The submarine returned house to Naval Submarine Base New London on a wet Tuesday, Jan. 3, after a six-month deployment underneath the command of Cmdr. Joseph A. Fontenot. However that’s not the one excellent news for Newport News, which garnered one of many high honors on the Groton waterfront.
“It’s an excellent begin to 2023 welcoming Cmdr. Fontenot and the crew of Newport News again house,” stated Capt. Thomas O’Donnell, commander of Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 12, underneath which Newport News operates. “These Sailors reached such a stage of excellence of their efficiency that they earned the 2022 Battle E award because the top-performing submarine in Squadron 12, an honor bestowed upon the easiest we ship to sea.
“The regular, unwavering presence of U.S. Navy submarines worldwide gives our nation with an amazing army edge, nevertheless it takes a variety of exhausting work and dedication on the a part of our Sailors and their households to take care of that vigilance and benefit,” he continued. “I need to congratulate the Sailors of Newport News for a job well-done on their deployment and thank their family members for his or her sacrifices right here at house.”
The Navy’s Battle Effectiveness – broadly often called “Battle E”– awards acknowledge the ships at every squadron that attain the best general operational readiness and efficiency.
Throughout its deployment to the U.S. European Command space of duty, Newport News steamed almost 33,000 nautical miles and made port calls to Tromso, Norway; Faslane, Scotland; and Rota, Spain. Thirty-nine personnel earned their submarine warfare gadgets – generally known as “dolphins” – in the course of the deployment and the Newport News Sailors racked up greater than 350 particular person watchstation {qualifications} at sea.
“I’m tremendously happy with this elite crew for its tireless pursuit of excellence over the previous six months at sea,” stated Fontenot. “From planning, to materials administration, to mission execution, this staff of devoted professionals ensured Newport News was in the best place, on the proper time, with the best readiness to soundly accomplish European Command’s highest precedence missions with no missed operational days.
“Newport News and her Sailors confirmed as soon as once more on this deployment why our Navy counts on us to be a stalwart defender of freedom world wide,” he continued. “After all, our deep gratitude goes out to our households and family members for his or her steadfast assist of our Sailors and the sacrifices they made again house in order that we might execute our tasking. We couldn’t be happier to be again house with them to have a good time the New 12 months.”
Hannah Clarke and her husband, Lt.j.g. Daniel Clarke have been acknowledged with the ceremonial first kiss on the pier, whereas Petty Officer 2nd Class Forrest Keith was acknowledged with the primary hug together with his household – spouse Chelsea and kids Ceinwyn, 6, and Christopher, 4.
Additionally acknowledged in the course of the homecoming have been Newport News Sailor of the 12 months Petty Officer 1st Class Spencer Heline and his spouse, Kristy Dowd; Junior Sailor of the 12 months Petty Officer 2nd Class Marcus Stanfield and his spouse, Atlagracia Lara-Stanfield; and Bluejacket of the 12 months Seaman Keil Gerard and his vital different, Katelyn Deibert.
USS Newport News was commissioned on June 3, 1989. SSN 750 is the third U.S. Navy warship named for the Virginia shipbuilding metropolis Newport News, following a World Battle I cargo ship and a Des Moines-class heavy cruiser that was in service from 1948-1978. The submarine Newport News has a crew of greater than 130 personnel, is greater than 361 toes lengthy with a beam of greater than 32 toes.
Quick-attack submarines are multi-mission platforms enabling 5 of the six Navy maritime technique core capabilities – sea management, energy projection, ahead presence, maritime safety and deterrence. They’re designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, particular operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare. Quick-attack submarines mission energy ashore with particular operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles within the prevention or response to regional crises.
