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USS Los Angeles Hosts Republic of Korea Navy

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091022-05
Release Date: 10/22/2009 8:48:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jacob Sippel

APRA HARBOR, Guam (NNS) -- Commander, Submarine Group 7 (COMSUBGRU)conducted bilateral talks with the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) leadership Oct. 20 aboard USS Los Angeles (SSN 688).

Rear Adm. Mike Connor, COMSUBGRU 7, hosted ROKN Commander, Submarine Flotilla 9 (COMSUBFLOT), Rear Adm. Ha Jin-Yong and ROKN Commodore, Submarine Squadron 93, Capt. Son Tai-Ki, during an underway tour of the nuclear fast attack submarine.

The ROKN delegation visited to Guam as part of the 31st Submarine Warfare Committee Meeting (SWCM)- a semi-annual flag conference between COMSUBGRU 7 and COMSUBFLOT 9. Begun in 1994 during the establishment of the ROKN submarine fleet, the conference has evolved into a discussion between U.S. and ROK submarine forces, focused on submarine tactics, force integration and future submarine development.

Connor said the tour aboard the Los Angeles while underway is another way to show ROKN the importance of joint military operations.

"The relationship between the Korean Navy and us is very important. It is especially important we know how to work and operate together and there is no better way to show them this than by taking them out to sea," said Connor. "If a picture is worth a thousand words, then experience is worth a million. Understanding each other's policies and capabilities is what prepares us for the future."

Submarine Group 7 is comprised of submarines deployed to the Western Pacific and a permanently forward deployed submarine tender. Commander Submarine Force SEVENTH Fleet coordinates and controls submarine activities over a vast expanse covering nearly forty-eight percent of the earth's surface, ranging from the Western Pacific to the Indian Ocean.

This underway on Los Angeles also marked the first time Ha has been out to sea with a U.S. Navy submarine.

"I have toured the submarines many times while [they were] pierside, but this is the first time I have had the opportunity to actually go out to sea on one," said Ha. "I'm so proud of this experience, and I am very impressed. The submarines are much similar to the ones we have but I will still walk away with many lessons learned."

Ha and Son toured the majority of the forward part of the submarine and saw firsthand some of the maneuvering capabilities of Los Angeles.

"I was very impressed by the procedural compliance of the crew," said Ha. "From the corpsman to the sonar techs, everyone knew what was going on and sailed with pride."

USS Los Angeles, the fourth naval ship to be named after the City of Los Angeles, is the lead ship of her class and is currently on her last deployment. Scheduled to decommission later this year, the submarine has been operating at sea for 33 years. Presently it is the oldest commissioned unit in the inventory of the United States Submarine Force.

"Commanding this submarine has been everything I have ever dreamed it would be," said USS Los Angeles Commanding Officer Cmdr. Steve Harrison. "The ship has been able to sustain at a high level for 33 years. I feel the ship is extremely capable now more than ever, and the crew is proud of that. I was honored I could show off this great submarine today."