Last modified Thu., May 14, 2009 - 05:39 AM
Originally created Thursday, May 14, 2009

USS Florida home after 13-month cruise

Crews changed out at Diego Garcia on SSGN's maiden trip

Public Affairs Office, Submarine Group 10

Navy photo by MC1 (SW) Joe Sabo

The USS Florida (SSGN728) gets pushed towards the pier by hard working tugboats. As it is one step closer to a period in its home port of Kings Bay.

Kings Bay welcomed USS Florida (SSGN 728) (Gold) home from its maiden deployment as a guided missile submarine, May 8.

Florida is the first Atlantic Fleet Ohio-class SSGN to be forwarded deployed. Florida began its maiden deployment on April 26, 2008, and the arrival of Florida marked the first time the submarine returned to its homeport in 13 months.

Florida has two crews, Blue and Gold, which alternated manning the submarines while on deployment. Each crew completed two deployment periods, swapping crews in Diego Garcia.

Florida achieved a number of milestones for a SSGN, including the first transit of the Suez Canal and visits to Gibraltar, Jebel Ali, Souda Bay and Diego Garcia.

Florida Gold Chief Of The Boat, Command Master Chief Randy Huckaba, commented on the significance of port visits, including the three-day port call in Souda Bay, which is the first time a submarine that size visited the port.

With the new forward deployed mission of the SSGN, Sailors have the ability to communicate with their families more frequently.

"We do not have the communications restrictions that other platforms have, and we do have the latest technology, with the ability to send and receive e-mails," said Capt. Randy Crites, commanding officer Florida Blue.

MC(SW) Joe Sabo USS Florida SSGN(728)
Chief of the Boat CMDCM R.J. Huckaba and his wife Diane enjoy post deployment embrace and smile as her sailor is home.

Florida conducted operations in the Sixth Fleet and Fifth Fleet area of responsibilities. The missions comprised mostly of littoral operations.

"We put a lot of hard work into what we did," Huckaba said. "I'm very proud of the crew. They are an incredible crew, top-notch."

Florida is the first submarine and the sixth United States Navy ship to bear the name of the state.

Florida is the second submarine to complete the conversion from a ballistic missile submarine to a guided missile submarine, completing the conversion in 2006.