Mission Complete As Louisiana Returns To Bangor
Navy News Service
Story Number: NNS110318-09
3/18/2011
By Commander, Submarine Group 9 Public Affairs
BANGOR, Wash. (NNS) -- Following an 85-day strategic deterrent patrol, Trident ballistic-missile submarine USS Louisiana (SSBN 743) (Gold Crew) returned home to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Wash., Feb. 25.
"During the patrol, the crew worked extremely hard and performed superbly," said Cmdr. Joseph Turk, Louisiana (Gold Crew) commanding officer.
A total of 23 Louisiana (Gold Crew) Sailors – 20 enlisted and three officers – completed their submarine qualifications during Louisiana's patrol, which began Dec. 3. As a result, those Sailors earned the right to wear the traditional submariner's "dolphins."
Three other Louisiana Sailors – Missile Technician 3rd Class Matthew Kerbel, Missile Technician 3rd Class Derek Eis and Missile Technician 3rd Class James Kinney – were promoted to third class while underway.
Electronics Technician 2nd Class (SS) Joshua Brantley also became the father of a baby girl.
"The crew's sterling performance during a rapid-fire series of events – including four major inspections – demonstrated the ability for the crew to plan, prepare and succeed across a wide spectrum of submarine mission areas simultaneously," said Turk.
Louisiana, the 18th and last Ohio-class, ballistic-missile submarine, is one of eight ballistic-missile submarines homeported at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Wash., providing the survivable leg of the nation's strategic deterrent forces.
For more news from Commander, Submarine Group 9, visit www.navy.mil/local/csg9/.
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