U.S. NAVY USS Los Angeles Cap Patch by COMMANDO

Commemorating the lead vessel of the highly successful Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarines, the COMMANDO USS Los Angeles Cap Patch recognises an important chapter in modern United States Navy history. Commissioned in 1976, USS Los Angeles (SSN-688) introduced a new generation of fast attack submarines designed for undersea warfare, fleet protection and operations across the world's oceans. This woven cloth patch is a distinctive addition to a collection of US Navy memorabilia and submarine history.

The History of USS Los Angeles (SSN-688)

USS Los Angeles was the fourth United States Navy vessel to carry the name of the Californian city. Built by Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia, her keel was laid on 8 January 1972. She was launched on 6 April 1974 and commissioned on 13 November 1976, becoming the first submarine of the Los Angeles class. The class was developed during the Cold War to provide the US Navy with a modern nuclear-powered attack submarine capable of operating at speed and remaining submerged for extended periods.

The ship's official insignia has its own interesting history. The design was selected from drawings submitted by high school students in Los Angeles, California. The winning design by Sandra Higashi featured porpoises representing the successive US Navy vessels named Los Angeles. The animals were chosen to symbolise speed, grace and endurance, qualities associated with the submarine and its undersea role. The insignia also acknowledges the heritage of the earlier ships that carried the same name.

Following her commissioning, Los Angeles undertook training and weapons certification before making her first operational deployment to the Mediterranean in 1977. In June 1978 she transferred to the Pacific Fleet and established her home port at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Over the following decades she undertook numerous deployments throughout the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Northern Pacific, participating in multinational exercises and operations with allied naval forces.

An interesting moment in the submarine's history occurred on 27 May 1977, when President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter embarked for an at-sea demonstration of her capabilities. Carter was particularly interested in naval submarines, having served as a qualified submarine officer before entering politics.

Los Angeles also became associated with a long-standing US Navy submarine tradition involving Rear Admiral Richard O'Kane's personal cribbage board. The board is carried by the oldest active submarine in the fleet, passing to the next oldest vessel when a submarine leaves service. Los Angeles held this distinction during the later years of her career before passing the board to USS Bremerton.

In 1998–99, Los Angeles was modified to accommodate a Dry Deck Shelter, allowing her to support the deployment and recovery of specialist naval forces using underwater delivery vehicles. This expanded her operational flexibility beyond conventional attack submarine duties.

After more than three decades of service, USS Los Angeles held her decommissioning ceremony in her namesake city on 23 January 2010 and was formally decommissioned on 4 February 2011. Her service helped establish the reputation of the Los Angeles class, which became one of the most numerous and influential nuclear-powered attack submarine classes in US Navy history.

Features

• Commemorates USS Los Angeles (SSN-688)
• Recognises the lead submarine of the Los Angeles class
• Associated with the United States Navy's Cold War submarine programme
• Features a design linked to the ship's official insignia and heritage
• Woven cloth patch construction
• Suitable for US Navy and submarine memorabilia collections
• Ideal for military history enthusiasts and collectors

Specifications
Brand: COMMANDO
Product Code: BD0025
Barcode / GTIN: 9357994008439
Design: USS Los Angeles SSN-688
Construction: Woven cloth patch
Dimensions: 150 x 77 mm

A fitting tribute to a pioneering nuclear-powered attack submarine, this USS Los Angeles patch celebrates the vessel that gave its name to one of the most recognisable submarine classes in modern naval history.