USS Montpelier (SSN-765)
USS Montpelier (SSN-765), a Los Angeles-class submarine, is the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Montpelier, Vermont. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 6 February 1987 and her keel was laid down on 19 May 1989. She was christened April 6, 1991, launched on 23 August 1991 sponsored by Mrs. Nancy Hayes Sununu, and commissioned on 13 March 1993 with Commander Victor Fiebig in command.
 Sailors aboard USS Montpelier prepare to moor at Naval Station Norfolk in 2003 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name: | USS Montpelier |
| Namesake: | The City of Montpelier, Vermont |
| Awarded: | 6 February 1987 |
| Builder: | Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company |
| Laid down: | 19 May 1989 |
| Launched: | 23 August 1991 |
| Commissioned: | 13 March 1993 |
| Homeport: | Groton, Connecticut |
| Motto: |
|
| Nickname(s): | "Mighty Monty" |
| Status: | in active service |
| Badge: |
 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Los Angeles-class submarine |
| Displacement: | |
| Length: | 110.3 m (361 ft 11 in) |
| Beam: | 10 m (32 ft 10 in) |
| Draft: | 9.4 m (30 ft 10 in) |
| Propulsion: | S6G nuclear reactor |
| Complement: | 12 officers, 98 men |
| Armament: |
4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 12 × vertical launch Tomahawk missiles |
Service history
USS Montpelier was the first submarine to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles in Operation Iraqi Freedom. She would go on to fire all 20 missiles earning her a "clean sweep" under the command of CDR William J. Frake.
On 27 May 2004 Montpelier went through an 18-month Depot Modernization Period (DMP) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. The ship and crew completed this period three months ahead of schedule and, after successfully completing sea trials returned to their home port in Virginia.[1] The boat entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard on 5 February 2010 for modernization, maintenance, and upgrades, expected to cost around $35 million for 640,000-man hours, and included changing the submarine's buoyancy characteristics and upgrading its sonar capabilities. The work was completed and the sub returned to the fleet on 26 July 2010, eight days earlier than scheduled.[2]
The "Mighty Monty" is stationed in Groton, Connecticut.
Accident
On 13 October 2012, USS Montpelier collided with the cruiser USS San Jacinto off the east coast of the United States near Florida. Both ships were conducting a training exercise at the time of the incident. No one on board either ship was injured.[3] The sub's captain, Commander Thomas Winter, was relieved and the sub has since undergone $70 million in repairs.[4]
Awards
| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals | 23–31 March 1997 |
| 1 April – 24 June 1997 | |
| Armed Forces Service Medals | 4–28 April 1995 |
| 13 March – 3 June 1995 | |
| NATO Medal | March – June 1995 |
| Navy Unit Commendation | March – June 1995
January–July 2003 |
| Navy Expeditionary Medal | July – December 1998 |
| Arctic Service Ribbon | July – December 1998 |
References
This article includes information collected from the public domain sources Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships and Naval Vessel Register.
- Kenny, ELizabeth, "Shipyard Boosted by Submarine’s Arrival", Portsmouth Herald, 28 May 2004.
- Wiltrout, Kate, "Submarine's Upgrades Completed Early, Under Budget", Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, 3 August 2010.
- "USS Montpelier and USS San Jacinto Pierside". US Navy. 14 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- Reilly, Corinne (17 June 2014). "'Sub, dead ahead!' New Navy report dissects collision at sea". Stars and Stripes. The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
