Minneapolis-Saint Paul (SSN-708) was the first U.S. Navy vessel jointly named for the Twin Cities, but two other ships have been named for Minneapolis. The first Minneapolis (Cruiser No. 13) served from 1894–1921. Minneapolis (Cruiser No. 13) was laid down 16 December 1891 by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, Pa.; launched 12 August 1893; sponsored by Miss Elizabeth Washburn, daughter of Senator William D. Washburn of Minnesota; and commissioned at Philadelphia 13 December 1894, Capt. G. H. Wadleigh, USN, in command.
The second, heavy c
ruiser Minneapolis (CA-36), served from 1934–1947 and was a New Orleans-class cruiser built for the United States Navy before the outbreak of World War II, the second ship named for Minneapolis, Minnesota. She served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. When Japan attacked her base on 7 December 1941, Minneapolis was at sea for gunnery practice about 8 mi (13 km) from Pearl Harbor. She immediately took up patrol until late January 1942 when she joined a carrier task force about to raid the Gilberts and Marshalls. While screening Lexington on 1 February, she helped turn back an air attack in which three Japanese Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" medium bombers were shot down. She screened the carriers during their successful raids on 20 February and again on 10 March, when they attacked Japanese shipping at Lae and Salamaua, disrupting enemy supply lines to those garrisons. She also took part in many other battles to include the Battle of the Coral Sea, Battle of Midway, Battle of Tassafaronga, Battle of the Philippine Sea, Guam and Battle of Surigao Strait. Minneapolis received 17 battle stars for World War II service, placing her among the most decorated US ships of World War II.
The third vessel, Minneapolis-Saint Paul (SSN-708) was laid down on 20 January 1981 at Groton, Conn., by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp.; launched on 19 March 1983; sponsored by Mrs. Penny Durenberger, wife of Senator David F. Durenberger of Minn.; and was commissioned on 10 March 1984, Cmdr. Ralph Schlichter in command.
(SSN-708: displacement 6,068; length 362'; beam 33'; draft 32'; speed 25 knots; complement 110; armament 4 21-inch torpedo tubes capable of launching Harpoon and Tomahawk ASM/LAM missiles as well as MK-48 torpedoes; class Los Angeles)
Minneapolis-Saint Paul served initially with Submarine Squadron (SubRon) 2 at Naval Submarine Base New London, Conn. Cmdr. Charles J. Beers Jr. relieved Cmdr. Schlichter as the commanding officer on 26 July 1984. Minneapolis-Saint Paul shifted her home port from Groton to Norfolk, Va., during a brief southerly voyage (1–3 December), and to SubRon 8 on 15 December. The attack submarine, Cmdr. Beers in command, carried out her maiden deployment during a voyage to European waters that Beers evaluated as of “great importance to the safety and security of the United States” (16 June–15 September 1986). Minneapolis-Saint Paul accomplished voyage repairs while she visited Holy Loch, Scotland (17–20 August); Portsmouth, England (22–27 August); and Brest, France (28 August–2 September).
Minneapolis-Saint Paul was inactivated during a ceremony at Norfolk on 22 June 2007, and the following month sailed from Norfolk to Pearl Harbor, Hi, to prepare for her decommissioning. The attack submarine was decommissioned and stricken from the Navy List on 28 August 2008.
USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL (LCS-21) is a Freedom-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy. She is the second ship in naval service named after Minnesota's Twin Cities. USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL (LCS 21) is the 11th ship in the U.S. Navy’s well-connected family of modern vessels that maneuver in shallow, coastal waters. Designed efficiently for speed and agility, the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) network counters threats of coastal mines, terrorism and stealth submarines. The ship preserves our nation’s freedom of navigation across the globe through an innovative combination of ship design and construction, the skills and training of the crew, and the operational programs that create continuous maritime presence and protection. LCS 21 extends the proud tradition of USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL.