The USS Columbia (SSN-771) is a Los Angeles-class attack submarine, specifically the 21st flight III (Improved 688i) variant of the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1995, this vessel is assigned to Submarine Squadron 7 and is homeported at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. It is notable as the eighth U.S. warship to bear the name "Columbia," with its namesake encompassing three cities: Columbia, Illinois; Columbia, Missouri; and Columbia, South Carolina. Constructed by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, the contract was awarded on 14 December 1988. The keel was laid down on 21 April 1993, and the submarine was launched on 24 September 1994. It holds the distinction of being the last American submarine to slide down a 1,300-foot wooden ramp during its launch, earning it the moniker "The Last Slider." The vessel was sponsored by Hillary Clinton and commissioned into service on 9 October 1995. The USS Columbia has participated in various operational deployments, including exercises off the California coast in 1999, and multiple Western Pacific deployments from 2011 through 2018, often visiting ports such as Yokosuka, Sasebo, and Guam. In October 2018, the submarine entered a mid-life overhaul at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, returning to active duty in May 2021. Notably, in September 2021, Columbia took part in the 62nd annual UNITAS exercise off South America. The vessel saw a tragic incident in December 2019, when a crew member on guard duty shot and killed two civilian employees and wounded another before shooting himself. Investigations revealed concerns about the crew member’s mental health and the failure of leadership to recognize his deteriorating condition. Throughout its service, Columbia has received commendations, including the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy in 2015 for significant improvement in battle efficiency. As discussions about future naval capabilities unfolded, it was announced that a new ballistic missile submarine would be named USS District of Columbia, raising questions about the future of Columbia (SSN-771) as it approaches its 37th year of service.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.