U.S. Navy Announces ICEX 2011 Submarines

Someoneforyou

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UNITED STATES - 16 MARCH 2011

NORFOLK, Va. -- Commander, Submarine Force (COMSUBFOR) announced the Virginia-class submarine USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) and the Seawolf-class submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22) have commenced Ice Exercise 2011 (ICEX-2011) in the Arctic Ocean, March 15.

USS New Hampshire is home ported in Groton, Conn., and commanded by Cmdr. John McGunnigle, while USS Connecticut is home ported in Bremerton, Wash., and commanded by Cmdr. Michael Varney.

The two submarines will conduct testing on submarine operations in Arctic waters.

"It is critical that we continue to operate and train today's submarines in the challenging Arctic environment," said Capt. Rhett Jaehn, ice camp officer-in-tactical-command and deputy director of operations at COMSUBFOR. "ICEX 2011 is the latest in a series of Arctic exercises, which are key to ensuring our submarines are trained and ready to support U.S. interests in this region."

The overall exercise has been planned and will be coordinated by the Navy's Arctic Submarine Laboratory located aboard Naval Base Point Loma San Diego. A temporary tracking range will be built into the ice flow at the Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station (APLIS) North of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The camp consists of a small village, constructed and operated especially for ICEX, by the University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory, and members of the U.S., Canadian, and British navies.

U.S. submarines must continue to train in the Arctic environment to refine and validate procedures and required equipment, as the Arctic Ocean serves as a route for submarines to transit between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The U.S. Submarine Force conducts these exercises in the Arctic in order to assure continued access to this unique region.

Submarines have conducted under-ice operations in the Arctic regions in support of inter-fleet transit, training, cooperative allied engagements and operations for more than 50 years. USS Nautilus (SSN 571) made the first transit in 1958.

USS Skate (SSN 578) was the first U.S. submarine to surface through arctic ice at the North Pole in March 1959. Since those events, the U.S. Submarine Force has completed more than 25 Arctic exercises at a pace of one ice camp every two years. Three of these have been done in conjunction with allied submarines.


File Photo: U.S. Navy Virginia-class attack submarine USS New Hampshire (SSN 778)



File Photo: U.S. Navy Seawolf class attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22)
 

Someoneforyou

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Subs surface off Alaska in exercises
United States - 18 MARCH 2011

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska's lieutenant governor greeted a Navy submarine Friday at a temporary ice station set up 160 miles north of Prudhoe Bay.

Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell met the crew of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Connecticut.

The sub made a two-week trip north from its base in Bremerton, Wash., to participate in exercises and surfaced Friday through 26-inch ice.

Another sub, the New Hampshire, surfaced Tuesday after a two-week trip from Groton, Conn.

The ice station, with plywood construction and staff of 25, is set up to conduct submarine technical and tactical testing. It will operate into April.

It was established this month for the Navy's Arctic Submarine Laboratory by the University of Washington's Applied Physics Lab.



Source: The Associated Press
 

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USS New Hampshire Sailors Present State Flag Flown at the Arctic at Fenway Park
UNITED STATES - 28 JULY 2011

BOSTON -- The commanding officer and several Sailors assigned to Virginia-class attack submarine USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) walked the turf at Fenway Park when they participated in pre-game activities to honor their boat at the Boston Red Sox game July 27.

Cmdr. John McGunnigle, New Hampshire commanding officer presented Sam Kennedy, Boston Red Sox executive officer, with their namesake state's flag to fly over the park during the game.

McGunnigle is a native of Boston and said he hails from a baseball family.

"My great grandfather William 'Gunner' McGunnigle played in the major leagues and managed the Brooklyn Bridegrooms (Dodgers) to two pennants and a tie in the World Series," said McGunnigle. "They were the first team in any professional sports league to win two back-to-back championships."

He added that he was also famous for being the first catcher to wear a glove in a baseball game. McGunnigle said he is pleased with the support the team has shown his boat and crew.

"As a token of respect to my lineage, it gives me great honor to have members of my crew present here today at Fenway to fly the state flag of New Hampshire that was flown over New Hampshire in the Arctic," said McGunnigle.

USS New Hampshire was the first Virginia-class submarine to participate in an Ice Exercise in 2011. Seawolf-class submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22) also participated in the exercises in the Arctic Ocean. Submarines have conducted under-ice operations in the Arctic regions in support of inter-fleet transit, training, cooperative allied engagements and operations for more than 50 years.

The Naval Submarine School Silver Dolphins color guard accompanied New Hampshire's Sailors and performed before the New England crowd.

USS New Hampshire was delivered to the Navy Aug. 28, 2008, and then was commissioned at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, on Oct. 25, 2008. She is the third ship to be named for the state of New Hampshire.
 

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