USS Hampton Returns Home for the Holidays
Navy Newsstand
Story Number: NNS031212-17
Release Date: 12/12/2003 3:14:00 PM
By Journalist Seaman Andrew B. Zask, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Hampton (SSN 767) returned to Naval Station Norfolk Dec. 11 from a six-month deployment.
The submarine and its 145-man crew departed Norfolk June 11 on a regularly scheduled deployment.
Fast-attack submarines like Hampton are multimission capable. They are able to provide early strikes from close proximity, deploy special forces, disrupt enemy operations at sea and ensure underwater battlespace dominance.
"We brought agility and forward firepower to the global war on terrorism," said Electronics Technician 2nd Class (SS) John Meighan.
A large crowd of family members and friends gathered on the pier Thursday morning to welcome the Hampton home.
A six-month deployment is hard for families and the deployed Sailors, but Sonar Technician 1st Class (SS) Wayne Brown said, "Coming together like this, you know, it makes it all worthwhile."
Despite the happiness of coming home for the holidays, Hampton's Commanding Officer Cmdr. Robert Burke said this is a good time to remember the thousands of troops still deployed.
"They're not able to spend the holidays with their families," he said, "so this is an extra cause of thanks for us."
During its deployment, Hampton conducted operations as part of the U.S. 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea and took part in various NATO exercises. Hampton also made port visits to Gibraltar; Toulon, France; and Souda Bay, Crete.
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