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USS Olympia Completes Around-The-World
'Final' Deployment
by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Amanda Gray
November 18, 2019
Friends and families of the crew gathered on the submarine pier
at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to welcome back the Los
Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Olympia (SSN 717) as she
returned from deployment on September 8, 2019.
Olympia
successfully completed a seven-month around-the-world deployment,
while conducting operations in support of national security.
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September 8, 2019 - The
Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Olympia (SSN
717) returns home following a seven-month deployment.
Olympia conducted an around-the-world deployment in support
of maritime security operations with allies and partners to
ensure high-end war fighting capabilities in this era of
great power competition. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass
Communication Specialist 1st Class Amanda Gray)
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“Olympia and her crew performed with excellence,” said Master
Chief Electronics Technician (Radio) Arturo Placencia, Olympia’s
chief-of-the-boat, from Duncan, Oklahoma. “For everyone onboard,
this was the first time we completed a circumnavigation of the
globe. As a Pacific fleet boat, this was also our first deployment
in the 5th and 6th fleet. We have been training towards this
deployment for months and it was great to see the Sailors put their
skills and knowledge to the test. Our motto is ‘we do difficult
things with excellence, strength and honor’ and that’s exactly what
our Sailors did.”
During her deployment, Olympia conducted
port visits in Souda Bay, Greece and Gibraltar.
“Olympia
visited Gibraltar during her deployment to foster and sustain
relationships with the Gibraltarian and Royal Navy,” said Cmdr.
Benjamin Selph, Olympia’s commanding officer. “The crew of Olympia
welcomed British Parliament members on a tour of the mighty Olympia
during our visit. We joined the crew of HMS Talent (S92) in a day of
barbeque and friendly sports competitions of soccer, football and
volleyball. There was also a promotion ceremony for two Olympia
Sailors and a dolphin presentation onboard Talent.”
During
their scheduled port call to Souda Bay, Greece they completed an
expeditionary weapons load to demonstrate their warfighting
capabilities.
“Our submarine force operates globally with
allies and partners to ensure high-end warfighting capability in
this era of great power competition. Submarine crews, like Olympia,
train and operate every day to guarantee we are ready to fight
tonight,” said Rear Adm. Blake Converse, commander Submarine Force,
U.S. Pacific Fleet.
During the deployment, 35 Sailors earned
their submarine warfare qualification, and 29 Sailors achieved
advanced supervisory qualifications.
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September 8, 2019 -
Electrician's Mate 2nd Class (Nuclear) Henry Wagner, from
Baltimore, Maryland, assigned to the Los Angeles-class
fast-attack submarine USS Olympia (SSN 717), holds his
newborn son for the first time during Olympia's homecoming.
The USS Olympia returned from a seven-month,
around-the-world deployment in support of maritime security
operations with allies and partners to ensure high-end war
fighting capabilities in this era of great power
competition. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication
Specialist 1st Class Amanda Gray)
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“The Navy ensures the safety of the seas and the security of the
world’s oceans to provide safe-global commerce, and I got to be part
of that,” said Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) 3rd Class William
Christmas, from Warner Robins, Georgia. “It was an amazing
experience passing the equator and being able to participate in a
Shellback ceremony with the crew.”
The completion of this
Western Pacific deployment is scheduled to be their last before
heading to Bremerton, Washington for inactivation.
“Olympia has completed her final deployment
after 35 years of service, circumnavigating the globe in seven
months starting from Oahu, Hawaii, transiting through the Panama
Canal, Strait of Gibraltar and Suez Canal,” said Selph. “Sailing
around the world in our country’s oldest serving nuclear-powered Los
Angeles-class fast-attack submarine is a testament to the durability
and design of the submarine, but also the tenacity and ‘fight on’
spirit of the crew.”
Olympia currently holds Cmdr. Richard
O’Kane’s lucky cribbage board. In 1943 onboard the Gato-class
submarine USS Wahoo (SS 283), Wahoo’s executive officer Cmdr. O’Kane
was dealt the highest possible hand. That night, Wahoo sank two
Japanese freighters and the luck continued. Years later, the
cribbage board moved to USS Tang (SS 306), and has been passed on to
submarines ever since. Next it was USS Kamehameha (SSN 642), then
USS Parche (SSN 683)), USS Los Angeles (SSN 688), USS Bremerton (SSN
698), and now it’s on Olympia. They will turn the cribbage board
over to the next oldest fast-attack submarine in the Pacific before
they decommission.
Olympia is the second ship of the Navy to
be named after Olympia, Washington. She is the 29th ship of the Los
Angeles-class fast-attack submarines. Her keel was laid by Newport
News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company on March 31, 1981. She was
commissioned on November 17, 1984.
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