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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patches on left and center contributed by Mike Smolinski, on right by Jack Truetle

Helena (SSN-725)


Radio Call Sign: November - Hotel - Mike - Tango
Los Angeles Class Attack Submarine: Laid down, 28 March 1985, at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics, Groton, CT.; Launched, 28 June 1986; Commissioned, USS Helena (SSN-725), 11 July 1987. Helena is assigned to the US Pacific Fleet and is homeported at San Diego, CA.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 6,000 t., Submerged: 6.927 t.; Length 360'; Beam 33'; Draft 29'; Speed, Surfaced 25 kts, Submerged 30+ kts; Depth limit 950'; Complement 129; Armament, four 21" torpedo tubes aft of bow, Harpoon and Tomahawk ASM/LAM missiles from 12 VLS tubes, MK-48 torpedoes; Combat Systems, AN/BPS-5 surface search radar, AN/BPS-15 A/16 navigation and fire control radar, TB-16D passive towed sonar arrays, TB-23 passive "thin line" towed array, AN/BQG-5D wide aperture flank array, AN/BQQ-5D/E low frequency spherical sonar array, AN/BQS-15 close range active sonar (for ice detection); MIDAS Mine and Ice Detection Avoidance System, SADS-TG active detection sonar, Type 2 attack periscope (port), Type 18 search periscope (starboard), AN/BSY-1 (primary computer); UYK-7; UYK-43; UYK-44, WLR-9 Acoustic Intercept Receiver, ESM; Propulsion System, S6G nuclear reactor one propeller at 35,000 shp.
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Helena97kThe crew of the Helena (SSN-725) line her deck as she slides down the launching ways, 28 June 1986 at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics, Groton, CT.Courtesy of Electric Boat.
Helena109kBow on view of the Helena (SSN-725), during her shake down period off the New England coast, circa 1987.Courtesy of Electric Boat.
Helena41kThe Helena (SSN-725) , probably taken during her shake down period off the New England coast, circa 1987.Courtesy of tripod.com.
Helena36kAcrylic on canvas by the artist William RaVell III depicting the Helena (SSN-725) during her shake down period off the New England coast, circa 1987.Photo courtesy of subart.net.
Helena86kCrew members stand in formation on the deck of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Helena (SSN-725) during the boat's commissioning. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # DN-ST-87-12475 by PH3 Joan M. Zopf, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. Photo added 02/14/08.
Helena72kSideboys salute as Admiral James Busey, commander in chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe, and commander in chief, US Naval Forces, Europe, escorts his wife Jean, boat's sponsor to the speakers platform during the commissioning of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Helena (SSN-725) . Official U.S. Navy Photograph # DN-ST-87-12471 by PH3 Joan M. Zopf, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. Photo added 02/14/08.
Helena57k Guests listens as Admiral (ADM) James Busey, commander in chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe, and commander in chief, US Naval Forces, Europe, speaks during the commissioning ceremony of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Helena (SSN-725) on 11 Jul 1987. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # DN-ST-87-12477, by PH3 Joan M. Zopf, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
Helena92kThe commissioning pennant is raised aboard the nuclear-powered attack submarine Helena (SSN-725) . Official U.S. Navy Photograph # DN-ST-87-12473 by PH3 Joan M. Zopf, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. Photo added 02/14/08.
Helena423kCrew members stand on the deck of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Helena (SSN-725) as the vessel departs from Pearl Harbor on 1 Jan 1989. The Arizona Memorial is in the background. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # DN-SC-92-05743, by OS2 John Bouvia, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
Helena236kThe nuclear-powered attack submarine Helena (SSN-725) passes the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) as the Lincoln heads out to sea for its pre-commissioning acceptance trials on 2 Oct 1989. Following the Helena is a Bell Model 206 Jet Ranger helicopter; hovering in the background is an SH-3H Sea King helicopter. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # DN-SN-91-01141, by PH2 Dennis Dean Taylor, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
Helena382kThe nuclear-powered attack submarine Helena (SSN-725) and the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CV-67) pass one another as the Helena heads into port at Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia on 15 Aug 1990. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # DN-ST-91-05045, by LCDR Dave Parsons, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
Helena84kThe Korean submarine Choi Moo Sun makes its way past Helena (SSN-725) and into the Sembawang port facilities in Singapore during Exercise Pacific Reach 2000, on 28 September 2000. The Republic of Singapore Navy, the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, the Republic of Korea Navy and the U.S. Navy are participating in this first-ever cooperative regional submarine rescue exercise. Pacific Reach was conducted in the South China Sea about 200 nautical miles northeast of Singapore.
US Navy photo # N-1523C-010, by PHCS Terry Cosgrove USN, courtesy of the US Navy Chinfo Photo Gallery
Helena166k Helena (SSN-725) returned to its homeport of San Diego following a six-month Western Pacific deployment on January 23, 2004. Helena earned the Commander, Submarine Squadron 11 Battle "E" and Supply Blue "E".
US Navy photo by JOC(SCW) Robert Feinberg, courtesy of the US Navy Chinfo Photo Gallery
Helena302k Five U.S. Navy submariners, assigned to the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine Helena (SSN-725), pose for a photograph 23 Nov.2005 with "The Tonight Show" host, Jay Leno, during a special tribute to military members at Burbank, Calif. The special was taped Nov. 23 and aired on Thanksgiving. US Navy photo # N-0000X-001, courtesy of navy.news.mil.
Helena300kThe crew of the Navy's only commissioned floating dry-dock, ARCO (ARDM-5), uses mooring lines to pull the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine Helena (SSN-725) into the dry-dock at Naval Base Point Loma, Calif. 10 Jan. 2006. Helena is entering dry-dock for routine scheduled maintenance.US Navy photo # N-3532C-044, by Journalist Seaman Joseph Caballero, courtesy of navy.news.mil.
Helena372kMarine algae adorns the bow of the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine Helena (SSN-725) as she enters the floating dry-dock ARCO (ARDM-5). US Navy photo # N-3532C-092, by Journalist Seaman Joseph Caballero, courtesy of navy.news.mil.
Helena178k A 25ft safe boat escorts the Helena (SSN-725) out of San Diego Harbor on 26 October 2006. Official U.S. Coast Guard photo # DN-ST-87-12477, by PA3 Mary Larkin Jones, courtesy of cgvi.uscg.mil & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
Helena56kThe Helena (SSN-725) is moored across from the Pasadena (SSN-752) in this undated photo. US Navy photo courtesy of wrongcrowd.com. & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
Helena117kMidshipmen are instructed on the proper way to don an Emergency Air Breather (EAB) aboard the attack submarine Helena (SSN-725) on 27 July 2007. Twenty midshipmen from universities across the U.S. spent a day and night underway on Helena as part of their summer training to aid them in choosing a future naval career path. US Navy photo # N-4163T-139, Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephanie Tigner, courtesy of navy.news.mil.
Helena76kU.S. Navy Navigation Electronic Technician 3rd Class Christopher Stingone,of the Helena (SSN-725), describes to Midshipman 3rd Class Erynn Kutzera how he prepares navigational charts. US Navy photo # N-4163T-062, Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephanie Tigner, courtesy of navy.news.mil.
Helena302k The nuclear-powered attack submarine Helena (SSN-725) and the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship New Orleans (LPD-18) pass while conducting a submarine familiarization in the Pacific Ocean on 14 Dec. 2007. The familiarization also included the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and the ships of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7. Ronald Reagan is underway conducting tailored ship's training availability. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # N-0555B-096, by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher D. Blachly, & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
Helena55k"Don't tread on me" flag adorns the deck of the Helena (SSN-725) in this undated photo. Official U.S. Navy Photograph courtesy of usshelena.org & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
There is no DANFS History currently available for Helena (SSN-725) at the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site, the main archive for the DANFS Online Project.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Helena (SSN-725) Official US Navy Web Site
USS Helena (SSN-725)
SSN-688 Los Angeles-class
Virtual Tour of USS Springfield (SSN 761) from PBS's Nova web site
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