USS Miami Returns From Five-Month Deployment

By Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, Commander, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- The families of Sailors assigned to the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Miami (SSN 755) received an early holiday gift this year when the submarine returned to Naval Submarine Base New London, Dec. 15, following a regularly scheduled five-month deployment.

Miami, which departed for deployment July 14, conducted maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

Commanded by Cmdr. Roger Meyer, Miami visited ports in Haakonsvern, Norway; Faslane, Scotland; Portsmouth, England and Rota, Spain.

"The entire crew of USS Miami fully embraced their role as ambassadors for our Navy and country," said Meyer, a native of Blue Grass, Iowa, who assumed command of the boat in September 2010.

Throughout their deployment, the crew fine-tuned their skill sets, becoming true undersea warriors.

"Our team integrated the talents of multiple commands into one cohesive team, developing undersea warriors with the skills necessary to be competent and disciplined operators and maintainers while executing missions vital to national security," said Meyer.

Recognizing their contributions to the submarine force, several crew members aboard Miami were advanced to the next rank and earned warfare qualifications during a ceremony on Nov. 30 while in port Portsmouth, England.

During that ceremony, five Sailors received their enlisted submarine warfare qualification pins, and eight others were advanced to the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class aboard the historic British Royal Navy ship HMS Victory, which is the oldest commissioned warship in the world.

Other Sailors had reasons to celebrate. During their deployment seven babies were born. One of the lucky fathers was Senior Chief Electrician's Mate Ryan Rolfe, who was able to hold his three-month old son, Joseph, for the first time.

During the Miami's deployment, Rolfe's wife Lillian was chosen to participate in a group baby shower with 19 other military wives. The event, sponsored by the non-profit organization Operation Shower and Birdies for the Brave, marked the first time it was held in Connecticut and for wives of submariners.

"As military spouses, we forget how different our lives are. We are used to having an empty bed to crawl into and end of the day, making big decisions, planning birthday parties, attending school events, and finding housing on our own," said Rolfe.

USS Miami Ombudsman April Holtmeyer, a mother of two, expressed her excitement for the reunion of Sailors and their families, as well as the remaining crew members just in time for the holidays.

"Holiday Homecomings add an extra special sense of reunion. Our families exemplified strength during this deployment by utilizing the greatest asset - each other. This sisterhood was essential in the success of maintaining normal," said Holtmeyer.

As the Sailors departed the submarine and reunited with their families, the fathers recognized their children by presenting them with medals as a token of their appreciation.

With nearly 50 percent of the 134-member crew aboard Miami being married with children, support for families had new meaning for the deployed fathers, said USS Miami Family Readiness Group President Christy Thomas, a mother of two.

"The kids are the heroes in their dads' eyes because they have thrived in their daily lives while they have been gone," said Thomas.

During the submarine's deployment, Thomas, Holtmeyer and other wives coordinated with the non-profit organization Operation Gratitude to receive gift boxes. More than 150 children of the deployed Sailors were recognized during National Military Family Appreciation Month, which occurs in November every year.

Miami's family-focused homecoming included Santa riding aboard Miami as the submarine pulled into Naval Submarine Base New London. In addition, the Steve Elci & Friends band performed, a first for the Connecticut performers, best known for writing the song, "Submarine Town."

The submarine, built by Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat Division, is the third Navy vessel to bear the name of the city of Miami, Florida. The submarine's crew compliment includes 133 officers and enlisted Sailors.

Miami's return was preceeded by Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Dallas (SSN 700) Dec. 14.

Miami Returns From Deployment

By Lt. James Stockman, Commander Submarine Force Public Affiars

The nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Miami (SSN 755) steams through the Arabian Sea along with the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE 6), and the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64). Miami is underway on a scheduled deployment as part of the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). Enterprise and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 are deployed in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kiona M. Mckissack)

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- USS Miami (SSN 755) returned to Naval Submarine Base New London, Jan. 29, after completing a six-month deployment.

Miami completed a wide range of joint requirements supporting national security and Maritime Security Operations in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility while attached to the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group.

"We successfully accomplished a variety of valuable missions," said Cmdr. Rich Bryant, Miami's commanding officer. "The crew made it all happen and they deserve all the credit."

Miami traveled more than 22,000 nautical miles, visited four continents, made six port calls and traveled south of the equator during their deployment.

"Miami has one of the highest morale and motivated crews on the New London waterfront," said Capt. Rick Breckenridge, submarine squadron 4 commodore. "Cmdr. Bryant treats his crew with respect and they have responded with tremendous dedication and effort."

That kind of enthusiasm helped Miami earn Submarine Squadron 4's Battle Efficiency "E" award while on this deployment. The Battle "E" is awarded annually to commands that display the maximum condition of readiness, and for their capability to perform their wartime responsibilities.

With stealth, persistence, agility and firepower, fast-attack submarines like Miami 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.

USS Miami Completes Undersea Exercise with UK Submarine

By Lt. Cmdr. Greg A. Kuntz, Task Force 54 Public Affairs

NORTH ARABIAN SEA (NNS) -- USS Miami (SSN 755) and HMS Talent (S92) participated in a submarine exercise in the North Arabian Sea Oct. 6-11.

Exercise Sandstone, a bilateral exercise focused on boosting operator confidence with sonar systems, tested the capabilities and tactics of U.S. and U.K. submarines. The navies trained together in a series of exercises designed to provide both units with experience in detecting, tracking and engaging hostile submarines while conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO).

Miami’s Engineer Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Todd Santala, said the exercise was mutually beneficial.

“This exercise was very even—we got as much free play as they did,” Santala said. “While we were running the points for them to test their sonar system, we were able to maneuver and develop our own solutions in the process. This exercise really provided the maximum benefit to both navies.”

The six-day event presented both crews the opportunity to test the operational performance of sonar systems in a warm-water environment. During the exercise, the submarines practiced numerous tactics, taking turns as both hunter and target submarine. In the simulated combat environment, each crew worked to hone the skills necessary to track and evade enemies.

“We don’t often get an opportunity to do these things,” Santala said. “It was very helpful in that respect.”

MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and complement the counterterrorism and security efforts in regional nations’ littoral waters. Coalition forces also conduct MSO under international maritime conventions to ensure security and safety in international waters so that commercial shipping and fishing can occur safely in the region.