USS Santa Fe Departs for Deployment

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ronald Gutridge, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Santa Fe (SSN 763) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a scheduled six-month deployment to the Western Pacific region, Feb. 24.

Cmdr. David Adams, Santa Fe commanding officer, commented that the crew is extremely excited and well prepared to get underway.

"Each and every Sailor has worked extraordinarily hard to prepare for this deployment," said Adams. "Each crew member clearly owns their piece of the mission, and we have spent the past year honing our submarine skills so that we can be ready for deployment."

Adams said this deployment will be the first for the majority of the crew and they will be conducting many training exercises and qualifications as well being available for any tasking which comes their way.

"We will strive to be fully ready to answer the nation's call no matter the mission," said Adams. "Santa Fe Sailors are ready to go forward and stand on the front lines of freedom and above all else, bring the submarine and crew back safely from a successful deployment."

Santa Fe is the second ship to be named in honor of the capital city of New Mexico. As an improved Los Angeles-class, the ship features retractable bow planes and twelve vertical launch tubes for cruise missile strikes