Navy Pic of the Day - USS Annapolis at Souda Bay

The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Annapolis (SSN 760) is escorted by a U.S. Naval Support Activity harbor security boat as she departs Souda harbor following a routine port visit to the island of Crete. (U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley/Released)

USS Annapolis Visits US Naval Academy

By Lt. Patrick Evans, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (NNS) -- Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Annapolis (SSN 760) visited the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Md., Oct. 24-25 as part of the school's homecoming activities.

During the visit, crew members attended Navy's homecoming football game.

In addition, USNA Midshipmen and the public received tours of the submarine, which was anchored in the Chesapeake Bay.

"The best part about this is giving the Midshipmen an opportunity to visit the ship," said Capt. Michael P. Holland, commanding officer of Annapolis. "This gives the Midshipmen an opportunity to make an informed decision on their career choices."

Each year, the Navy tries to bring ships to the academy for homecoming weekend.

As part of the Annapolis' visit, the submarine's sponsor, Myra "Micky" Kauderer, called on the boat's crew members to attend a reception hosted by the Navy League.

The Annapolis' visit to USNA was not the only college connection the ship made in 2009.

In April 2009, the crew of Annapolis helped Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., keep a promise to honor two heroes and promote diversity during Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2009.

Annapolis took a glass case of memorabilia to the North Pole in April 2009 to commemorate the historic expedition of Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary and Matthew A. Henson to the top of the world, which took place April 6, 1909. The commemorative case, compiled by Harvard University, contained an American flag and bible, similar to ones taken during the original expedition and books by Peary and Henson.

Annapolis, named in honor of the capital city of Maryland, is a Los Angeles-class submarine, which is considered the backbone of the submarine force with 45 submarine now in commission.

Attack submarines like Annapolis are designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships; project power ashore with Tomahawk cruise missiles and special operation forces; carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions; support carrier strike groups; and engage in mine warfare.

ICEX 2009 Underway in the Arctic

The Los Angeles-class submarine USS Annapolis (SSN 760) is on the surface of the Arctic Ocean after breaking through three feet of ice during Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2009. Annapolis and the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Helena (SSN 725) are participating in ICEX 2009. With the support from the University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory, ICEX 2009 enables the Submarine Force to operate and train in the challenging and unique environment that characterizes the Arctic region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tiffini M. Jones/Released)

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- A group of Navy submariners are practicing wartime operations off the coast of northern Alaska as part of Ice Exercise 2009, the commander of the exercise said March 25.

Two Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarines, USS Helena and USS Annapolis, are participating in this year's ICEX, said Navy Capt. Greg Ott, a submariner who is also the deputy operations director for Submarine Force Command, based in Norfolk, Va. The USS Helena is home-based in San Diego, while the USS Annapolis is homeported in Groton, Conn.

"We're maintaining our proficiency in arctic operations," Ott said during a telephone interview with American Forces Press Service.

The submariners, Ott said, are testing torpedo and sonar systems, while practicing wartime operations in an arctic environment. The exercise, he said, is slated to end in early April. The undersea Sailors are working alongside a group of technicians and civilian scientists housed at a temporary base camp set up on the Arctic Ocean ice near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The scientists are collecting environmental data.

"It's going great, so far," Ott said of the exercise. "In fact, we got a nice, warm day today; it's only about minus 10 [degrees Fahrenheit]."

Different skills are required when operating submarines in Arctic water conditions, Ott said, noting the frigid water temperatures and tricky currents affect a submarine's buoyancy characteristics and sonar capabilities. Additionally, he said, submariners also must take care to avoid ice when traveling in Arctic regions.

U.S. nuclear submarines have operated under the polar ice since 1958, Ott said, when USS Nautilus became the first submarine to complete a submerged trip to reach the North Pole.

Arctic submarine operations are important to U.S. national defense, according to Navy documents. Accordingly, the Navy's submarine force must be highly trained in arctic-water operations to provide and ensure access to strategic areas worldwide. Continents of the Northern Hemisphere - Europe, Asia and North America - all share the Arctic Ocean.

USS Annapolis Returns From African Partnership Station, Deployment

By Lt. James Stockman, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs



GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- USS Annapolis (SSN 760) returned home to Naval Submarine Base New London Feb. 28 after a regularly scheduled six-month deployment.

Annapolis completed a wide range of joint requirements supporting national security in the U.S. European Commands' area of responsibility, including playing a vital role in African Partnership Station (APS) 2007.

APS 2007 was a U.S. Naval Forces Europe-led initiative to enhance cooperative partnerships with regional maritime services in West and Central Africa.

"It was a unique experience, not only to host VIPs from countries in West Central Africa and the Gulf of Guinea, but to be the first submarine involved with the Africa Partnership Station," said Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Miller, executive officer of Annapolis. "We consider it an honor to be on the leading edge of submarine operations in support of maritime safety and security."

Annapolis' crew served as ambassadors for the U.S. Navy during port visits to Rota, Spain; Toulon and Brest, France; Praia, Cape Verde; and Ghana. The Cape Verde visit marked the first visit to Africa outside the Mediterranean by a U.S. submarine.

"We were very excited to be the first U.S. sub to visit that region," said Cmdr. Dennis Mckelvey, commanding officer of Annapolis. "The reaction from our hosts clearly showed how this is yet another example of the international community collaborating in creative ways to achieve common goals such as improved maritime safety and security."

With stealth, persistence, agility and firepower, fast-attack submarines like Annapolis are multi-mission capable, able to deploy and support special forces operations, disrupt and destroy an adversary's military and economic operations at sea, provide early strike from close proximity and ensure undersea superiority.