USS Toledo Returns from Deployment

By Lt. Patrick Evans, Commander Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Toledo (SSN 769) returned to Naval Submarine Base New London Jan. 20, following a regularly scheduled deployment.

The crew, which departed for deployment July 20, 2010, returned to a snow-covered New England, just in time for some family members.

"I'm excited about handing off the shovel," said Tamara Moller, wife of Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Moller, USS Toledo Executive Officer.

There was additional excitement for the Mollers during the homecoming. It was their daughter Paige's eighth birthday. After departing the submarine, Moller handed his daughter birthday balloons on the pier, while some members of the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" as they waited for their Sailors to disembark.

Toledo conducted operations in the African Command (AFRICOM) and Central Command (CENTCOM) areas of responsibility, supporting missions vital to national security interests. During the deployment, Toledo visited ports in Limassol, Cyprus and Haifa, Israel.

"It was really incredible," said Cmdr. Douglas Reckamp, USS Toledo commanding officer. "It was gang-busters. I think it reinforces literally that this is the best job in the world since March 2009.

"We steamed close to 40,000 miles," said Reckamp. "It's about putting submarines in places where people don't know where we are. All the bad guys in the world have to assume that we are near them because nobody knows exactly where we are."

While they were underway, many crew members also worked to advance their naval careers.

"From a couple of months before deployment through now, 80 percent of the guys who were eligible to get promoted have been promoted," said Reckamp. "Thirty nine guys came back here wearing a higher rank than they were when they were before we deployed. I had 24 guys decide to extend and reenlist in the Navy while on deployment. Among all 24 of them, they got $1.5 million in selective re-enlistment bonuses."

Reckamp, born in Chicago, attended high school in Ocala, Fla. He graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation, Reckamp earned a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering while researching non-linear acoustics at the Applied Research Laboratory of University of Texas in Austin.

Fast-attack submarines like Toledo have multi-faceted missions. They use their stealth, persistence, agility and firepower to deploy and support special force operations, disrupt and destroy an adversary's military and economic operations at sea, provide early strike from close proximity, and ensure undersea superiority.

USS Toledo, commissioned Feb. 24, 1995, is the second U.S. warship named for the people of the northwestern Ohio city. The first was a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser. Submarine Toledo has a complement of 139 officers and enlisted crew.

For more news from Commander Submarine Group 2, visit www.navy.mil/local/Subgru2/.