USS Missouri Submarine Goes Back to Groton

Virginia-class attack submarine USS Missouri (SSN 780) returned home to Groton, Conn., June 8, after completing an 11-week surge deployment overseas.

Missouri’s crew of more than 140 officers and enlisted personnel departed March 24 to conduct assigned theater security missions in the U.S. European Command region.

Cmdr. Michael Luckett, Missouri’s commanding officer, said his team excelled.

“I am proud and they should be proud of what they accomplished,” he said.

Luckett challenged his team to “sustain the standard of excellence” when Missouri completed an inaugural six-month deployment last December. Today he said the crew met that challenge thoughout the ship’s second overseas stint.

Missouri is equipped to conduct covert surveillance, attack land targets with Tomahawk cruise missiles, support special forces, and hunt other ships and submarines.

It is the Navy’s seventh Virginia-class submarine and fifth vessel named for the nation’s 24th state.

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Press Release, June 09, 2014; Image: US Navy