USS Alexandria Returns from Deployment in Time for Holiday Season

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

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Wearing Santa hats, elf hats and reindeer antlers, the crew of Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Alexandria (SSN 757) returned to Naval Submarine Base New London, Conn., Dec. 18, following a regularly scheduled deployment.

The homecoming, which included Santa Claus riding aboard the submarine's sail, was an early Christmas gift for loved ones who lined the pier in chilly winter weather to greet Alexandria's crew, which departed for deployment May 21.
"This crew has done great things," said Cmdr. Gene Doyle, USS Alexandria commanding officer. "The ship did fantastic, but it's just a hunk of metal without the crew."

Alexandria conducted operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, supporting missions vital to national security interests. Alexandria also visited ports in Bahrain and Limassol, Cyprus.

"These guys operated in some of the most extreme submarine environments out there," said Doyle. "We operated in places that no one else has gone before and have done things no one else has done before. And these guys did it professionally with a lot of pride, and most of the time, with a smile on their face."

According to Doyle, the submarine steamed about 30,000 miles and spent four and a half months in the Persian Gulf in a challenging environment.

The challenges extended out of the water as well.

"When we were ashore, you were talking temperatures in the 130's. We had to do unsupported maintenance thousands of miles from home. But we kept the ship in fighting trim throughout. It is an amazing story," said Doyle.

On the pier during the homecoming, two crew members received early presents of their own when they held their newborn babies for the first time. Lailah Torres and Percibal Jude Firkin were born while their fathers were deployed.

"She's so beautiful," said Electronics Technician 2nd Class Sergio Torres as he stood with his wife, Amanda, and held his daughter. "I'm just so happy to be home - not to just one beautiful girl, but two!"

Before holding him on this day, Lt. j.g. Joshua Firkin only saw his son in photos.

"It's not the same at all," said Firkin. "He's so handsome! It feels great. I'm glad to be back to see the kids."

Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Patrick McClung and his wife Geri participated in the traditional "first kiss," while Susan Tweedy and family received the traditional "first hug" from Chief Culinary Specialist Chuck Tweedy.

Rounding out the homecoming, Santa passed out candy canes to the kids as USS Alexandria's 13 officers and 121 enlisted Sailors were reacquainted with their loved ones.

"Water out there is really less deep than the length of the ship," said Doyle.
"The sea water injection temperatures were routinely approaching 100 degrees. The ship is not designed to operate routinely in that kind of stuff. So, we just make it work, and the crew did that.

Doyle, a native of Kalispell, Mont. was commissioned through Officer Candidate School after graduating from Montana State University in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.

Fast-attack submarines like Alexandria have multi-faceted missions. They use their stealth, persistence, agility and firepower to deploy and support special force operations, disrupt and destroy an adversary's military and economic operations at sea, provide early strike from close proximity, and ensure undersea superiority.

The submarine, commissioned June 29, 1991, is the third Navy vessel to be named for cities in both Louisiana and Virginia.

Submarine Force Participates in Ice Exercise 2007

Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Alexandria (SSN 757) is submerged after surfacing through two feet of ice during ICEX-07, a U.S. Navy and Royal Navy exercise conducted on and under a drifting ice floe.

Commander, Submarine Force has announced the participation of USS Alexandria (SSN 757), home ported in Groton, Conn., in a joint U.S. Navy/Royal Navy exercise being conducted in the Arctic Ocean in March and April.

Ice Exercise 2007 (ICEX-2007) will be directed by Capt Ed Hasell, officer in charge of the U.S. Navy’s Arctic Submarine Laboratory in San Diego, Calif.

Two submarines, the Alexandria and a Royal Navy Trafalgar class submarine will conduct the joint classified testing on submarine operability and war fighting capabilities in Arctic waters. Alexandria, commanded by Cmdr. Mike Bernacchi, will participate in ICEX-2007, under the operational control of Combined Task Force (CTF) 82 in Norfolk.

The exercise will be supported by the Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station (APLIS) built on the Arctic Ocean sea ice north of Deadhorse (Prudhoe Bay), Alaska from which the exercise will be coordinated with Range Safety Officers monitoring movement of and communication with the two submarines.

The camp consists of a small village, constructed and operated especially for the ICEX by the Applied Physics Laboratory of the University of Washington. Following the completion of the ICEX operations, the Navy will share the camp for civilian scientific research as part of the International Polar Year.

The U.S. submarine force conducts exercises in waters around the globe, including the Arctic, in order to guarantee assured access to any ocean in the world. The submarine force continues to use the Arctic Ocean as an alternate route for shifting submarines between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

In fact, submarines can reach the western Pacific directly by transiting through international waters of the Arctic rather than through the Panama Canal. U.S. submarines must continue to train in the Arctic environment to refine and validate procedures and required equipment in support of operational safety.

The U.S. Navy and Royal Navy Arctic cooperation represents an excellent example of the shared vision and resources the two navies enjoy. Since 1986, every Arctic tactical exercise has involved both U.S. Navy and Royal Navy submarines.