioned on 24 October 1981, with Captain James R. Lang in command. During the sea trials for the La Jolla, an incident where there was a loss of ship control and subsequent depth excursion led to the retirement of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover. In late 1982, about 30 miles out of San Francisco, La Jolla, while at periscope depth, collided with Permit, operating on the surface. La Jolla suffered minor rudder damage, while putting a ten-foot long, three-foot wide scrape in the paint on Permit’s keel. La Jolla was the first to successfully test fire a Tomahawk cruise missile while submerged at the Pacific Missile Test Center on 29 April 1983. Her commanding officer at the time was Cdr. Garnet C. Beard, who was later promoted to Navy Captain. Capt. Beard appeared in the movie Crimson Tide, and was listed in the credits as a consultant to that film. Wikipedia [ - ]

USS La Jolla (SSN-701), a Los Angeles-class submarine, is named for La Jolla, California. The... [ + ]