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Atlantic submarine makes rare Hawaii stop

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS041223-08
Release Date: 12/23/2004 10:58:00 AM

By Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723) made a rare port visit to Pearl Harbor Dec. 20.

Although its Pacific deployment had been planned for some time, officials say the visit from the U.S. Atlantic fleet submarine underscores the flexibility of submarines to support operational commitments around the world.

"There was a need for more submarines to deploy into the Western Pacific," said Cmdr. Chris Williams, the ship's commanding officer. "This transit demonstrates the mission of the submarine force to send submarines anywhere regardless of where they are stationed."
The submarine, which is based in Norfolk, Va., has operated in the Pacific since its transit under the Arctic ice in August.

"We have been conducting regular missions in the Pacific as any Pacific-based submarine would," said Williams.

Master Chief Machinist's Mate Eric Antwoine, chief of the boat, said the crew found out in late 2003 they were going to transit from under the Artic ice over to the Pacific. He said despite the short notice, the crew has pulled together to successfully face the challenges inherit to operating in the Western Pacific.

"The Pacific is harder to navigate because it is shallow in certain areas; so, you have to pay very close attention," said Antwoine.

Oklahoma City is only the third submarine to make the under-ice transit. The first submarine to transit from the Atlantic to the Pacific under the Arctic was USS Nautilus (SSN 571) in 1958.

USS Alexandria (SSN 757) was the second submarine to transit coast-to-coast through the Arctic in June and was the first such transit of a Los Angeles-class submarine.

Machinist Mates 2nd Class Anthony Amato is excited to be in Pearl Harbor for his second deployment. He said it was a very different from his first deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"I have enjoyed some great liberty ports. This is definitely something different than the normal routine," he said.

Williams said he was pleased with his crew's performance during the deployment.

"We had to prepare ourselves for the challenges that are here in the Pacific," he said. Nevertheless, we still had the skills required to complete our task,"

"Good submarine skills work wherever you go," he said.