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USS Providence Returns from Six-Month Deployment

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS151009-13
Release Date: 10/9/2015 2:26:00 PM

By Kevin Copeland, Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Providence (SSN 719) returned to its homeport at U.S. Naval Submarine Base, New London from a regularly scheduled deployment on Friday, Oct. 9.

Under the command of Cmdr. Tony Grayson, Providence returned from the Central Command (CENTCOM) and European Command (EUCOM) Areas of Responsibility (AOR) where the crew executed the Chief of Naval Operation's Maritime Strategy in supporting national security interests and Maritime Security Operations.

'Providence executed a wide range of operations, exercises and missions alone, and with our allies, in the major CENTCOM and EUCOM theaters,' said Grayson. 'As the only allied submarine operating in the CENTCOM AOR, Providence provided presence and combat capability to the theater commander. While in theater we also operated with other nation's navies in major shipping and commerce areas, such as the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Oman to ensure continued access to a vital artery. No single nation can combat global threats, or even regional ones, alone. We must collectively work to share information and experiences to enhance regional stability. Besides working with our nation's allies, we also worked with members of the U.S. Navy, including the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group. Working with the larger Navy team mad us appreciate the inherent flexibility and capability of our nation's Navy which allows us to maintain the right presence where we need it, when we need it.

'While in the EUCOM AOR, we participated in three NATO exercises as the sole U.S. ship conducting operations with submarines and combatants from seven different NATO countries. We also conducted a daylight embark for the U.S. Ambassador to Italy, showing him what it was like to be a submariner, and afterwards making him an honorary submariner and inducting him as a member into our special fraternity.'

During the deployment Providence steamed more than 32,000 nautical miles, equal to traveling from New London, Connecticut, to San Diego and back seven times. Port visits were conducted in Duqm, Oman; Manama, Bahrain; Toulon, France and Rota, Spain.

'These port visits were an excellent opportunity to explore foreign cultures and relax between months at sea,' said Grayson. 'The crew enjoyed both Spanish and French cuisine, shopping at the souk markets in Bahrain, visiting the very modern, newly erected hotels in Oman. We built relationships with our allies by meeting with local officials in Spain, Bahrain and France, and the crew enjoyed a community relations visit to a local Bahraini elementary school. During our time in Toulon, we spent a lot of time interacting with French submarine commanders and their crews and were very impressed by their breadth of knowledge, professionalism, and experience. Together we forged a unique and unbreakable friendship that could only be formed from Sailors who share a bond of trust from sailing beneath the sea.'

The deployment was deemed a success because of the hardworking crew.

'Team Providence succeeded by adopting the mindset that we were going to win no matter what,' continued Grayson. 'Over the past year we followed a tough shipyard period with a very short deployment workup. With two major maintenance periods, several inspections, and pre-deployment training there was precious little time for the crew to spend with their families. Nonetheless, we spent long hours repairing and maintaining the boat, carved out extra trainer time, and used every opportunity to perfect our skills as submariners so we could be ready to deploy on time. Everyone did their part and their performance on deployment was magnificent. I attribute our success to the dedication, hard work, and support of our families.

'During the deployment Providence, 15 enlisted Sailors and four officers qualified in submarines; seven officers were promoted; and 20 petty officers and one chief were advanced. Additionally, nine Sailors on Providence became proud new fathers. Upon returning, we are looking forward to spending time with our loved ones and enjoying some well-earned rest.

Grayson was also honored while deployed, as he was announced as the U.S. Fleet Forces Command recipient of the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Leadership award.

The award is presented annually to two commissioned officers on active duty, one each from the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, in the grade of commander or below who are serving in command of a single ship, submarine, aviation squadron, Sea, Air, Land (SEAL) team, naval special warfare squadron, SEAL delivery vehicle team, special boat team, explosive ordnance disposal mobile unit, mobile diving and salvage unit, or Navy special clearance team during the nomination cycle. Candidates are nominated by peers who themselves must be eligible for the award.

The Stockdale Leadership is an award established by the Navy more than three decades ago in honor of Vice Adm. James Bond Stockdale, a Medal of Honor recipient who epitomized the very essence of leadership during his nearly eight years as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. During that time, Stockdale relied upon his five, self-defined roles of leadership - moralist, jurist, teacher, steward and philosopher - to help himself and a group of about 11 others, survive the camp.

Stockdale's distinguished naval career symbolized the highest standards of excellence in both personal character, example and leadership.

Fast-attack submarines like USS Providence are multi-mission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities - sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence. The submarine is designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare; anti-ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; irregular warfare and mine warfare - from open ocean anti-submarine warfare to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to projecting power ashore with Special Operation Forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or preparation of regional crises.

Commissioned on July 27, 1985, Providence is the fifth ship to be named for Providence, Rhode Island, and was the Los Angeles-class submarine to be equipped with the Tomahawk missile Vertical Launch System (VLS). It is almost 362 feet long with a beam of almost 33 feet and draft of almost 31 feet.