Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron Smith | 240809-N-SS900-1202 SAN DIEGO (Aug. 9, 2024) Capt. William Wiley speaks during a...... read more read more
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From the ice-filled waters of the Beaufort Sea north of Alaska to South America’s historic Drake Passage, the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Hampton (SSN 767) marked a unique accomplishment in 2024.
By operating in the Arctic Circle and all the way south through the Drake Passage south of Argentina and Chile, Hampton demonstrated the capability and readiness of the U.S. Submarine Force and their ability to operate anywhere, at any time.
“To successfully operate in diverse and challenging waterways is a testament to the incredible capability and flexibility of our submarines and the unmatched expertise of our crews,” said Cmdr. Grant Wanier, Hampton’s commanding officer. “This year allowed the Hampton crew to showcase our ability to operate anywhere, anytime, on Navy Nuclear Power while strengthening relationships with our international partners and honing our skills to execute any mission in any ocean.”
Hampton kicked off their busy 2024 schedule by sailing from San Diego to the chilly Beaufort Sea, surfacing through the ice at Ice Camp Whale in support of Operation Ice Camp 2024. In addition to Hampton, Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Indiana (SSN 789) joined the operation, continuing a long and proud legacy of High North operations by U.S. submarines.
“Being so far north in such cold conditions was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me,” said Fire Control Technician 1st Class Luis Velazquez-Perez, assigned to Hampton. “Even though we spent most of our time in the Pacific, learning how to operate up here is important for showing that we can go, and be, anywhere.”
In fall, Hampton’s crew began a voyage that would take them from San Diego down around South America and eventually up to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, where they currently reside. They joined the U.S. Southern Command and Chile-hosted exercise UNITAS LXV, the world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise, off Chile’s coast. After wrapping up UNITAS participation, they continued through the Drake Passage and up South America’s east coast. Hampton supported maritime operations for Argentina’s first ever P-3C Orion during an exercise of opportunity before stopping for a port visit in Brazil’s Itaguaí Naval Base in October. Their port call marked only the second U.S. submarine to visit Brazil’s newest, purpose built, submarine base and celebrates the 200-year history of diplomatic relations with this critical strategic partner in the Southern Hemisphere.
“The crew of USS Hampton exemplify what makes the U.S. Submarine Force the preeminent warfare community in the world,” said Capt. Will Wiley, commander, Submarine Squadron 11 (CSS-11). Hampton was assigned to CSS-11 until arriving on the East Coast. “As squadron commodore, it is always impressive to see our crews perform so admirably no matter when or where they are called upon.”
For Hampton’s crew, marking so many milestones and impressive accomplishments throughout 2024 is a testament to the strength of the U.S. Submarine Force. As the crew prepares to shift into the next phase of their operational life cycle, the experience gained through a busy 2024 will continue to pay dividends for the road ahead.
“I could not be more proud of the fine Sailors aboard Hampton as we sailed 30,767 nautical miles from San Diego to the North Pole and back, and then around South America for our homeport change to Kittery, Maine,” said Wanier. “The families of the crew, and Navy enterprise as a whole, were unwavering in their support as we entered the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard well prepared to execute an Engineered Refueling Overhaul over the next three years, to prepare Hampton to fight on for another decade. As every Hampton Sailor knows: Those Who Desire Peace, PREPARE FOR WAR!”
U.S. Submarine Forces execute the Department of the Navy’s mission in and from the undersea domain. In addition to lending added capacity to naval forces, Submarine Forces are expected to leverage those special advantages that come with undersea concealment to permit operational, deterrent and combat effects that the Navy and the Nation could not otherwise achieve.
Commander, Submarine Squadron 11 (CSS-11), is headquartered at Naval Base Point Loma, California, and reports to Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, headquartered in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. CSS-11 provides training, material and personnel readiness support for the medium auxiliary floating dry dock ARCO (ARDM 5), Undersea Rescue Command (URC) and four Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarines capable of supporting various missions, including: anti-submarine warfare; anti-ship warfare; strike warfare; and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
| Date Taken: | 01.24.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 01.24.2025 22:52 |
| Story ID: | 489616 |
| Location: | NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 465 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, North to South: USS Hampton demonstrates Submarine Force capability and readiness, by LCDR Tyler Barker, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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