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USS Ohio (Blue) Returns Home to NB Kitsap, Bangor

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070131-02
Release Date: 1/31/2007 11:42:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW/NAC) Eric J. Rowley, Fleet Public Affairs Center Detachment Northwest

SILVERDALE, Wash. (NNS) -- Sailors of USS Ohio (SSGN 726) (Blue) returned home to Naval Base (NB) Kitsap, Bangor, Jan. 28 to a warm welcome.

Friends and family saw the submariners for the first time in nearly two and half months after successfully completing the Navy’s first SSGN crew swap with the Ohio (Gold) crew last week.

“We learned a great deal from the crew swap,” said Ohio (Blue) Executive Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Rich Massie. “The guys were extremely flexible, worked hard and made it happen. It was a huge evolution with multiple things going on at once-- not to mention a complete crew turn over -- and the guys did a great job.”

The two Ohio crews had three days to complete a complicated crew swap of more than 160 Sailors and their personal gear from each crew, along with more than four dozen large containers of paperwork, tools, and fresh food for the next three months.

“It was a challenge due to the fact that we turned over the ship without having other locations for the crew to be in,” said Ohio (Blue) Command Master Chief (SS) Thomas Price. “Normally, three quarters of the crew would move off the ship and go home and then when you go to do turnover, there would only be a quarter of a crew to move off. With 100 percent of the crew still sleeping on board until the day of turnover was a little bit challenging. Overall, I think we were very efficient, safe, and well organized.”

Before their return to the Northwest, the (Blue) crew had the opportunity to test their submarine's new dry deck shelter system.

“The deployment was challenging and exciting,” said Massie. “We made some great strides in completing a weapons certification and working with special forces personnel.”

The crew also completed a supply management inspection (SMI) and operational reactor safeguards exam (ORS).

“The deployment was challenging, but it was still very successful,” said special operations forces and Strike Officer Lt. Paul Gregor.

“The deployment had its ups and downs but we did pretty well,” said Fire Control Technician 1st Class (SS) Scott Deranleau. “This is the first SSGN and we were the first crew to actually take it out. Overall, we did well.”