The contract to build SSN 690 was awarded on January 8, 1971 and her keel was laid on August 12, 1972. She was launched on October 19, 1974 and commissioned on June 25, 1977.

June 18, 2003 USS Philadelphia, commanded by Cmdr. Steven M. Oxholm, departed Naval Submarine Base New London, Conn., in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

She became the first Los Angeles-class submarine to complete 1,000 dives, Dec. 4, at 5:39 p.m. The Philadelphia achieved the milestone during a seven-month deployment. Although this is the first Los Angeles-class submarine to accomplish this feat, it is the fourth nuclear-powered submarine to do so. The dive took place on the equator in sunny 85-degree weather.

January 18, 2004 SSN 690 returned to homeport after a seven-month underway period.

September 5, 2005 The collision between USS Philadelphia and the Turkish-flagged M/V Yaso Aysen occurred at approximately 2:00 a.m. local time while the submarine was conducting surfaced operations as it transited to Bahrain for a scheduled port visit. The submarine's propulsion plant was unaffected by this event. She will continue to Bahrain for inspection of any potential exterior damage. The incident is under investigation. The submarine is currently on a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. Navy Central Command area of responsibility conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO).

October 14, SSN 690 pulled to Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, for a routine port call.

July 7, 2007 USS Philadelphia, commanded by Cmdr. Jeff Jablon, departed Groton for a scheduled deployment, as part of USS Enterprise Carrier Strike Group 12.

October 7, The Los Angeles-class attack submarine departed Manama, Bahrain, after a scheduled port visit.

November 13, SSN 690 concluded a three-day anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise in the North Arabian Sea.

December 25, The Philadelphia recently pulled to Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, for a routine port call.

January 24, 2008 USS Philadelhia returned to homeport after a successful six-month deployment. During the underway period the sub also visited Toulon, France; Rota, Spain and Aquaba, Jordan.

July 13, 2009 USS Philadelphia departed Naval Submarine Base New London for its final deployment before inactivation next summer.

January 15, 2010 SSN 690 pulled to Gibraltar for a scheduled port visit.

February 3, The Philadelphia returned to Groton, Conn., after a nearly seven-month underway period.

April 23, Cmdr. Dave Soldow relieved Cmdr. John Spencer as CO of the SSN 690 during a change-of-command ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London.

June 25, USS Philadelphia held a decommissioning ceremony at Groton, Conn., after a 33 years of service.

July 9, USS Philadelphia departed NSB New London for the final time and will head to Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth to start its inactivation process.