12/02/2014: The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Mississippi (SSN 782) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Nov. 25, for a change of homeport from Commander, Submarine Squadron 4 in Groton, Conn. to Commander, Submarine Squadron 1.
The arrival of Mississippi makes her the 4th Virginia-class submarine to be home ported in Pearl Harbor.
Credit: Commander Submarine Forces Pacific:11/25/14
According to a story published on 11/26/14 on the USN website by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steven Khor, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs:
PEARL HARBOR (NNS) — The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Mississippi (SSN 782) was welcomed to the Pearl Harbor waterfront at an aloha ceremony Nov. 25, as the newest submarine permanently assigned to Submarine Squadron 1 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
The arrival of Mississippi makes her the 4th Virginia-class submarine to be home ported in Pearl Harbor, and one of 18 fast-attack submarines permanently homeported at the historic base….
The submarine arrived at Pearl Harbor to a crowd of families, fellow submariners, veterans and supporters, having left weeks earlier from Submarine Squadron 4 in Groton, Connecticut. Swanson noted Mississippi and her crew started the transition nearly a year ago with assistance from Naval Submarine Support Command Pearl Harbor, Submarine Squadron 1, and several other organizations in the Pearl Harbor area.
“The chief of the boat and I have done four changes of homeports in our careers, and we were able to take lessons learned from our experiences to help make the transition fairly seamless for the families,” said Swanson.
“Our command philosophy centers on mission first, Sailors always.”
In January, the crew conducted a deployment night for all of the families to introduce Pearl Harbor staff, housing offices and answer questions families had well in advance of their arrival to their permanent homeport.
Additionally, the Family Readiness Group utilized social media to communicate with spouses and family at a moment’s notice to answer any difficult questions that arose. Swanson added this preplanning allowed most all of the families to move to Pearl Harbor seamlessly, and have a great support structure already in place.
Swanson said Mississippi’s ship technology, along with a focused and energetic crew aboard the vessel, will provide a great variety and coverage for missions vital to national security and any tasking from the operational commanders. Mississippi offers the submarine force’s newest technologies, along with accommodation for special operations forces and dry-dock shelter operations.
“We are ready to demonstrate our prowess as WESTPAC (Western Pacific) warriors and bring the great capabilities and stealth of the Virginia-class to the Pacific Fleet,” said Swanson.
“This is the newest submarine in the Pacific Fleet, and we are proud of her material condition and the hard work the crew put into it…..”
The submarine is 377-feet long, displaces 7,800 tons, and can carry torpedoes as well as Tomahawk missiles and have features including a torpedo room that can be refigured to hold Navy SEALs.
Mississippi is the second submarine to newly arrive at Pearl Harbor this week, with the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Jefferson City (SSN 759) out of San Diego arriving Nov. 24 for a scheduled two-year maintenance overhaul period at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.
http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=84648