By Lt. Timothy Hawkins, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs
GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Friends and family of USS New
Hampshire (SSN 778) were all smiles despite rainy weather Aug. 13 as the
Virginia-class attack submarine arrived in Groton, Connecticut, completing a
six-month overseas deployment.
New Hampshire departed Naval Submarine Base New London on
Feb. 11 to conduct maritime operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of
responsibility and made port visits in the United Kingdom and Norway.
"New Hampshire's superb mission execution was vital to
national strategic and theater security objectives," said 6th Fleet
commander Vice Adm. Philip Davidson in a message to the crew. "As you
return home to family and friends, you can be very proud of a job well
done."
Friends and family gathered in a local meeting hall on the
eve of the submarine's return. Many expressed excitement that the six-month
wait was over.
Retired Lt. Cmdr. Wendy Chiado said she was looking forward
to hugging "the best cook in the Navy." Her son Culinary Specialist
1st Class Seth Chiado, 27, has been a member of New Hampshire's crew since
2010.
Petty Officer Chiado's mom and dad traveled from Colorado to
meet him on the pier alongside his wife Sarah, two year old daughter, and two
aunts.
Sarah and Petty Officer Chiado's other two kids, ages 8 and
10, were unable to greet dad because they were at camp. But Sarah said the kids
closely tracked each passing day of the deployment by marking a calendar to
signal one step closer to the end.
For Sarah personally, the end means the return of Petty
Officer Chiado and his help at home raising their three children, a sentiment
New Hampshire's commanding officer understands.
"I have to thank our families for the tremendous
sacrifice and support they showed while we were away accomplishing our
mission," said Cmdr. Sean Fujimoto who assumed command in 2012.
USS New Hampshire is equipped to attack land targets with
highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles, conduct covert surveillance and support
special forces in addition to other warfare missions.
"We just completed a challenging deployment,
demonstrating an incredible level of endurance. It would not have been possible
without the ingenuity, hard work and selflessness of the men I serve with,"
said Fujimoto.
The crew of more than 130 Sailors can operate the
377-foot-long vessel at depths greater than 800 feet and speeds in excess of 25
knots when submerged.
New Hampshire was commissioned in October 2008 and is the
third Navy ship named for the nation's ninth state.
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