USS Jacksonville Returns from Final Deployment

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Katarzyna Kobiljak | 170810-N-YW024-0084 PEARL HARBOR Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Ragan Anderson-Hennigan, assigned to Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Jacksonville (SSN 699), proposes to his girlfriend during a homecoming arrival at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, after completing its final deployment, Aug. 10. USS Jacksonville was commissioned on May 16, 1981 and was recently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations and Indian Ocean. The submarine's ability to support a multitude of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare, surveillance and reconnaissance, has made USS Jacksonville one of the most capable submarines in the world. The submarine is scheduled to be retired from the fleet in 2018. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Katarzyna Kobiljak)  

PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, UNITED STATES

08.10.2017

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Lee 

Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) Sailors assigned to the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Jacksonville (SSN 699) returned to their homeport at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam following the successful completion of her 15th and final deployment to the Western Pacific, August 10.

Jacksonville and her crew steamed more than 48,000 nautical miles while conducting maritime security operations and joint exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and Indian navies.

"The crew performed superbly throughout the whole deployment,” said Cmdr. Steven Faulk, commanding officer, USS Jacksonville. “They represent the finest of what our country has to offer.”

While deployed, 33 submariners earned their qualification to wear the submarine warfare device, and 16 Sailors were advanced in paygrade. The crew also conducted various port calls to Bahrain, Guam, Oman, and Singapore.

“Everyone aboard performed their duties exceptionally well,” said Master Chief Electronics Technician (Submarine) Kevin Rollert, Jacksonville’s chief of the boat. “Being deployed for eight months is challenging, and the crew stepped up to the challenge and executed perfectly.

Rollert added, the crew was a tremendous asset to the operational commander, and everyone gained important experiences during the 209 days out at sea.

Commissioned May 16, 1981, USS Jacksonville is named after Jacksonville, the largest and most populous city in Florida, and is the first ship to bear the name. The boat's mission is to seek out and destroy enemy ships and submarines and to protect U.S. national interests. At 360-feet-long and 6,900 tons, Jacksonville can be armed with sophisticated MK48 advanced capability torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

For more news from the Pacific Submarine Force, visit www.csp.navy.mil.

• Date Taken: 08.10.2017
• Date Posted: 08.10.2017 21:11
• Story ID: 244520
• Location: PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, US