With the second Commanding Officer, Alfred Ponessa, Norfolk conducted extensive trials of the next-generation torpedo, ADCAP, as well as advanced and secret acoustic experiments. The ship also made an active deployment during one of the final spurts of activity from the declining Soviet navy. On 23 July 1988 the USS Norfolk fired the first ADCAP torpedo, sinking the USS Jonas Ingram (DD-938). Commander Ponessa was succeeded by Commander Harrop in 1988.
On 17 January 1989, Norfolk was involved in a collision with the combat stores shipUSS San Diego (AFS-6) off Cape Charles Light, VA as both vessels were headed to sea. Norfolk was outbound for an engineering inspection, an event which occupied all of the ships most experienced officers. The Officer of the Deck was the ship's most junior officer, a non-nuclear-trained Lieutenant Junior-Grade, and the Commanding Officer himself was new to the ship, sick and hoarse that day. While trying to pass the San Diego in a turn in the channel, the current set Norfolk towards an outer buoy on the port side. Overcorrecting for this event, Norfolk delivered a glancing blow to the ship on her starboard side, San Diego. There were no injuries, and neither ship suffered significant structural damage. Upon returning to dockside later that day, Norfolk's commanding officer was relieved, and the sub proceeded on the surface to Kings Bay, Georgia, for inspection and repairs. As a result of this collision, COMSUBLANT issued orders limiting submarine speed and passing activities while in the restricted waters of the Hampton Roads channels.
Best Friends MM2/SS Howser, YN3/SS Dolley, MM2/SS Almozara, MM3/SS Lambert
Other Memories by JO2 Christian Gearhart
USS Norfolk (SSN-714) wrote its name in history 2 April 2001 by becoming the first nuclear-powered vessel to make a port visit to Slovenia on the northern Adriatic Sea. The visit was part of a scheduled port visit by Norfolk, a Sixth Fleet attack submarine homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, and USS Emory S. Land (AS-39), the Sixth Fleet Repair and Support ship homeported in La Maddalena, Italy. Emory S. Land provided the logistical support to Norfolk while in Koper, Slovenia. Emory S. Land is one of the few remaining submarine tenders and was originally designed to support Los Angeles class attack submarines, such as Norfolk. During a press conference with local Slovenian media, RADM Chuck Munns, Commander Submarine Group 8, said both ships visited Koper to give the ship?s crews operating experience in all Mediterranean waters. ?This is a great opportunity for our Sailors to experience Slovenian hospitality and to increase the crew?s quality of life by having shore leave.? During the visit, both ships hosted many distinguished Slovenian visitors, including the country?s equivalent to our Secretary of State and Chief of Naval Operations.