USS Albuquerque Joins San Diego-based Fleet, Contributes to Maritime Strategy

NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA, Calif. (NNS) -- USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) completed her change of homeport Aug. 6, transiting from Groton, Conn., to Naval Base Point Loma; since her commissioning in 1982, Albuquerque has been homeported on the East Coast.

The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine moved to San Diego to maintain 60 percent of the Navy's submarine force in the Pacific as part of the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review redistribution plan.

U.S. interests will continue to require a global presence, according to Capt. Brett Genoble, commander, Submarine Squadron 11.

"Moving capable assets like Albuquerque to the Pacific coast enhances the U.S. Navy's flexibility in supporting our maritime strategy," said Genoble.

This strategy reaffirms the use of seapower to influence actions and activities at sea and ashore. The sea is a vast maneuver space where the presence of maritime forces can be adjusted as conditions dictate to enable flexible approaches to conflict escalation, de-escalation and deterrence.

Albuquerque, like her sister submarines, provides a combination of stealth, firepower and forward presence, which can help a joint force to gain access in the early stages of a contingency or campaign, explained Cmdr. Michael Badorf, commanding officer of Albuquerque.

"Having Albuquerque join the Pacific fleet greatly strengthens our ability to provide the right assets, at the right time, anywhere," said Badorf.

The submarine force provides approximately one-third of the nation's warships but uses only about seven percent of the people and about 10 percent of the budget to achieve this effect. Submarines require no vulnerable underway logistics chain nor depend on mutual defense from other platforms for survivability.

Albuquerque will join five other Los Angeles-class nuclear powered submarines, three torpedo weapon retrieval boats and a floating dry dock homeported in Naval Base Point Loma as part of Submarine Squadron 11. The squadron staff is responsible for providing training, material, personnel readiness support for all units.

The sub's arrival brings approximately 140 crew members to the area, and half of the crew's families have already moved to San Diego.

San Diego's Fleet Week Showcases Parade of Ships

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Leticia Fritzsche, Naval Reserve Fleet Public Affairs Center San Diego

The Landing Craft Air Cushioned 42 (LCAC 42) maneuvers in the San Diego Bay to start the annual San Diego Fleet Week activities including a parade of ships, flyovers by Navy and Coast Guard aircraft, and a Red Bull air race in the harbor. (U.S. Navy photo by Mahlon K. Miller)

During Fleet Week San Diego, the Navy offered an alluring spectacle of ships and aircraft throughout San Diego Bay on May 3.

An estimated 100,000 visitors and residents observed the parade of ships.

"I wish my husband could be here with me to watch the parade," said the wife of Electronic Technician 3rd Class Joshua Jensen, who was aboard USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), as it navigated through the bay.

A mock smoke-filled gun battle between tall ships California, known as the "official tall ship ambassador for the State of California," and HMS Surprise, a replica of the HMS Rose, a frigate built in 1857 took place.

John Sable a former Aviation Electronics Technician (radar and navigation) 1st Class, awaited the much favored Red Bull Air Race World Series, featuring pilots flying 30 feet off the deck and reaching speeds of 400 kilometers per hour while withstanding forces of up to 10 Gs.

Also featured were air demonstrations by an EA-6B Prowler from Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, two MH-60s Knighthawks from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron(HSC) 23, a C-2 Greyound from Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30 and an HH-60J Seahawk from Coast Guard Search and Rescue.

Navy Welcomes Red Bull World Series to San Diego

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) James Seward, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific
plane from the Red Bull Air Race maneuvers around a pylon on the slalom course in the San Diego bay as Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) pulls into port. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class George Labidou)

Fleet Week 2007 commenced in San Diego Harbor across from Naval Air Station North Island Sept. 22-23, with Red Bull’s World Series air racers flying in honor of Navy and Coast Guard aviation.

Before the races, Navy ships and aircraft performed an air show, conducting various demonstrations and showing spectators what the Navy does and how it works.

“This is San Diego’s first time being a part of the Red Bull Air Races,” said Cmdr. James Dimatteo, commander, Naval Air Forces adversary programs, who was also a guest commentator throughout the Navy’s air show. “We are happy to celebrate aviation with pilots who are as passionate about it as we are.”

The Navy began their pre-race air show with USS Hopper (DDG 70) sailing by thousands of race fans flying the American flag during the National Anthem. Afterwards, aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 performed a formation fly-by above the harbor.

HSC-23 and Coast Guard Sector San Diego also wowed the crowd by demonstrating their low-flying insertion and search and rescue (SAR) capabilities, flying low to drop off Navy SEALS and search and rescue swimmers into the bay.

“Being a part of the air show was a great opportunity for us as a brand new command,” said HSC-23’s Operations Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Vega. “Our performance could not have been possible without the hard work of our Sailors on the ground, who performed countless maintenance checks to insure our aircraft were safe and ready for the show.”

Fleet Week is a way to pay tribute to the 300,000 men and women who make up San Diego’s military community. The Red Bull Air Race was the first of many San Diego’s Fleet Week events. Mike Mangold, a former Air Force pilot, flies past Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during the Red Bull Air Race World Series in San Diego Harbor. The air race was held in conjunction with Fleet Week in San Diego, a weeklong tribute to the military. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher D. Blachly)

Unknown Ship Now IDed

Bill in Boston writes:

"In coordination with folks at http://www.seawaves.com (Dave S), we believe this is the USS Ronald Reagan all wrapped up for sandblasting and re-painting."

Thanks Bill de Larry



Patrick Nobel sent this picture (above) to Grove/MT and asked if we could ID it. Patrick wrote:

"My Wife, Daughter, and I were down in California visiting family, and one of the days, we went to San Diego. Before leaving SD, we went to Coronado Island. There was a ship close by that I have NEVER seen before. It almost looked like an Aircraft Carrier, but it wasn't."

I don't recognize it from the picture, anyone else have an idea?