The Houston (SSN 713) is the 26th Los Angeles-class attack submarine and the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for Houston, Texas. 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 January 29, 1979; She was christened and launched on March 21, 1981. Mrs. Barbara Bush, wife of Vice-President of the United States George H. W. Bush, served as sponsor of the ship; Capt. G. H. Mensch is the prospective commanding officer.

September 25, 1982 USS Houston was commissioned during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk's Pier 23 in Norfolk, Va.

October 15, The Houston completed Refresher Training (REFTRA) and provisional MK 48 torpedo certification. Completed emergent repairs to its reduction gears on Nov. 23; Underway for COMPTUEX 1-83 from Dec. 2-17; REFTRA at NSB New London in Groton, Conn., from Jan. 8-23, 1983; Underway for Weapons Systems Acceptance Trials (WSAT) in the Puerto Rican Op. Area through Feb. 19; Underway for acoustic trials off Eleuthera Island, Bahamas, on Feb. 22; Port visit to Houston, Texas, from March 16-22; Returned to Norfolk on March 29.

April 29, SSN 713 entered the Newport News shipyard for a four-month Post Shakedown Availability (PSA).

May 28, Cmdr. C. A. Tzomes relieved Capt. G. H. Mensch as CO of the Houston during a change-of-command ceremony at Dry Dock #1 in Newport News.

From October 1-4, USS Houston was underway for sea trials. Departed Naval Station Norfolk for the last time on Nov. 4.

November 12, The Los Angeles-class attack submarine arrived in Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, for a three-day port visit. Transited Panama Canal on Nov. 18.

November 23, USS Houston arrived at its new homeport of Naval Submarine Base Point Loma in San Diego, Calif.

From January 16-27, 1984, the Houston was underway in support of Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) project 234 to conduct technical evaluation of Combat Control System MK 1 and Data Link Comunications System.

From February 6 through March 4, SSN 713 was underway for operational evaluation of CCS MK 1 and DLCS at the Barking Sands Tactical Underwater range off the coast of Hawaii. Underway for READIEX 84-3 from March 14-27; Underway in support on CNO project 251 from April 10-18; Upkeep at Trident Refit Facility at Naval Submarine Base Bangor, Wash., from April 29- May 18; Completed its first Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination (ORSE) from June 6-8; Underway in support on CNO project 251 from June 27-29 and July 23-27; Participated in READIEX 84-4 from July 31- Aug. 3.

September 1, USS Houston arrived in CFB Esquimalt, B.C., Canada, for a two-day port visit. Upkeep at Trident Refit Facility Bangor from Sept. 4- Oct. 5; Underway in support on CNO project 251 from Nov. 6-11; Commenced a four-week Fleet Maintenance Availability (FMAV) with USS McKee (AS 41) at NSB Point Loma on Nov. 12; Underway for sonar calibration operations from Jan. 7-11, 1985; Underway in support of CNO project 251 from Feb. 4-15; Underway again on Feb. 23.

February 28, USS Houston entered the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, Calif., for a 10-week Selected Restricted Availability (SRA). Completed navigation certification on June 17; Underway for ORSE from July 10-12; Upkeep with USS McKee from July 15-28 and Aug. 17-29; Emergent drydocking at Mare Island shipyard from Sept. 9-14; Underway for Pre-Overseas Movement Certification (POMCERT) from Sept. 25-28.

October 3, USS Houston departed San Diego for its maiden western Pacific deployment. Returned on Dec. 23.

From March 24- April 4, 1986, the Houston was underway for Operational Test Launch (OTL) 21 and READIEX 86-3. Underway for OPRE from, April 7-11; Underway for OTL-15 from May 12-16.

May 24, Cmdr. A. J. Dionizio, Jr., relieved Cmdr. C. A. Tzomes as the 3rd CO of SSN 713.

From December 8-12, the Los Angeles-class attack submarine was underway for Pre-Overseas Movement (POM) workups. Underway for POMCERT from Dec. 15-19.

January 5, 1987 USS Houston departed Naval Submarine Base Point Loma for a scheduled six-month deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR).

From August 23-28, the Houston was underway for local operations. Underway again in the SOCAL Op. Area from Aug. 31- Sept. 19, Sept. 27- Oct. 2 and Oct. 5-9.

October 17, USS Houston entered the floating dry-dock USS Arco (ARDM 5) at Point Loma for a four-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA). Undocked on Dec. 19; Completed ORSE in March 1988; Underway for POM workups and certification in June.

July ?, USS Houston departed homeport for a scheduled six-month western Pacific deployment.

March 1, 1989 Cmdr. J. H. Sohl, III relieved Cmdr. A. J. Dionizio, Jr., as commanding officer of the Houston.

In April, USS Houston was underway for operations in the SOCAL and Puget Sound Op. Areas. Participated in filming of the Paramont movie " Hunt for the Red October", from May through June, off the coast of Port Angeles, Wash., and Los Angeles, Calif.

From August through September, SSN 713 was underway in the northern Pacific. Participated in PACEX ' 89 in late September. Emergent repairs in dry-dock Arco in October; Underway in support of CNO project in November; Underway for Tactical Readiness Evaluation (TRE) in December.

December 8, Cmdr. Stanley R. Szemborski assumed temporary command of the USS Houston.

In January 1990, the Houston was inport Naval Submarine Base Bangor, Wash., in preparation for DMP; Cmdr. G. A. Wallace assumed command of the ship in February; SSN 713 arrived in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in March.

May 4, USS Houston entered the dry-dock at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for a 14-month Depot Modernization Period (DMP). Undocked on Nov. 14; Underway for sea trials on July 1, 1991; Returned to San Diego in August.

September 20, The Houston returned to NSB Point Loma after a three-week underway for acoustic trials at Bangor, Wash., and a port visit to San Francisco, Calif. In dry-dock Arco from Oct. 21 through Nov. 21.

In January 1992, USS Houston was underway for special operations for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Underay for local operations and ORSE in March and April; Underway for Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in Hawaii from May through early July.

August 13, Cmdr. Mark R. Lenci relieved Cmdr. G. A. Wallace as CO of the Houston.

In September, SSN 713 was underway for FLEETEX with the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Battle Group. Underway for POMCERT in October.

November 3, USS Houston departed San Diego for a scheduled deployment as part of the Kitty Hawk BG. Port visit to Pattaya, Thailand, in early December.

December 10, The Los Angeles-class attack submarine pulled into Singapore for a four-day port call. Inport Yokosuka, Japan, in late December for upkeep; Participated in a joint exercise with the six Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) diesel submarines in February and also supported USS Independence (CV 62) BG and USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) ARG.

In March 1993, USS Houston participated in a Submarine Launched Mobile Mine Exercise off the coast of Tinian and made a port call to Apra Harbor, Guam, for FMAV with the USS Holland (AS 32); Port visit to Darwin, Australia, in April.

May 3, USS Houston returned to homeport after a six-month deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet AoR.

In July and August, the Houston was underway for Midshipmen operations. Underway for local operations and a Dependent's Cruise in September.

In October, SSN 713 entered the floating dry-dock USS Arco (ARDM 5) for a three-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA).

In February 1994, USS Houston was underway for torpedo testing at the Nanoose test range off British Columbia, Canada, acoustic trials at the Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility (SEAFAC) in Behm Canal off Ketchikan, Alaska, and a port visit to Esquimalt, B.C; Underway for local operations and ORSE in March; Underway for POMCERT in May; Underway for a Dependent's Cruise on May 21.

June 21, USS Houston departed homeport for a six-month western Pacific deployment. Upkeep in Yokosuka, Japan, with USS Holland from July through August; Inport Yokosuka again in September and November; Port call to White Beach, Okinawa, in November; Tiger Cruise from Pearl Harbor in December.

From January 19-23, 1995, the Houston was underway for ASW services in the SOCAL Op. Area. Underway for sea trials and Tomahawk/Harpoon operations from March 10-16; Underway in support of Kernal Blitz exercise and ASW exercises on March 24; Inport NAS Alameda in San Francisco, Calif., from April 7-10; Returned to San Diego on April 11; Underway for local operations from April 28-30.

May 5, Cmdr. Dale M. Ness relieved Cmdr. Mark R. Lenci as the 8th commanding officer of Houston.

From May 6-17, USS Houston was underway for Tactical Weapons Training, Proficiency and Certification (TWTPC). Underway for sea trials from June 26-29; Underway for acoustic trials at SEAFAC range on July 6; Inport San Francisco from July 24-28; Returned home on Aug. 1; Underway for sea trials from Sept. 12-13; Underway again for acoustic trials on Sept. 19; Inport Bangor, Wash., from Oct. 13-16; Returned home on Nov. 17.

From January 29 through Feb. 15, 1996, the Houston was underway for local operations and ORSE. Underway for local operations and acoustic trials at SEAFAC from March 18- April 14; Underway again on April 29; Inport San Francisco from May 6-8; Returned to San Diego on May 10; Underway for sea trials from June 13-14; Underway for POM workups and Operational Readiness Evaluation (ORE) from June 17- July 1; Underway for ASW exercises, TRE and POMCERT from July 8-14.

August 5, USS Houston departed Naval Submarine Base Point Loma for a scheduled western Pacific deployment.

October 3, The Los Angeles-class attack submarine Arrived in Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, for a 10-day upkeep. Inport White Beach, Okinawa, from Nov. 4-10; FMAV with USS Frank Cable (AS 40) in Apra Harbor, Guam, from Nov. 16-29.

December 4, USS Houston pulled into Hong Kong for a five-day port visit. Brief stop in Yokosuka from Dec. 13-14 before participating in a joint exercise Shin Kane 97-2; Inport Yokosuka again from Dec. 18-19; Upkeep in Guam from Dec. 23- Jan. 13; Inport Guam again from Jan. 16-17.

January 31, 1997 USS Houston returned to San Diego after a six-month deployment.

From March 10-14, the Houston was underway for local operations. Underway for VIP cruise on March 17; Underway again from March 18-25, May 8-9 and 15-23rd; Underway for Tactical Weapons Proficiency and Tactical Readiness Examination from May 27- June 5; Underway for a Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) assessment from June 10-11; Commenced a three-month SRA on June 25; Underway for sea trials from Sept. 26-28; Underway for local operations from Oct. 6-14.

From November 29 through Dec. 19, SSN 713 was underway for the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) BG's COMPTUEX as part of the opposition forces.

From January 5-19, 1998, the Houston was underway for acoustic trials at the SEAFAC range. Underway for local operations from Jan. 19-22; Underway for ORSE from Jan. 26-28.

January 30, Cmdr. Michael A. Zieser relieved Cmdr. Dale M. Ness as CO of the USS Houston.

From March 6-8, the Houston was underway for Coordinated Submarine Radiated Noise Analysis (CSRNA) with the USS Portsmouth (SSN 707). Underway for TWP from March 16-27; Underway for local operations from March 30- April 3; Underway for TRE and POMCERT from April 6-9; Underway for CSRNA from April 27-28.

May 1, USS Houston departed San Diego for a scheduled western Pacific deployment. Brief stops in Yokosuka, Japan, on May 13 and Okinawa on May 15.

June 15, The Houston arrived in Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan, for a three-day port call before participating in a joint exercises with the JMSDF. Brief stop in Sasebo on June 27; Port visit to Pattaya, Thailand, from July 8-12; FMAV with USS Frank Cable in Guam from July 25- Aug. 20.

August 25, The nuclear-powered submarine pulled into Yokosuka, Japan, for a five-day port call. Inport Yokosuka again from Oct. 14-16; Brief stop in Pearl Harbor on Oct. 23; Brief stop in San Diego to embark Nuclear Propulsion Examination Board (NPEB) personal for ORSE on Oct. 29.

October 31, USS Houston returned to NSB Point Loma after a six-month deployment.

From November 30- Dec. 5, the Hoston was underway in support of CNO project in the SOCAL Op. Area. Underway for VIP cruise on Dec. 11 and Feb. 12, 1999; Underway for the USS Constellation (CV 64) BG's COMPTUEX, as part of the opposition forces, from Feb. 19-25; Underway for local operations from March 29- April 1 and May 6-7; Underway for VIP cruise and local operations from May 17-21; Underway for VIP cruise on May 24; Underway for local operations from May 25- June 10; Underway for TWP from June 21- July 2; Underway for a port visit to Esquimalt, B.C., Canada, from July 6-16; Underway for a Midshipmen operations from July 19-23; Underway for a Dependent's Cruise on July 26 and 27th; Underway for local operations from July 28- Aug. 4, Sept. 9-10 and 17-23rd; Underway for VIP cruise on Sept. 24; Underway for ORSE from Sept. 27-30.

October 3, USS Houston departed San Diego for special operations in the eastern Pacific. Inport Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, from Oct. 13-23; Returned home on Oct. 23; Underway for local operations from Nov. 15-18 and Dec. 15-16.

From April 12-20, 2001, USS Houston conducted three Tomahawk Operational Test Launches (OTL), off the West coast.

August 31, The Houston arrived in Naval Station Bremerton, Wash., after a four-day transit from Naval Submarine Base Point Loma, Calif.

September 18, SSN 713 entered the Dry Dock #1 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton for a two-year Engineered Refueling Overhaul (ERO). The upgrades included reactor refueling, as well as navigation, fire control and sonar upgrades; Commenced the nuclear reactor refueling process on Jan. 7, 2002.

May 20, Cmdr. Christopher J. Kaiser relieved Cmdr. Daniel P. Mack as CO of the Houston during a change-of-command ceremony at the Naval Undersea Warfare Museum in Keyport, Wash.

The old reactor core was removed on June 20 and the installation of new one was completed on Dec. 20; The refueling process completed on Jan. 10, 2003.

October 9, USS Houston moved from dry-dock to Pier 6 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Completed reactor plant Cold Ops. on Nov. 3; Underway for sea trials from June 20-25, 2004; Underway for sea trials, Independent Steaming Exercises (ISE) and Commanding Officer's Discretionary Time (CODT) from July 13-29; Commenced a four-month Post-Overhaul Restricted Availability on July 29.

November 28, The nuclear-powered submarined arrived in Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor for a five-day visit to onload training weapons before conducting acoustic trials at the Acoustic Measurement Facility (SEAFAC) in Behm Canal off Ketchikan, Alaska.

December 24, USS Houston arrived at its new homeport of Apra Harbor, Guam. She become the third submarine to be assigned to Commander Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) 15.

January 7, 2005 Cmdr. John S. Zavadil relieved Cmdr. Christopher J. Kaiser as CO of the SSN 713.

October 18, USS Houston partnered with the Australian Navy in September to strengthen its warfare capabilities through an annual joint exercise, Lungfish 2005. Lungfish 2005 is a tactical development exercise between the two navies that trains and teaches tracking methods of both nuclear and diesel submarines. In a direct response to the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s priority to enhance anti-submarine warfare abilities, the submarine’s crew participated in two anti-submarine missions and joint submarine command courses while deployed to Perth, Australia, this summer.

September 20, 2006 USS Houston is currently in Port Kelang, Malaysia, for a scheduled port visit. The submarine is toured by Royal Malaysian Navy officers as part of a 2-day conference sponsored by the United States and Australia, aimed at helping the Royal Malaysian Navy prepare for its first submarine in 2009.

June 24, 2008 SSN 713 pulled to Pearl Harbor prior to the start of the Rim of the Pacific 2008 Exercise. RIMPAC, the world's largest multinational exercise, is scheduled biennially by U.S. Pacific Fleet and takes place in the Hawaiian operating area during June 29 - July 31. Participants include Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Netherlands, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, United Kingdom and the U.S. India, Colombia, Mexico, and Russia are scheduled to send observers.

August 28, 2009 Cmdr. David G. Schappert relieved Cmdr. Michael D. Lewis as commanding officer of the Houston.

February 26, 2010 USS Houston arrived in Subic Bay, Philippines, for a scheduled port visit.

November 23, The Houston arrived in Chinhae, Republic of Korea, for a routine port call.

December 8, The Los Angeles-class attack submarine is currently participating in joint-bilateral exercise Keen Sword 2011 off the coast of Japan.

January 31, 2011 USS Houston pulled into Sepangar Naval Base for a scheduled port visit to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, and to conduct repairs while moored outboard of a submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), that arrived here Jan. 28.

January 17, 2012 USS Houston arrived at its new homeport of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, after nine years forward-deployed to Guam. SSN 713 will be assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) 7.

February 17, Cmdr. Paul Davis relieved Cmdr. David G. Schappert as CO of the Houston during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ex-USS Missouri (BB 63).

October 5, The Houston recently arrived at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, Calif.

July 15, 2013 USS Houston departed Pearl Harbor for a scheduled western Pacific deployment.

August 9, SSN 713 pulled into Apra Harbor, Guam, for a routine port call.

December 9, The Houston moored at Changi Naval Base in Singapore for a routine port call.

February 14, 2014 USS Houston returned to homeport after a seven-month deployment.

July 31, Cmdr. Scott McGinnis relieved Cmdr. Paul Davis as CO of the Houston during a change-of-command ceremony on board the sub. SSN 713 is currently undergoing a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

January 6, 2015 The Los Angeles-class attack submarine departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for local operations.

April 2?, USS Houston departed homeport for a scheduled western Pacific deployment.

May 8, The Houston moored at Berth 13S in Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, for a four-day port visit.

July 15, USS Houston moored at Berth 5, Changi Naval Base in Singapore to participate in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise; Underway for at-sea phase from July 19-23.

September 10, SSN 713 moored at Berth 2, Akasaki Pier in Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan, for a six-day port visit; Brief stop off White Beach, Okinawa, on Sept. 20 and 25th.

October 28, USS Houston moored at Sierra 10 Wharf in Pearl Harbor after completing its last six-month deployment.

June 6, 2016 The Houston departed Pearl Harbor for the last time en route to Bremerton, Wash., to commence a year-long inactivation process at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard; Moored at Berth 2, Delta Pier on Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton on July 14.

July 28, USS Houston is inactivated and placed in Reserve (Stand Down) status.

August 26, USS Houston held a decommissioning ceremony at the Deterrent Park on Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, after a 34-years of active service.

August 24, 2017 USS Houston was officially decommissioned and stricken from the U.S. Naval Vessel Register.