US Navy’s Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Annapolis (SSN 760) on February 2 arrived at her new San Diego homeport at Naval Base Point Loma, completing an inner-fleet transfer from Groton, Connecticut.
Annapolis is now one of five Los Angeles-class submarines assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron 11 (CSS-11). Families of the crew have been arriving to San Diego prior to the transfer.
Capt. Christopher Cavanaugh, CSS-11 commodore, welcomed the submarine to San Diego and his squadron.
“It’s terrific to see Annapolis on the waterfront after her extended maintenance period, and to have the ship and crew join our Squadron 11 team,” said Cavanaugh. “Annapolis is one of the most technologically advanced submarines in the world and will serve the nation for many more years. She has been an impressive performer during her career in the Atlantic, and I have the highest confidence that she will continue to do great things here in the Pacific.”
During the transfer, Annapolis conducted a diverse series of exercises and test events to evaluate and certify the ship’s warfighting capabilities across a range of submarine mission areas.
While transiting to San Diego the crew completed theater security cooperation exercises with maritime patrol aircraft. Twenty-five sailors qualified in submarines and are now entitled to wear the submarine warfare insignia, also referred to as “Dolphins”, after completing a rigorous qualification process that included in-depth understanding of submarine construction and operations, and also practical assessments of the Sailor’s ability to combat a wide range of casualties that could be encountered while on board the submarine. A majority of the crew also completed advanced qualifications, including engineering watch supervisor, diving officer of the watch and chief of the watch. These qualifications provide greater watch bill flexibility and help ensure that Annapolis’ performance will remain strong.
In transit, the crew also conducted a time-honored Navy tradition of “crossing the line,” a unique ceremony where the submarine crossed the equator, allowing the crew to qualify as “Trusty Shellbacks.”
USS Annapolis is the fourth ship to be named for Annapolis, Maryland, site of the U. S. Naval Academy. The boat was built by Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, and the keel was laid down June 15, 1988. The submarine was christened and launched on May 18, 1991, and commissioned April 11, 1992.