USS Jacksonville reports for decommissioning

Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy announced on Tuesday that its fast-attack submarine USS Jacksonville has arrived at a naval base in Washington for inactivation and decommissioning.

Homeported in Hawaii, the USS Jacksonville, a Los Angeles-class submarine, has seen more than 30 years in service.

"I want to welcome USS Jacksonville to the beautiful Pacific Northwest," Capt. Michael Lewis, commander of Submarine Squadron 19, said in a press release. "We look forward to working with her over the next several months as they prepare to decommission."

The submarine is scheduled to be retired from the fleet in 2018.

During the inactivation process, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility will de-fuel the submarine. The hull will be retained in storage until the ship is decommissioned.

The USS Jacksonville -- 360-feet long and 6,900 tons -- was commissioned into service in 1981. During her most recent deployment, which ended Sunday, the boat and her crew spent 208 days at sea, steaming more than 48,000 nautical miles and conducting joint exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and Indian navies.