Montpelier to Return Home from Wartime Patrol
Story Number: NNS030709-28
7/9/2003
From Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class, fast-attack submarine USS Montpelier (SSN 765) will return to Naval Station Norfolk July 10 from a six month deployment, including support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Deployed to the U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command areas of operation, Montpelier was directly involved and conducted strike operations into Iraq, launching several Tomahawk cruise missiles during the deployment, including the opening round of actions against Iraq. U.S. submarines launched approximately 30 percent of the more than 800 Tomahawk cruise missiles fired in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Montpelier will be the fifth Atlantic Fleet, and last Norfolk-based, submarine to return home after actively participating in combat action in support of OIF.
The submarine, consisting of a crew of 155 officers and Sailors, departed Norfolk January 10 on a regularly scheduled deployment and returns July 10 with 128 crew members.
With stealth, endurance, mobility and agility, fast-attack submarines like Montpelier are multimission capable - able to deploy and support special forces operations, disrupt and destroy an adversary's military and economic operations at sea, provide early strike from close proximity, and ensure undersea superiority.
Commanded by Cmdr. William Frake, Montpelier is 360 feet long, displaces 6,900 tons of water, and can travel in excess of 25 knots. Montpelier's armaments include Tomahawk cruise missiles and MK-48 advanced capability torpedoes.
Tomahawk cruise missiles are long-range subsonic cruise missiles for striking high value or heavily defended land targets. They have a range of 1,000 miles and travel at 550 miles per hour.
Montpelier, demonstrating submarine endurance, spent 94 percent of her first 125 days deployed underway. With the completion of the deployment, Montpelier will have spent 146 of 182 deployed days underway.
For more information on Navy submarines, ships, weapons systems and Sailors, visit the Submarine Force Web site at www.sublant.navy.mil.
For more news from around the fleet, visit the Navy NewsStand at www.news.navy.mil.
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