The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS San Francisco has returned to San Diego following an extended seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific.
The submarine’s 45,000-mile journey on a maritime-security mission included port visits at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, Guam and Japan.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the crew,” said Cmdr. Jeffrey Juergens on Monday. “They trained exceptionally hard in the months leading up to this deployment and it has shown. The crew executed their missions and tasking and now we’re back home ready to spend some well-deserved time with our loved ones.”
For some Sailors, this was their first time away from home.
“I learned a lot about what submarines are really like,” said Electronics Technician 3rd Class Julian Bravo. “I also enjoyed seeing other countries; Japan was definitely my favorite.”
San Francisco was commissioned in 1981. Measuring more than 360 feet long and displacing more than 6,900 tons, the nuclear-powered submarine has a crew of approximately 140 Sailors.
In 2005, the submarine struck an undersea mountain in the Pacific and was almost lost.
