US Navy’s Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN 783) returned to Naval Submarine Base New London on Friday, Nov. 26, after a seven-month deployment to the US 6th Fleet area of operations.
During its time in European waters, the submarine worked with NATO allies on exercises and made port calls in Scotland and Spain.
During its deployment, Minnesota steamed more than 45,000 nautical miles.
“There is no better homecoming than the return from a long and challenging deployment. It is a special sort of Thanksgiving that our sailors will be celebrating, one that rejoices because of families reunited,” said Capt. John Stafford, commodore of Submarine Squadron 4.
“I can speak for all of our Groton shipmates when I offer our tremendous admiration and pride for the accomplishment of a well-executed deployment,” he continued.
The homecoming also recognized members of the crew who were promoted to chief petty officer during the deployment. On shore at the submarine base, the chief petty officer pinning ceremony took place on Friday, Nov. 19. Minnesota’s new chief petty officers are Chief Yeoman Submarine Steven Shinavier, Chief Electronics Technician Navigation Submarine Alexander Alkema, and Machinist’s Mate, Non-Nuclear, Submarine Auxiliary Sean Ingino.
USS Minnesota was commissioned in 2013, the third U.S. Navy ship to share the name of the North Star State. The submarine Minnesota is more than 377 feet long and can displace nearly 7,900 tons.
Fast-attack submarines are multi-mission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence. They are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare. Fast-attack submarines project power ashore with special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or preparation of regional crises.
