The San Francisco (SSN 711), a Los Angeles-class submarine, is the third ship of the U.S. Navy to be named for San Francisco, California. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia, on August 1, 1975, and her keel was laid down on May 26, 1977. She was christened and launched on October 27, 1979, sponsored by Mrs Robert Y. Kaufman, and commissioned on April 24, 1981, with Cmdr. J. Allen Marshall in command.

After initial shakedown operations, USS San Francisco joined the Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet and transited to her homeport of Pearl Harbor. While enroute, she conducted its initial visit to San Francisco, participating in Fleet Week 1981.

During its first operating cycle SSN 711 completed deployments to the western Pacific in 1982, 1985, and 1986, conducting a variety of operations and exercises as a member of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. The ship conducted independent submarine operations deployed to the northern Pacific in 1986 and 1988.

During a demanding Depot Modernization Period (DMP) at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in 1989-1990, USS San Francisco was equipped with the newest and most capable submarine sensor and combat systems and made fully ready to perform the variety of missions assigned to the submarine force.

Following the DMP, she completed sea trials and a series of rigorous certification inspections and returned to the fleet to resume operations. Two highly successful deployments to the western Pacific were completed in 1992 and 1994 with ports of call in Hong Kong, Singapore, Chinhae, South Korea, Guam, Sasebo and Yokosuka, Japan. In December 1994, the nuclear submarine conducted a dependents cruise to Lahaina, Maui.

From June through December 1996, the San Francisco was deployed to the western Pacific, visiting Yokosuka and Sasebo Japan; Subic Bay, Philippines; and Apra Harbor, Guam.

May 22, 2000 USS San Francisco arrived in Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Va., for Engineered Refueling Overhaul (EOR).

December 18, 2002 USS San Francisco arrived in its new homeport of Apra Harbor, Guam, to join the USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN 705) as a member of Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 15. She is the second of three submarines to be homeported in Guam. The third submarine, yet unnamed, will arrive in 2004.

June 4, 2004 USS San Francisco returned to Apra Harbor after a five-month western Pacific deployment.

January 8, 2005 USS San Francisco ran aground, at approximately 12 a.m., while conducting submerged operations 360 miles southeast of Guam.

January 10, The San Francisco arrived safely in Guam this afternoon. Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Joseph Allen Ashley, died on Jan. 9 from injuries suffered during the accident. Twenty-three other Sailors were treated by medical teams dispatched out to the submarine for a range of injuries, including broken bones, lacerations, bruises and a back injury. The submarine had a crew of 137 at the time of the incident.

February 12, Vice Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet relieved Cmdr. Kevin Mooney as CO of the SSN 711 following non-judicial punishment (NJP) proceedings held in Yokosuka, Japan.

May 9, The U.S. Navy announced today the completion of the investigation into the Jan. 8 accident aboard the San Francisco that claimed the life of one Sailor. She struck an undersea mountain about 360 miles southeast of its Guam homeport because its leaders and watch teams failed to develop and execute a safe voyage plan, the command investigation into the incident concluded. "The findings of fact show that San Francisco, while transiting at flank (maximum) speed and submerged to 525 feet, hit a seamount that did not appear on the chart being used for navigation", the 124-page report said of the incident in the vicinity of the Caroline Islands. "Other charts in San Francisco’s possession did, however, clearly display a navigation hazard in the vicinity of the grounding", it said.

August 17, USS San Francisco departed Apra Harbor en route to Bremerton, Wash., for repairs.

In June 2006 it was announced that San Francisco's bow section was to be replaced with that of the soon to be retired USS Honolulu (SSN 718) at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Though the San Francisco is four years older than the Honolulu, she was refueled and upgraded in 2000-2002; Entered the dry-dock on Dec. 5.

October 10, 2008 The San Francisco returned to the water after successfully undocking at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS&IMF).

April 17, 2009 USS San Francisco arrived in its new homeport of Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, more than four years after an accident that costed U.S. Navy $136 million for the nose replacement repairs.

November 16, 2010 USS San Francisco departed San Diego for a scheduled western Pacific deployment.

January 19, 2011 The San Francisco arrived in Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan, for a six-day port call.

May 24, USS San Francisco returned home after a six-month deployment. The sub traveled more than 30,000 n.m. and also made port calls to Guam and Singapore.

July 22, Cmdr. Eric L. Severseike relieved Cmdr. Nathan H. Martin as CO of the San Francisco during a change-of-command ceremony at the Roncador Submarine Memorial on Naval Base Point Loma.

November 1, USS San Francisco departed dry-dock Arco (ARDM 5) at Naval Base Point Loma after a four-month extensive docking availability, the largest shipyard work period ever performed at Arco.

June 8, 2012 Capt. Thomas E. Ishee relieved Capt. Richard A. Correll as Commander, Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) 11, during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the SSN 711.

December 18, USS San Francisco departed Naval Base Point Loma for a scheduled western Pacific deployment.

January 2, 2013 SSN 711 pulled into Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, for a six-day port call.

January 31, The San Francisco arrived in Chinhae Naval Base for a scheduled port visit to the Republic of Korea.

April 3, USS San Francisco pulled into Apra Harbor, Guam, for a routine port call. Brief stop at Okinawa on Sept. 13; Brief stop at Sasebo on April 17.

May 15, The Los Angeles-class attack submarine moored outboard the USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) in Fleet Activities Sasebo for a five-day Fleet Maintenance Availability (FMAV).

July 5, USS San Francisco returned to San Diego after a six-and-a-half month deployment.

January 24, 2014 Cmdr. Jeffrey K. Juergens relieved Cmdr. Eric L. Severseike as CO of SSN 711 during a change-of-command ceremony on board the sub at Naval Base Point Loma.

July 11, USS San Francisco departed homeport for a scheduled western Pacific deployment.

July 26, The San Francisco arrived in White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, Japan, for a brief stop.

October 3, SSN 711 arrived at Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Teritory, for a routine port call. Brief stop at Okinawa on Dec. 7.

December 30, The San Francisco moored at Berth 13S in Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, for an extended 17-day port call to conduct emergent repairs.

February 9, 2015 USS San Francisco returned to Naval Base Point Loma after a seven-month deployment. The sub traveled more than 39,000 nautical miles and also made port call to Apra Harbor, Guam.

April 2, The San Francisco entered the floating dry-dock Arco for a routine maintenance availability; Underway for sea trials from May 27-28?; Underway for VIP cruise in early June.

July 10, USS San Francisco departed Mike Pier for a routine training off the coast of southern California; Brief stop off NB Point Loma for personnel transfer on July 13; Returned home on July 16; Underway again on July 20; Brief stop off NB Point Loma to embark guests on July 22; Moored at Sierra Pier on July 29; Underway again on July 31; Moored at Mike Pier on Aug. 5.

August 11, SSN 711 moored at Sierra Pier, NB Point Loma after underway for local operations; Underway again from Aug. 17-27, Nov. 9-1?.

November 24, The San Francisco moored at North Side Inner Sierra Pier after a six-day underway in the SOCAL Op. Area; Underway for local operations on Nov. 2?; Moored at N/S/I Mike Pier on Dec. ?; Underway again from Dec. 7-1?.

March 30, 2016 USS San Francisco departed Naval Base Point Loma for its final western Pacific deployment.

April 14, The Los Angeles-class attack submarine made a brief stop off White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, Japan, for personnel transfer.

May 23, The San Francisco recently transited the Strait of Malacca northbound to participate in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercise Guardian Sea, in the Andaman Sea, from May 23-27.

May 30, USS San Francisco moored at Berth 5, Changi Naval Base in Singapore for a liberty port visit; Inport White Beach, Okinawa, from June 13-14; Brief stop at White Beach on June 18; Brief stop in Sasebo, Japan, on June 27.

June 30, SSN 711 moored at Akasaki Pier in Fleet Activities Sasebo for a six-day upkeep.

August 14, USS San Francisco moored at Berth 13S in Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, for a five-day port visit.

From August 22-26, the San Francisco participated in a Ship Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW) Readiness and Evaluation Measurement (SHAREM) exercise, while underway in the Philippine Sea, with the USS Decatur (DDG 73), USS Spruance (DDG 111), JS Teruzuki (DD 116) and Oyashio-class diesel-electric submarine.

September 5, The San Francisco recently moored outboard the USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) at Alpha Wharf in Apra Harbor, Guam, for a Fleet Maintenance Availability (FMAV).

October 10, USS San Francisco moored at Berth C, Pier 80 in Port of San Francisco, Calif., for a two-day liberty visit, the last to its namesake city before inactivated early next year and converted into a Moored Training Ship (MTS).

October 14, USS San Francisco moored at N/S/O Mike Pier on Naval Base Point Loma after a six-and-a-half month deployment.

November 4, USS San Francisco held a decommissioning ceremony on board the sub at Mike Pier, after more than 35 years of active service. Also, Capt. Daniel B. Caldwell relieved Cmdr. Jeffrey K. Juergens as the last commanding officer.

November 28, SSN 711 departed San Diego for the last time en route to Norfolk, Virginia; Transited the Panama Canal on Dec. 5; Moored at Naval Station Norfolk on Dec. 12.

January 25, 2017 USS San Francisco moored at Berth 38 on Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a two-year conversion into a Moored Training Ship (MTS); Inactivated on May 11; Entered the Dry Dock #3 on Dec. 7.

October 5, 2020 USS San Francisco undocked and moored pierside at Norfolk Naval Shipyard; Underway, under tow by offshore tug Gary Chouest, en route to Charleston, S.C., on Aug. 16, 2021.

May 15, 2022 USS San Francisco was officially decommissioned and stricken from the U.S. Naval Vessel Register.