US Navy attack submarine completes final deployment before its decommissioning

U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarine USS Buffalo returned to its homeport of Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam on December 23, completing her last deployment before decommissioning.

During her final, seven-month deployment, Buffalo visited Singapore and participated in cooperative exercises with the Indonesian and Republic of Singapore navies.

They also qualified 25 crew members in submarines and advanced 38 sailors in pay grade.

“Every sailor on Buffalo worked hard to make this deployment a success,” said Buffalo’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Micah Maxwell. “I am especially proud of my sailors who qualified new watch stations and of the new submariners who earned their dolphins while we were away from home; they will continue on in a long tradition of excellence.”

“The last crew of Buffalo, through their selfless actions, honored those who have served aboard this ship and contributed to the indelible legacy of the Pacific Fleet Submarine Force,” said Maxwell.

Buffalo is the third United States Ship to bear the name of Buffalo. She is the 25th nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine of the Los Angeles-class design.

The U.S. Navy decommissioned three Los Angeles-class submarines this year, USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN 705), USS Houston (SSN 713) and USS San Francisco (SSN 711). San Francisco will be converted into a moored training ship and moved to Nuclear Power Training Unit in Charleston, South Carolina where she will help train a new generation of submariners through 2040.