The Los Angeles class nuclear powered submarine is an attack submarine equipped for strike missions, anti submarine warfare, intelligence gathering and search and rescue. The United States Navy has 51 Los Angeles Class submarines, 16 in the Pacific Fleet and 32 in the Atlantic Fleet. The first was commissioned in 1976. Nine of the Los Angeles class submarines were deployed in the Gulf War in 1991, during which cruise missiles were launched from two of the submarines. 12 Los Angeles submarines were deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March/April 2003. All 12 launched cruise missiles.
