NORFOLK, Va. - The U.S. Navy's Los Angeles class attack submarine USS Norfolk (SSN 714) returned to Naval Station Norfolk from its final regularly scheduled deployment, August 26. The city of Norfolk's namesake will begin deactivation in 2015.
Norfolk, under the command of Cmdr. Greg Zettler, returned from the Central Command area of responsibility where the crew executed the nation's maritime strategy for supporting national security interests and maritime security operations.
Norfolk left its homeport in February, and during the deployment steamed more than 30,000 nautical miles. Port visits were conducted in Lisbon, Portugal; Rota, Spain; Bahrain; and Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.
Norfolk was built by Newport News Shipbuilding and was commissioned May 21, 1983 by then Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger. The 360-foot submarine is the third naval ship to be named in honor of the city of Norfolk. It is also the Navy's 133rd nuclear-powered submarine and 89th of the attack submarine class. The crew compliment includes 15 officers and 116 enlisted Sailors. The ship will shortly begin the decommissioning process.