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USS Columbia Departs for Western Pacific Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091204-03
Release Date: 12/4/2009 9:28:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Luciano Marano, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Columbia (SSN 771) departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a regularly-scheduled deployment to the western Pacific region Nov. 3.

"The crew is very excited," said Cmdr. Craig Blakely, USS Columbia commanding officer. "It's mostly a young group, and everyone is eager to get out there and earn their pay."

"The crew has done a fabulous job, especially having just recently come out of the shipyard," said Capt. Christopher Kaiser, commander, Submarine Squadron 7. "They've all worked very hard finding their skills and getting this ship and themselves ready for this deployment."

Columbia, commissioned in 1995, was the last 688-class submarine to be built at Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Conn. She is one of the most versatile weapons in the world, capable of numerous types of missions in a myriad of regions, including long-range Tomahawk strike operations, anti-submarine and surface ship tracking operations, surveillance and intelligence gathering and special forces insertions.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/subpac/.