Saturday, March 14, 2009

USS Toledo Returns to Groton After More Than Two Years

By Lt. Patrick Evans, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs Officer

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Toledo (SSN 769) returned to Submarine Base New London March 13 following maintenance and modernization upgrades.

Toledo returned to its homeport in Groton after a 27-month depot modernization period (DMP) at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va. Upgrades were completed on Toledo's fire control, weapons, sonar, navigation, and propulsion plant systems during the DMP, which was the first conducted on a submarine at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding.

Toledo Commanding Officer Cmdr. Douglas Reckamp assumed command March 5 in a ceremony held in Norfolk.

Next month, Toledo will participate in the 2009 Fleet Week Port Everglades to be held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., April 27 through May 1.

Fleet Week Port Everglades is sponsored by Broward Navy Days, Inc., which first began hosting Fleet Week celebrations in 1990. The all-volunteer organization conducts several awards ceremonies during the week to recognize outstanding Sailors from each ship that participates in Fleet Week, as well as arranging several "all hands" gatherings throughout the Fort Lauderdale area during the week.