USS ALEXANDRIA to Return Home Following Around the World Deployment

Since 02-02-05

Excerpted from NSL Update 12-10-04

From Submarine Base New London Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS ALEXANDRIA (SSN 757) will return home to Naval Submarine Base New London (SUBASE) Dec. 10, following a deployment that circumnavigated the globe.

ALEXANDRIA departed SUBASE June 11, then transited under the Arctic ice to the Pacific, Central and European Commands' area of responsibility. This deployment, in which ALEXANDRIA operated in all four oceans and the Red and Mediterranean Seas, yielded several firsts. ALEXANDRIA was the first improved Los Angeles-class attack submarine to conduct a circumnavigation of this nature. Additionally, it was the first U.S. nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine to visit Goa, India. ALEXANDRIA also conducted port visits in Yokosuka, Japan; Guam; Singapore; Crete and Gibraltar.

ALEXANDRIA participated in Exercise Malabar with the Yokosuka, Japan-based USS Cowpens (CG 63), USS Gary (FFG 51) and the Indian navy. Exercise Malabar is a bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability between the two navies, while enhancing the cooperative security relationship between India and the United States. The at-sea training included maritime interdiction, surface events, sub-surface and air events, as well as personnel exchanges.

With stealth, endurance and agility, fast-attack submarines like ALEXANDRIA 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 and ensure undersea superiority.

Commanded by Cmdr. Thomas J. Kearney, ALEXANDRIA is 360 feet long, displaces approximately 6,900 tons and has a crew of approximately 134 officers and Sailors. The submarine was launched in March 1982 and commissioned in May 1983.