The Memphis (SSN 691) is the 4th Los Angeles-class attack submarine and the sixth ship of the U.S. Navy to be named for Memphis, Tennessi. The contract to build her was awarded to the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia, on February 4, 1971, and her keel was laid down on June 23, 1973. She was christened and launched on April 3, 1976; Mrs. Catherine Beard, the wife of Honorable Robin L. Beard, Jr., served as sponsor of the ship. USS Memphis was commissioned on December 17, 1977, at Newport News, Va. Capt. G. Dennis Hicks in command.

June 22, 1979 USS Memphis departed Naval Station Norfolk for its maiden Mediterranean deployment. Port calls to La Maddalena, Sardinia; La Spezia, Italy; Augusta Bay, Sicily; Ashdod, Israel; Naples, Italy; and Gibraltar. Returned to homeport on Nov. 15.

From February 13 through March 9, 1980, the Memphis was underway for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercises. InportPort Everglades from Feb. 22-25.

March 15, Cmdr. James W. Davis, Jr., relieved Capt. G. Dennis Hicks as CO of the USS Memphis.

April 18, The Los Angeles-class attack submarine arrived in Annapolis, Md., fo a two-day visitto U.S. Naval Academy.

May 22, USS Memphis departed Norfolk for Prospective Commanding Officer (PCO) operations at the AUTEC range and acoustic trials at Exuma Sound. Brief stop in Port Canaveral on May 28; Departed Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton after emergent drydocking on June 25; Underway for a week-long training availability (TRAV) at Groton, Conn., on Aug. 2; Underway for Pre-Overseas Movement Certification (POMCERT) from Aug. 25-29.

September 9, USS Memphis departed homeport for a scheduled Indian Ocean deployment. Port call to Naples, Italy, in early October.

December 7, The Memphis departed Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Teritory, after a four-week upkeep with the USS Emory S. Land (AS 39). Inport Diego Garcia again from Jan. 29-31, 1981.

February 6, SSN 691 moored at HMAS Stirling in Garden Island, Australia, for a four-day visit to Perth. Transited Panama Canal on March 2.

March 7, USS Memphis returned to Norfolk after a six-month around-the-world cruise, steaming more than 50,000 nautical miles.

March 31, The Memphis entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., for a two-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA). Completed ORSE on Aug. 6; Underway for MK 48 proficiency and Refresher Training at the AUTEC range in September; Underway for Atlantic Ocean deployment from Oct. 8 through Nov. 16.

March 17, 1982 USS Memphis departed Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled Mediterranean deployment.

June 19, The Memphis arrived in La Maddalena, Sardinia, for the fourth time to conduct voyage repairs. Underway on July 8; Inport Naples, Italy, from July 17-21; Returned to homeport on Aug. 6. Underway for special operations from Sept. 20- Oct. 7; Underway for PCO operations and weapons certification at the AUTEC range from Nov. 29- Dec. 13; Underway for torpedo testing at AUTEC on January 12, 1983; Inport Port Everglades from Jan. 16-19; Returned to Norfolk on Jan. 27.

February 23, USS Memphis entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for an 11-week SRA.

July 30, Cmdr. William L. Norris relieved Cmdr. James W. Davis, Jr., as the 3rd commanding officer of SSN 691.

From August 22- Sept. 4, the Memphis was underway for PCO operations at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) range. Magnetic deperming at Lambert's Point, Va., in early November; Underway for TRE and in support of USS America (CV 66) BG's COMPTUEX in the Puerto Rican Op. Area from Nov. 9 through Dec. 5; Inport Port Everglades, Fla., from Nov. 15-17.

January 4, 1984 The Los Angeles-class attack submarine departed homeport for a western Atlantic deployment. Returned on March 7.

July 21, USS Memphis departed Norfolk for a scheduled northern Atlantic deployment. Inport Holy Loch, Scotland, from Oct. 16-18; Port call to Faslane, Scotland, from Oct. 18-22; Returned home on Oct. 30.

April 1, 1985 SSN 691 entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for an 18-month Regular Overhaul (ROH). Departed dry-dock on May 1, 1986; Underway for sea trials from Oct. 13-18; Drydocked again on Oct. 21; Underway for sea trials from Nov. 20-21; Underway for Weapons System Acceptance Testing (WSAT) on Nov. 26; Inport Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, P.R., from Dec. 5-12; Operations at St. Croix weapons range from Dec. 12-17; Returned to Norfolk on Dec. 21.

January 5, 1987 USS Memphis departed Norfolk for routine training. REFTRA at Naval Station Charleston, S.C., from Jan. 10-23; Returned home on Jan. 25; Underway for acoustic trials at Exuma Sound from March 2-14.

March 28, Cmdr. Gary E. Williams relieved Cmdr. William L. Norris as CO of the Memphis.

From May 4-10, USS Memphis was underway in supportof FLEETEX 2-87. Port visit to Annapolis, Md., from May 14-18; Inport Port Everglades, Fla., from May 23-25; Underway at St. Croix weapons range for TWC from May 28-29; Training Availability at AUTEC from June 2-18; Returned home on June 25; Underway for Battle Group operations on July 6; TRAV at Naval Station Charleston from July 13-17; Returned to Norfolk on July 19; Underway for SUMMEREX, TORPEX and POM workups on Aug. 20; Inport St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, from Aug. 21-25; REFTRA at NSB New London from Aug. 31- Sept. 5; Underway for POMCERT from Sept. 21-24.

September 28, USS Memphis departed Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled Mediterranean deployment as part of the USS Coral Sea (CV 43) BG. Transited Strait of Gibraltar on Oct. 11.

November 2, The Memphis moored outboard the USS Orion (AS 18) at Santo Stefano Naval Base in La Maddalena for a 12-day FMAV. Inport Toulon, France, from Nov. 16-19; Upkeep in La Maddalena from Dec. 18- Jan. 10.

February 4, 1988 The Los Angeles-class attack submarine arrived again in La Maddalena, Sardinia, for a six-day upkeep. Port call to Naples, Italy, from Feb. 12-15; Brief stop in Rota, Spain, on March 9; Brief stop in Lisbon, Portugal, for HUMEVAC from March 10-11; Brief stop in Bermuda to embark Nuclear Propulsion Examination Board (NPEB) personal for ORSE on March 15.

March 19, USS Memhis returned to homeport after a nearly six-month deployment.

From May 2-11, SSN 691 was underway for operations with the DESRON 24. Port visit to Annapolis from May 19-23; Underway for operations with the DESRON 36 from June 1-5; Participated in exercise Marcot with the Canadian Navy from July 6-9; Operations with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) BG from June 14-23; Port visit to St. Croix from June 16-19; Returned home on June25; Underway for Midshipmen Cruise and TRE at AUTEC range on July 5; Inport Port Canaveral from July 12-13; Returned to Norfolk on July 20.

August 11, The Memphis entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a two-and-a-half month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA). Underway for local operations from Nov. 1-4, 7-11 and Dec. 5-9.

From March 6-12, 1989, USS Memhis was at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., for Refresher Training. Underway for POMCERT from March 20-24.

March 29, USS Memphis departed Norfolk for a northern Atlantic deployment. Inport Holy Loch, Scotland, from June 1-3; Port visit to Bergen, Norway, from June 13-17; Returned home on July 9.

From September 15-29, the Memphis was underway for torpedo firings, Tomahawk proficiency and TLAM Operational Test Launch (OTL). Underway for a Dependent's Cruise on Oct. 2.

November 11, Cmdr. John F. Dohse relieved Cmdr. Gary E. Williams as the 5th CO of Memphis.

December 20, SSN 691 departed Naval Station Norfolk for a two-day sea trials after a five-week RAV. Underway for acoustic trials at Exuma Sound from January 4-12, 1990; Underway for ISE, ASW exercises and Tactical Readiness Evaluation (TRE) from Jan. 22 through March 2; Inport Port Everglades from Feb. 7-12; Underway for support services and ORSE from March 13-31.

June 5, USS Memphis departed Naval Station Norfolk in support of CNO project and FLEETEX. Inport Port Canaveral from June 10-11; Port call to Roosevelt Roads, P.R., from June 22-24; Returned home on June 29; Underway for POMCERT from Aug. 15-17.

August 23, USS Memphis departed homeport for a northern Atlantic deployment.

September 20, The Memphis arrived in Holy Loch, Scotland, for a four-day port call after participated in a two-week NATO exercise Teamwork '90; Inport Halifax, Nova Scotia, from Nov. 8-14; Returned to Norfolk on Nov. 20.

January 7, 1991 USS Memphis entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a three-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA). Major Reasearch and Development project installations and planning along with emergent major engineering work extended the availability through Feb. 21, 1992; Memphis received numerous modifications, which added about 50 tons to her displacement, to test composite hull structures, unmanned underwater vehicles, advanced sonars, hull friction reduction, and other advanced technologies for the Los Angeles and Seawolf-class submarines.

March 16, 1992 The Memphis departed homeport for sonar cetification. TRAV at NSB New London from March 21- April 1; Underway for TWC through April 16; Underway for support services from May 1-14; Completed Underway Material Inspection (UMI) with the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) on May 22.

June 20, Cmdr. Robert E. Fraile relieved Cmdr. John F. Dohse as commanding officer of the SSN 691.

From July 6-10, USS Memphis was underway for a non-penetrating periscope testing in the Narragansett Bay Op. Area. Completed ORSE from Oct. 14-15; Entered the floating dry-dock Resolute on Oct. 21.

In January 1993, the Memphis was drydocked for Resin Media Discharge and Replacement. Underway for NATO training operations on Feb. 4; Inport Port Everglades from Feb. 20-22.

February 25, USS Memphis run agroung at ancient coral reef in 24 feet of water off the coast of Port Everglades, Florida, while preparing to conduct tests with the U.S. Naval Warfare Center at the port. The submarine carved two trenches in the reef and created tons of rubble over an area half the size of a football field before it dislodged 90 minutes later as the tide rose; Arrived in Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay for damage assessment on Feb. 26.

March 11, Cmdr. Robert E. Fraile was relieved as CO of the Memphis. Cmdr. Lawrence A. Hughes assumed temporary command of the ship.

March 31, SSN 691 returned to Norfolk after a five-day transit from Kings Bay, Ga. Underway for REFTRA from Feb. 5-9; Cmdr. Alber W. Schmidt assumed command on April 16; Underway again for Refresher Training from May 10-21.

June 14, USS Memphis departed Norfolk for ASW training operations. Port visit to Lisbon, Portugal, from July 2-8; Inport NSB Kings Bay from July 18-19 before conducting TRE; Returned home on July 30; Underway for REFTRA from Aug. 4-7; Emergency sortied to avoid the Hurricane Emily from Aug. 30- Sept. 2; Underway for routine training from Sept. 20-23 and Sept. 28- Oct. 7; Underway for Pre-Overhaul testing from Nov. 22-24; Magneting deperming at Lambert's Point from Nov. 29- Dec. 2; Underway for active shaft grounding device testing from Dec. 7-17.

January 21, 1994 USS Memphis entered the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, for a 30-month Engineered Refueling Overhaul (ERO). Entered the Dry Dock #2 on Feb. 2; Reactor refueling completed on Oct. 20; Undocked and moved to Pier 13 on July 15, 1995; Underway for sea trials from July 19-26, 1996; Completed ERO on Aug. 6; Underway for WSAT from Aug. 10-29; Completed INSURV assessment on Sept. 21.

August 5, 1997 USS Memphis departed Groton, Conn., for a scheduled Mediterranean deployment. Inport Naval Station Rota, Spain, from Aug. 15-19.

September 10, The nuclear-powered submarine arrived in Antalya, Turkey, for a four-day port visit. Inport Souda Bay, Crete, from Sept. 17-23; Port call to Haifa, Israel, from Oct. 30- Nov. 4.

December 22, USS Memphis pulled into Naples, Italy, for a week-long port call.

In January 1998, the Memphis participated in NATO exercise with the French nuclear submarine and surface ships from Italy, Turkey and France and also made port calls to La Maddalena and Gibraltar; Returned to homeport on February 4; Underway for local operations from March 9-12 and April 29- May 5; In dry-dock USS Oakridge (ARDM 1) from May 7-15.

May ?, Cmdr. Mark R. Breor relieved Cmdr. Robert E. Fraile as CO of the USS Memphis.

From May 26-29, the Los Angeles-class attack submarine was underway for local operations. Underway again June 1; Brief stop at Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands, on June 9 and 11th; Returned to Groton on June 19; Underway for VIP cruise on June 29; Underway for Midshipmen operations at AUTEC range on July 6; Inport Port Canaveral from July 10-12; Port call to NSB Kings Bay from July 16-19; Returned home on Aug. 3; Underway for local operations from Sept. 14-18; Underway for POMCERT from Sept. 22-25.

October 6, USS Memphis departed Naval Submarine Base New London for western Atlantic deployment. Inport Kings Bay from Oct. 10-11.

November 9, The Memphis pulled into Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles, for a three-day visit to Curacao. Returned home on Nov. 18; Underway for local operations from Nov. 19-24; Entered the dry-dock in December.

May 10, 1999 USS Memphis returned to NSB New London after a 31-day underway in the North Atlantic.

October 5, The Memphis entered the floating dry-dock USS Shippingport (ARDM 4) in Groton for a two-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA).

June 14, 2000 USS Memphis departed Groton, Conn., for a six-month North Atlantic deployment.

August 18, SSN 691 moored at Berth 6 in Haakonsvern Naval Base for an eight-day port visit to Bergen, Norway.

August 30, The Memphis moored at Her Majesty Naval Base (HMNB) Devonport in Plymouth, England, for a 13-day port call. Inport HMNB Clyde in Faslane, Scotland, for emergent repairs to TB-29 from Oct. 9-13; Brief stop at Andoya, Norway, for HUMEVAC on Nov. 3.

November 24, USS Memphis arrived in Bremerhaven, Germany, for a week-long port visit. Brief stop in Halifax, N.S., Canada, to embark NPEB personal for ORSE on Dec. 12; Returned to homeport on Dec. 14.

January ?, 2001 Cmdr. Richard P. Breckenridge relieved Cmdr. Mark R. Breor as commanding officer of the Memphis.

From January 31 through Feb. 9, USS Memphis was underway for Tactical Weapons Training, Proficiency and Certification (TWTPC) at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) range off Andros Island, Bahamas.

From March 19-29, the nuclear-powered submarine was underway for a port call to Port Canaveral. Underway again on April 16; Inport Port Canaveral from May 2-7; Returned home on May 10; Underway for a Friends and Family Day Cruise on May 11; Underway for Refresher Training (REFTRA) from May 18-24; Underway for Tactical Readiness Evaluation (TRE) at AUTEC range from July 6-23; Underway for weapons evaluations at AUTEC on Aug. 3; Inport Port Canaveral from Aug. 10-14; Returned to Groton on Aug. 17; Underway for INSURV assessment from Aug. 21-23; Underway for local operations from Aug. 28-31.

From December 14-21, USS Memphis was underway for sea trials following a three-month modernization period.

From January 8-17, 2002, the Memphis was underway for Independent Steaming Exercises (ISE) in the Narragansett Bay OPAREA. Underway for routine training on Jan. 23.

February 15, SSN 691 moored at East Basin Trident Wharf in Port Canaveral, Fla., for a four-day port call. Returned to Groton on Feb. 22.

March 12, USS Memphis entered the Dry Dock #2 at Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Conn., for a nine-month Extended Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (E-DSRA). Undocked on Sept. 18; Underway for sea trials from Dec. 13-19.

January 9, 2003 USS Memhis departed Groton for a Tactical Development Exercise (TACDEVEX) at AUTEC range. Inport Port Canaveral from January 22-27; Returned home on Jan. 30; Underway for VIP cruise from Feb. 11-12; Underway for local operations from Feb. 19- March 14; Underway for TRE workups from April 4-10.

From May 20 through June 9, the Memphis was underway for Tactical Readiness Evaluation (TRE) in the AUTEC. Brief stop at Port Canaveral, Fla., on May 28; Underway for POMCERT from June 16-23; Underway for local operations from June 24-26.

July 16, USS Memphis departed Naval Submarine Base New London for a scheduled Middle East deployment.

July 28, The Memphis moored outboard the USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) at Santo Stefano Naval Base in La Maddalena, Sardinia, for a four-day Fleet Maintenance Availability (FMAV). Port call to Souda Bay, Greece, from Aug. 4-6.

August 19, SSN 691 moored at Berth 10, Mina Salman Pier in Manama, Bahrain, for an eight-day port call. The Memphis is the first submarine to transit the Suez Canal unescorted with a Marine force protection detachment aboard; Inport Manama again from Sept. 9-10, Sept. 29- Oct. 4, Oct. 31- Nov. 3, Nov. 10-17 and Nov. 29- Dec. 10; Brief stop in Souda Bay, Crete, on Dec. 16; Upkeep in La Maddalena from Dec. 19-26.

December 29, The Los Angeles-class attack submarine arrived in Naval Station Rota, Spain, for a five-day port call.

January 16, 2004 USS Memphis returned to homeport after a six-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

February 27, Cmdr. William R. Merz relieved Cmdr. Richard P. Breckenridge as CO of the Memphis.

From March 3-12, the Memphis was underway for Basic Submarine Assessment (BSA) in the Narragansett Bay Op. Area. Underway in support of Gulf of Mexico Exercise (GOMEX) and Torpedo Exercise (TORPEX) from April 27 through May 28; Inport Naval Station Mayport, Fla., from May 13-18; Emergent drydocking in June; Underway for TRE workups from July 27- Aug. 6.

From August 26- September 16, USS Memphis was underway for Strike Group operations in the Jacksonville Op. Area and TORPEX and TRE in the Boston Op. Area. Underway for local operations from Sept. 24- Oct. 7; Underway for ORSE workups from Oct. 13-18; Underway for Operational Reactor Safeguard Examinations (ORSE) from Oct. 19-29; Underway for POM workups from Dec. 8-16.

November 3, 2005 USS Memphis returned to NSB New London after a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet Areas of Responsibility (AoR).

May 6, 2006 USS Memphis departed Groton for a surge deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. This "surge" deployment is a part of the Fleet Response Plan (FRP), a program developed to change the way ships deploy and to provide the United States with a greater range of naval options, adding an element of flexibility to naval efficiency.

August 15, Cmdr. Glenn W. Pendrick relieved Cmdr. William R. Merz as CO of the Memphis.

April 30, 2007 USS Memphis pulled into Port Everglades, Florida, for a Fleet Week South 2007.

July 18, Capt. Robert P. Burke relieved Capt. Kennth M. Perry as Commander, Submarine Development Squadron 12, during a change of command ceremony aboard the Memphis in Groton, Conn.

November 21, 2009 USS Memphis returned to Naval Submarine Base New London after a seven-month deployment in the U.S. European and Central Command areas of responsibility.

January 8, 2010 Cmdr. Charles H. Maher relieved Capt. Glenn W. Pendrick as CO of the SSN 691 during a change-of-command ceremony at the Shepherd of the Sea Chapel.

May 20, The Memphis is currently participating in the Atlantic phase of multinational exercise UNITAS 51, off the coast of Argentina.

June 12, The Los Angeles-class submarine pulled into Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles, for a port visit to Curacao.

June 24, USS Memphis returned to Groton following a short underway period to the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility.

September 14, In late August SSN 691 participated in a torpedo exercise with the Canadian Navy Victoria-class long-range patrol submarine HMCS Corner Brook (SSK 878) and USS Mason (DDG 87), in the Cape Cod operating area.

November 18, Capt. William R. Merz, commander of Submarine Development Squadron 12, relieved of duty Cmdr. Charles Maher because of a "loss of confidence in his ability to command." He was fired because 10 members of his crew are under investigation in an alleged cheating ring involving shipboard training exams. Capt. Carl Lahti, previously deputy commander of the development squadron, assumed temporary command of USS Memphis.

January 10, 2011 USS Memphis departed Groton for its final deployment before deactivated later this year.

February 4, The Memphis arrived in Catania, Italy, for a brief port visit before participating in the biggest NATO anti submarine warfare exercise Proud Manta 11, off the coast of Sicily, from Feb. 4-17.

March 2, SSN 691 returned home after a two-month underway period in the U.S. 6th Fleet AoR. Shortly after arrival Capt. Carl Lahti turned over command of the Memphis to Cmdr. Jeffery Joseph, who will lead the submarine until it is stricken from the Navy list in 2012.

April 1, USS Memphis held a decommissioning ceremony at Shepherd of the Sea chapel in Groton, Conn.

April 7, The Los Angeles-class attack submarine arrived at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, for a year-long inactivation process.

January 20, 2012 USS Memphis is officially decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list.