USS Minneapolis-St. Paul Arrives at New Homeport
Story Number: NNS070807-02
Release Date: 8/7/2007 10:10:00 AM

From Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- USS Minneapolis-St. Paul (SSN 708) arrived at her new homeport of Pearl Harbor Aug. 3., in preparation for the submarine's decommissioning at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard later this year.

“This is a bittersweet moment. The crew is happy to be in Hawaii, but sad to see their submarine decommissioned,” said Cmdr. Woods R. Brown II, the submarine’s commanding officer.

The Los-Angeles class submarine was inactivated June 22, 2007, in a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk after more than 23 years of service. Five-time Battle Efficiency "E" award winner, the Minneapolis-St. Paul completed 12 deployments and earned seven Meritorious Unit Commendations. Prior to its transit to Pearl Harbor, the submarine returned from its final six-month deployment to the North Atlantic in April.

Brown also extended his condolences to those affected by the bridge collapse in the submarine’s namesake city.

“We heard about this during our transit over here. It was such a shock. Our ties with Minneapolis are still fresh and my heart goes out to all those involved in this tragedy,” said Brown.

Minneapolis-St. Paul is the 21st Los Angeles-class attack submarine and the 16th ship in that class built by Electric Boat in Groton, Conn.

USS Connecticut (SSN 22), USS Seawolf (SSN 21) and USS Hampton (SSN 767) have recently shifted to West Coast homeports to comply with the submarine distribution recommended in the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/subpac/.