USS Albuquerque (SSN-706)

By ETR2(SS) Dick Brown, USN (Vet)

USS Albuquerque (SSN-706) is a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine, in fact, one of the first nuclear subs to earn the distinction of combat veteran. She is known as the “Sureshooter of the Submarine Force” as her Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles hit 100% of their targets during the 1999 Kosovo conflict.

Some statistics for USS Albuquerque:

Ship's Sponsor: Nancy L. Domenici, wife of New Mexico Senator Pete V. Domenici

Launched: March 13, 1982

Commissioned: May 21, 1983

Length: 360 ft

Beam: 33 feet

Draft: 29 ft

Displacement: 6900 tons

Speed: more than 25 knots (submerged)

Depth: greater than 800 ft

Crew: 129 highly trained professionals, average age 21

Weapons: Mk 48 torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles


Last year, USS Albuquerque changed her homeport from Groton, CT to San Diego, CA. For quite some time, our submarines have been split 50-50 in the Atlantic and Pacific but we have restructured our Submarine Force to meet emerging new threats, placing 60% of our submarine resources in the Pacific. Transferring Albuquerque to Point Loma Naval Sub Base in San Diego was the last move to complete the new 60-40 split.

So her last 6-month deployment was also a repositioning cruise, starting with a run across the Atlantic, through the straits of Gibraltar, to Souda Bay, Crete. She then transited the Suez Canal to the Red Sea and on into the Arabian Gulf. She stopped in Bahrain in the Persian Gulf and later stopped at Diego Garcia for repairs and some fishing. She maneuvered through Indonesia to Guam and Saipan, then Yokosuka, Japan and Pearl Harbor, HI, and finally on to San Diego.

While USS Albuquerque was refueled in 2003, she is set to be decommissioning around 2015, the limitation being end of hull life.

The submarine crew has enjoyed a long-standing city-sub relationship, one of the most active in the nation, thanks to the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. The last crew visit was February 2010.

At the commissioning ceremony for USS Albuquerque, Mayor Harry Kinney offered the keys to a Rolls Royce to the first skipper who brings USS Albuquerque up the Rio Grande for a port call. Those keys are passed to the new skipper at each change of command ceremony. As of July 23, 2010, Albuquerque’s new skipper is CDR Chris Cavanaugh; perhaps he will find a way to claim the prize.

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USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) Holds Change of Command

From: Submarine Squadron 11 Public Affairs, July 23, 2010

NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA, Calif. - Cmdr. Christopher J. Cavanaugh relieved Cmdr. Michael G. Badorf as Commanding Officer of the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) during a pier side change of command ceremony on Naval Base Point Loma, July 23.

Under Badorf's command, Albuquerque steamed more than 50,000 miles in support of the Chief of Naval Operations' Maritime Strategy. He successfully completed an inter-fleet transfer and change of homeport from Groton, Conn. to San Diego as part of an around the world six month deployment through three Fleet Areas of Responsibility.

Rear Adm. Jerry K. Burroughs, Program Executive Officer of Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence, was the guest speaker.

"As a former commanding officer, each time I see this wonderful ship, it rekindles fond memories," said Rear Adm. Burroughs. "The best day in a Navy Submarine Officer's career is the day one assumes command of a boat."

Cavanaugh expressed his enthusiasm in his upcoming command tour stating, "I have been continually impressed by the motivation, the optimism, and the general desire to do well on Albuquerque... For me, there is no higher honor than to lead you as your commanding officer."

Cavanaugh, a native of Convoy Ohio, began his Navy career in 1993 after graduating from the United States Naval Academy with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Badorf, a native of Lititz, Penn., will serve his next tour of duty as the senior member of the Atlantic Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examination Board in Norfolk, Va. His previous assignments include USS Portsmouth (SSN 707), USS Charlotte (SSN 766) and USS Asheville (SSN 758). He holds a master's degree in nuclear engineering from University of California at Berkeley and a master's degree in international affairs from the Catholic University of America. Badorf received the Meritorious Service Medal for his command tour.