The Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, for a visit as part of its deployment to the Western Pacific, June 9.
With a crew of approximately 130, Hawaii will conduct a multitude of missions and showcase the latest capabilities of the submarine fleet.
“Our team has trained very hard for this Western Pacific deployment,” said Cmdr. Steve Mack , USS Hawaii commanding officer. “ We are proud of our connection to the Polynesian voyagers of Hawaii’s past, and are committed to our presence in the Western Pacific and look forward to strengthening relationships with our friends and allies in the region.”
This is the first port visit for Hawaii’s crew on the submarine’s second deployment to the Western Pacific.
“Our Sailors are ready to experience the Japanese culture and look forward to this liberty as the well-deserved reward for the hard work of preparing themselves and our ship for extended operations away from home,” added Mack.
“The crew really looks forward to Western Pacific deployments and port visits after all the work they put in to prepare during the inter-deployment cycles, ” said Master Chief Electronics Technician (SS) John Perryman , Hawaii’s chief of the boat. “This is the first time most of our Sailors have set foot in a foreign country.”
For many of the crew members, this is their first time visiting Japan.
“I’m excited to get a different cultural experience, ” said Machinist’s Mate Fireman Aaron Washington . “I’d love to check out a baseball game or see Tokyo’s electronics district.”
Measuring more than 370 feet long and weighing more than 8000 tons when submerged, USS Hawaii is one of the stealthiest submarines in the world. This submarine is capable of supporting a multitude of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike, naval special warfare involving special operations forces, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare.
Hawaii is the third in the line of Virginia-class submarines. Commissioned in 2007, Hawaii is now home ported in its namesake state at Pearl Harbor.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, June 11, 2012