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USS Santa Fe Departs for Western Pacific

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050810-02
Release Date: 8/10/2005 10:05:00 AM

By Chief Journalist (SW/AW) David Rush, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- Friends and family members waved goodbye to the submariners of USS Santa Fe (SSN 763) as the Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine departed from its homeport of Pearl Harbor Aug. 9.

According to Santa Fe’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Steve Perry, the morale of the crew is high and his submarine has met all of the requirements to go on deployment.

“The crew is well trained and ready to go," he said. "The ship is in great shape, and we’re all looking forward to going out and doing our nation’s work.”

Perry added that this will be the first deployment for many of his submariners.

“I’m looking forward to watching the crew grow together as a team and continuing to excel and advance, and do the great things that they do every single day,” Perry said.

Fire Control Technician 2nd Class (SS) Theodore Turney said his goodbyes to his wife and one-year-old daughter, but is looking forward to getting to work.

“We’re going out to do what we're trained to do," he said. "The best thing is to actually implement all of the training.”

Santa Fe is the Navy's 52nd Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine. It was commissioned Jan. 8, 1994, at Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Conn.

Santa Fe is the second ship to be named in honor of the capital city of New Mexico.

An improved Los Angeles-class (or 688I) submarine, is 362 feet long, displaces 6,900 tons submerged, and features the BSY-1 combat system, retractable bow planes, and 12 vertical launch tubes for Tomahawk cruise missile strikes.