Alaska Scheduled to Change Homeports

USS Alaska (SSBN 732), a fleet ballistic submarine assigned to Submarine Group 10, is scheduled to change homeports to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga.

Alaska was previously assigned to Submarine Group 9 in Bangor, Wash., for 20 years and has been undergoing a 26 month refueling overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

Ballistic missile submarines conduct a major overhaul near the mid-point of the submarine's service life, approximately 20 years, to re-capitalize the vessel and extend the useful life to maintain the required SSBN force level.

Alaska has completed sea trials and is scheduled to arrive at Kings Bay for the first time in April. Cmdr. Paul Haebler is the commanding officer of Alaska's single crew. The crew will split into a Blue and Gold crew in May.

The "Kodak Tough" Alaska will increase the number of SSBNs homeported in Kings Bay to six, with USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) currently at Norfolk Naval Shipyard undergoing its refueling overhaul.

Alaska is the seventh Trident Ohio-class nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarine and the fourth United States Navy ship to bear the name of the state. Alaska was commissioned January 25, 1986 and has conducted 59 strategic deterrent patrols.

(Source: Navy News Service)