USS Los Angeles turns up the heat with new oven

Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, Jan-Feb, 2005 by Kevin McLenithan

USS Los Angeles (SSN 688), also known as "The First and Finest," is now known for another first. It is the first attack submarine in the Pacific to install a new and unique convection oven specifically made to meet the demands of a submarine.

The installation of the new oven took place pier-side early September in Pearl Harbor. Made by Market Forge Industries, the oven is comprised of only nine parts, which makes the oven easy to assemble and disassemble, providing easy access down the hatch of a submarine.

Leading Chief Petty Officer of the Culinary Specialist Division, Culinary Specialist Chief Raymond Black stated, "It helps make our job down here a bit easier. With efficient, uniform heating, our products will improve."

"We really couldn't have asked for a better oven. This one outperforms the last one by leaps and bounds," added CS1 Charles Houtz, who also expressed his appreciation and made mention of the uniform cooking and the easy to use, built-in timer.

CS1 Charles Polen is delighted to be the first submariner in the Pacific fleet to use the new oven. "The most unbelievable achievement is the fact that it can be broken down into nine sections, which makes it the most optimal replacement oven for every submarine in the Pacific and Atlantic submarine fleet."

In addition to its portability, according to Polen, the oven works extremely well.

"The new oven outperformed the old oven with flying colors. The oven fan operates so efficiently there is an even browning of all food."

The oven features a constant cook setting which allows the user to cook food at a constant temperature for an infinite amount of time. Finished with stainless steel panels inside and out and French-type doors that open a full 180 degrees, the oven is very easy to clean. Other advantages include high-grade insulation, five full shelves and a safety door latch designed to keep the doors closed in any pitch and roll environment.

Homeported in Pearl Harbor, Los Angeles is a Dry Deck Shelter Platform that feeds more than 140 Sailors up to six meals a day. Los Angeles received the CAPT Edward Ney award in 2003 for excellence in Food Service.

Launched on April 6, 1974, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Va., she was commissioned on Nov. 13, 1976. Designed as follow-on to the Sturgeon class submarines built during the 1960s, the Los Angeles class incorporated improved sound quieting and a larger propulsion plant than previous classes.

Her many capabilities include wartime functions of undersea warfare, surface warfare, strike warfare, mining operations, special forces delivery, reconnaissance, carrier battle group support and escort, and intelligence collection.