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USS Louisville Surges to Western Pacific

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060504-07
Release Date: 5/4/2006 12:58:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class Corwin Colbert, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- The nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Louisville (SSN 724) departed on a Western Pacific surge deployment from its homeport of Pearl Harbor May 2.

According to Cmdr. David Kirk, Louisville’s commanding officer, the crew remained focused and enthusiastic despite leaving after returning from a six-month deployment five months prior.

“The ability for the crew to pull together to get the ship ready takes true dedication,” said Kirk. “This is a testament of selflessness and good work ethics. The crew completed one year's worth of work in five months.”

Kirk said that work the crew successfully completed included intensive pre-overseas movement (POM) certifications.

POM is an intense training and maintenance period dedicated to elevating readiness to support deployment to the Western Pacific. During this period, Louisville’s crew demonstrated excellence in tactics, weapons handling, communications, navigation, propulsion plant operations and logistics.

Kirk added that communications between crew members and families is improved for this deployment.

“We will have an upgraded submarine force Internet protocol network. We didn’t have it last deployment,” said Kirk. “This service continues to improve, making it easier for our submarines to keep in contact with their families.”

Sonar Technician 2nd Class Lawrence Armour, a native of Klawok, Alaska, said he is upbeat about this deployment.

“I am excited,” he said. "As a crew, we have been together for a while, so we are pretty close. That makes the deployment much easier and very familiar.”

With the ship preparing to depart earlier than expected, Armour said he does not feel this deployment is any different.

“Even though it is a surge deployment, it will be business as usual and nothing different from what we were trained to do - our best.”

Louisville returned to its homeport of Pearl Harbor Nov. 16, 2005, following a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific.

The submarine displaces more than 6,900 tons, is 360 feet long, and can reach speeds in excess of 25 knots and attain depths of more than 800 feet. Commissioned in 1986, Louisville is the 35th Los Angeles-class submarine.

This “surge” deployment is a part of the Fleet Response Plan (FRP), a program developed to change the way ships deploy and to provide the United States with a greater range of naval options, adding an element of flexibility to naval efficiency.

The idea behind FRP is to keep the Navy ready to surge and to vary the lengths of deployments, meaning the Navy will be ready to deploy whenever, wherever.