The fifth and present Albany is a Los Angeles Class Attack Submarine numbered SSN-753. Her keel was laid down April 22, 1985 and built by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newports New, VA. Sponsored by Mrs. Nancy Kissinger, she was launched on June 17, 1987 and commissioned April 7, 1990 with Commander Ralph H. Stoll in command. She incorporated the latest in state-of-the-art combat systems, vertical launch tubes and Arctic ice break through capability. Her displacement is 6,080 tones surfaced & 6,927 tones submerged, 110.3 meters long, 10.1 wide and 9.9 high. She’s nuclear powered by one GE PWR S6G with two turbines. The turbines provide 35,000 HP to her single shaft. There is a Magnetek auxiliary prop motor of 325 HP. Her speed is 32 knots submerged. The Albany has a complement of 13 officers and 120 enlisted.

Homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, USS Albany is the 43rd nuclear powered fast attack submarine of the Los Angeles Class. She was as the last submarine to slide down the incline of greased wooden shipways at Newport News Shipbuilding. Submarines are now assembled using modular construction.

In addition to marking the end of an era, Albany’s commissioning marked the beginning of an advanced design of the 688 class attack submarine. Improvements over previous ships include retractable bow planes, arctic ice break-through capability, vertical launch tubes for the Tomahawk cruise missile, and the AN/BSY-1 Submarine Advanced Combat System.

Nuclear powered submarines use the best of advanced technology to achieve the attributes of stealth, endurance and freedom from logistics support, and firepower This combination of attributes is not duplicated in any other platform. Submarines are a vital part of the Navy’s “Forward... From the Sea” doctrine, bringing to bear proven shallow water operational capabilities including mine warfare, covert coastal surveillance and intelligence gathering, operations with special forces, and combat search and rescue. Further, the submarine’s ability to strike targets at, below and beyond the water’s surface makes it a potent asset in the nation’s arsenal.

If you want a look at what she looks like, watch the movie Hunt for Red October. The American submarine Dallas is the same class Attack Submarine as the Albany. The Dallas was commissioned eight years earlier but the changes wouldn’t be obvious. As far as where the Albany is serving or which waters she’s cruising, sorry. That information is classified.