 {|    |} uss minneapolisâsaint paul (ssn-708), a los angeles-class submarine, was the first vessel of the united states navy to be named for the metropolitan area of minneapolis-saint paul, minnesota, although each city had been honored twice before. 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 20 january 1981. she was launched on 19 march 1983 sponsored by mrs. penny durenberger (wife of senator david durenberger), and commissioned on 10 march 1984, with commander ralph schlichter in command. while minneapolis-st. paul was the first vessel named for the twin cities as a whole, she is the third ship to be named for minneapolis as well as the third to be named for st. paul. the previous st. paul, ca-73, was the last big-gun heavy cruiser in the united states navy, and held the distinction of having fired the final shot of world war ii. == history == minneapolisâsaint paul took part in operation desert shield and the gulf war and was the first subma
1983_ships Cold_War_submarines_of_the_United_States Los_Angeles-class_submarines Maritime_incidents_in_2006 Nuclear_ships_of_the_United_States_Navy Ships_built_in_Connecticut United_States_Navy_Minnesota-related_ships