USS Charlotte Returns from Western Pacific Deployment

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ronald Gutridge, COMSUBPAC Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Charlotte (SSN 766) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after a scheduled six-month deployment to the Western Pacific region, May 31.

"This was an extremely successful deployment for Charlotte," said Cmdr. Richard Young, USS Charlotte commanding officer. "It was a long six months but with the many hours of hard work and training, we accomplished all mission expectations during this deployment."

Charlotte departed Pearl Harbor Dec.1, 2010, on her Western Pacific deployment. The crew experienced the dynamic operational environment of the Western Pacific and returned with a wealth of submarine experience and advanced qualifications with 28 who became submarine qualified and are now authorized to wear the Submarine Warfare insignia or "Dolphins."

"I could not be more proud of my crew. They proved that we can take this submarine any place we need to go at any time" said Young.

Over the course of the deployment Charlotte completed multiple missions in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility and numerous operations with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Los Angeles-class submarines are ideally suited for covert surveillance, intelligence gathering and Special Forces missions. This stealth, when combined with the submarine's Tomahawk cruise missiles, mines and torpedoes, provide the operational commander with an unseen force multiplier. The nuclear-powered attack submarine Charlotte is the fourth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name. She was commissioned on Sept. 16, 1994 in Norfolk, Va. and arrived at its new homeport, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Nov.17, 1995.