By Lt. Timothy Hawkins, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs
GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Virginia-class attack submarine USS
Missouri (SSN 780) returned home to Groton, Conn., June 8, after completing an
11-week surge deployment overseas.
Missouri's crew of more than 140 officers and enlisted
personnel departed March 24 to conduct assigned theater security missions in
the U.S. European Command region.
Cmdr. Michael Luckett, Missouri's commanding officer, said
his team excelled.
"I am proud and they should be proud of what they
accomplished," he said.
Luckett challenged his team to "sustain the standard of
excellence" when Missouri completed an inaugural six-month deployment last
December. Today he said the crew met that challenge thoughout the ship's second
overseas stint.
Submarine force leaders sent congratulatory messages to the
crew days before Missouri arrived home.
"Our citizens are frequently unaware of the sacrifices
that our submarine force makes to support our nation," wrote Vice Adm.
Michael Connor, commander, Submarine Forces. "As your force commander, I
am grateful and humbled by the sacrifices made by the crew and families of
Missouri."
Rear Adm. Ken Perry, commander of Submarine Group 2, said
Missouri demonstrated "readiness and responsiveness" when it answered
the nation's call to go back out and conduct forward operations only three
months after returning from the 2013 deployment.
Missouri is equipped to conduct covert surveillance, attack
land targets with Tomahawk cruise missiles, support special forces, and hunt
other ships and submarines.
It is the Navy's seventh Virginia-class submarine and fifth
vessel named for the nation's 24th state.
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