John's Naval, Marine and other Service news - Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Welcomes Back USS Bremerton

The Los Angeles-class submarine USS Bremerton (SSN 698) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after completing a seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific region, May 30.

 ”Bremerton completed a very successful deployment to the Western Pacific fully accomplishing all assigned tasking for a variety of missions,” said Cmdr. Caleb Kerr, Bremerton commanding officer. “The crew remained motivated during a deployment with a very high operational tempo while performing the most difficult missions.”

During the deployment, ten Sailors earned their designation as qualified in submarines and now wear their dolphin warfare insignia. For one-third of the crew this was their first deployment and they performed like seasoned veterans.

During their time off, the Bremerton crew was able to experience the diverse cultures in Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan; Subic Bay, Philippines; Guam, and Chinhae, South Korea. The liberty time provided the Sailors with opportunities to directly contribute to the enhancement of relationships with key allies.

At the completion of the deployment, the submarine was greeted at the pier by a waiting crowd of smiling family and friends.

 ”It was definitely a long wait,” said Alexandria Patton, girlfriend of a Bremerton Sailor. “We are really excited about getting married on Sunday, so it was very good timing!”

USS Bremerton, commissioned on March 28th, 1981, is named after the city of Bremerton, Wash. It is the tenth ship of the Los Angeles-class of nuclear attack submarines. The vessel is 362-feet long, displaces 6,900 tons and can be armed with sophisticated Mark-48 torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Press Release, May 31, 2013; Image: Wikimedia