 {|    |} uss phoenix (ssn-702), a los angeles-class submarine, was the fifth ship of the united states navy to be named "phoenix" and the third to be named after the city, phoenix, arizona (the first two were named after the mythological bird). the contract to build her was awarded to the electric boat division of general dynamics corporation in groton, connecticut on 31 october 1973 and her keel was laid down on 30 july 1977. she was launched on 8 december 1979 sponsored by mrs. john j. rhodes, and commissioned on 19 december 1981, with captain william c. rothert in command. phoenix was assigned to submarine squadron eight, home ported in norfolk, virginia, where she has remained for 16 years. phoenix spent the first years following her commissioning and post shakedown availability (psa) conducting several vital deployments and exercises. highlighting 1983 was a deployment during which she operated in support of the uss carl vinson (cvn-70) battle group, performed oceanographic surveys, an
1979_ships Cold_War_submarines_of_the_United_States Los_Angeles-class_submarines Nuclear_ships_of_the_United_States_Navy Ships_built_in_Connecticut United_States_Navy_Arizona-related_ships