USS Emory S. Land Arrives in Singapore

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brandon Shelander, USS Emory S. Land Public Affairs

CHANGI NAVAL BASE, Singapore (NNS) -- Submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) arrived in Singapore for a port visit Feb. 11.

"We are honored to visit the beautiful country of Singapore and further strengthen our friendship with the Singapore navy," said Capt. Mark A. Prokopius, commanding officer. "We did an outstanding job as the lead maintenance activity for USS Florida during her continuous maintenance availability in Diego Garcia, and now we look forward to a productive port visit to Changi Naval Base."

While in port, Emory S. Land Sailors will have the opportunity to experience Singapore's natural beauty and surrounding land and seascapes through local tours and Morale, Welfare and Recreation-coordinated events.

Emory S. Land is a forward-deployed expeditionary submarine tender on an extended deployment conducting coordinated tended moorings and afloat maintenance in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations.

Frank Cable Departs Guam, Emory S. Land Takes the Watch

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Claire Farin, USS Emory S. Land Public Affairs

POLARIS POINT, Guam (NNS) -- USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) temporarily relieved USS Frank Cable (AS 40) as the primary afloat maintenance activity in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility Jan. 9, allowing Frank Cable to depart its homeport in Guam and head to Portland, Oregon, for a regular overhaul and dry-docking (ROH).

"The regular overhaul involves preventive and corrective maintenance to the hull and propulsion plant and throughout the ship," said Capt. Pete Hildreth, USS Frank Cable commanding officer. "This ensures that the ship can continue on her assigned mission on Guam for eight years."

After Frank Cable's successful scheduled port visits in 2011, including Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Republic of the Philippines, and a decade of tending submarines and surface vessels assigned to the 7th fleet area of responsibility, the submarine tender is now up and ready to undergo major preservation and maintenance.

Frank Cable will make her first stop in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

"We're stopping there on our way to our regularly scheduled overhaul, and the ship will be going into dry dock to do our routine maintenance that can't be accomplished in Guam," said Capt. Pete Hildreth, the Frank Cable's commanding officer.

USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), arrived in Guam from its permanent forward deployed home port of Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory during November 2011.

"Our mission in Guam is to maintain the three home ported Los Angeles-class attack submarines USS Buffalo (SSN 715), USS Houston (SSN 713), USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723), as well as those deployed to the 7th Fleet area of responsibility," said Capt. Paul Savage, USS Emory S. Land commanding officer. "We'll strive to continue the outstanding submarine repair reputation set by USS Frank Cable while she undergoes maintenance in the continental U.S."

Most of the crew from Frank Cable's Repair Department are assigned temporary assigned duty (TAD) to Emory S. Land. "We needed to keep a large portion of USS Frank Cable's highly skilled Sailors here on Guam with us. This transition went very smooth largely due to over six months of very detailed planning, and there was no interruption of submarine repair service," said Savage.

"I am extremely proud of our combined crew's hard work and commitment to accomplish, what I believe is the first-time crew merger of this type," said Savage. "With this integration, we've retained the best-of-the-best maintenance talent here on Guam and continue to provide superb support to our Submarine Force."

Following the dry-docking and maintenance, sea trials will be conducted while Frank Cable makes her transit back to Guam.

COMSUBPAC Announces Changes of Homeport

Submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) pulls into its new homeport at Naval Base Kitsap Bremerton. Land's arrival from La Maddalena, Italy, completes its change of homeport after eight years of providing mobile fleet support to submarines and surface ships in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maebel Tinoko (Released)

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Commander Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet Rear Adm. Douglas McAneny announced Dec. 1 that the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) and the fast-attack submarines USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN 705) and USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723) will be changing homeports during 2010 and 2011.

USS Emory S. Land, currently completing depot-level maintenance in Bremerton, Wash., will be forward-deployed to Diego Garcia upon completion of maintenance, in accordance with defense agreements between the U.S. and British governments. USS Emory S. Land is expected to depart Bremerton next spring, arriving in Diego Garcia next summer.

The submarine tender will provide an expeditionary maintenance capability to the fast-attack submarines (SSNs) and guided missile submarines (SSGNs), particularly those operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

"Forward-deploying USS Emory S. Land to Diego Garcia will dramatically reduce transit time for our submarines operating in 5th Fleet that require intermediate level maintenance, emergent repair, or logistics support," said McAneny.

Assigning USS Emory S. Land to Diego Garcia demonstrates the Navy's continuing commitment to peace and regional security through maintaining strong capabilities.

USS City of Corpus Christi, currently homeported in Guam, will be replaced in Guam by the Norfolk-based USS Oklahoma City, and the former will be assigned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor. While specific dates are unavailable, the homeport shifts are projected to take place between the fall of 2010 and the spring of 2011.

"Shifting homeports for USS Oklahoma City and USS City of Corpus Christi ensure that our most technologically advanced submarines are forward, so we maintain our ability to dominate the sea base and shape potential adversaries," said Rear Adm. McAneny.

City of Corpus Christi will undergo maintenance at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard shortly after arrival.

The shift of homeports for the two submarines is not part of the overall military build-up on Guam. While there may be some period of overlap where more than three submarines are assigned, this homeport shift will not result in any long-term increase in the number of submarines homeported at Submarine Squadron 15, which also includes USS Houston (SSN 713) and USS Buffalo (SSN 715).

Officially recognizing the importance of the Asia-Pacific region and the increased threat posed by the proliferation of submarines in the Pacific, the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review mandated that 60 percent of the U.S. Navy's submarines be homeported in the Pacific by the end of 2010.

In accordance with that mandate, USS Hampton (SSN 767), USS Jacksonville (SSN 699), USS Seawolf (SSN 21), USS Connecticut (SSN 22), USS Albuquerque (SSN 706), USS Hawaii (SSN 776), and USS Texas (SSN 775) have already been transferred from the Atlantic to the Pacific Submarine Force. Currently, 31 of the U.S. Navy's 53 fast attack submarines are homeported in the Pacific, with 18 of those 31 homeported in Pearl Harbor. USS Los Angeles (SSN 688) will depart Pearl Harbor for inactivation this winter.

USS Emory S. Land Arrives at New Homeport in Pacific Northwest

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Maebel Tinoko, Fleet Public Affairs Det. Northwest

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) pulled into its new homeport at Bremerton's Delta Pier on Naval Base (NB) Kitsap, Nov. 29.

Emory S. Land moved to Bremerton from La Maddalena, Italy, to utilize NB Kitsap's overhaul facilities. The ship will be transformed and renovated to a hybrid Military Sealift Command (MSC) ship in the future.

"I am glad to be back in the states and excited about our new homeport," said Machinist's Mate Fireman Brian Clark. "I can't wait to explore what the Northwest has to offer, especially because I love camping and hunting. The Navy has provided me an opportunity to experience both the East and West Coast."

The ship hosted a "Tiger Cruise" for approximately 90 friends and family members as the ship transited from Naval Magazine Indian Island, Wash., to Bremerton.

"The Tiger Cruise is a great way for families to see what their Sailors are doing out there on the ship and experience what ship life is like," said Amanda Gustin, tiger cruise participant. "I am proud of the Navy and I am glad they are finally home from deployment just in time for the holidays."

The ship's Sailors have been waiting for this change of homeport for months. Emory S. Land left Italy after eight years of providing mobile fleet support to submarines and surface ships in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

"I am happy about the change in duty location and I look forward to exploring the different places around Washington," said Culinary Specialist 1st Class (SW/SS/AW) Chris Durbin. "I have a couple friends stationed in Bangor and it will be a reunion for me and some submariners I've served with."

"I am ready to finally see what the Navy is all about because I have never been stationed on a ship before," said Seaman Emily Hill upon checking in aboard Emory S. Land. "I am excited the ship is finally here and I get to report to my first duty station."