It was the submarine’s closing deployment earlier than decommissioning, which is scheduled to start in 2023 following 37 years of service.
Chicago departed Pearl Harbor March 28, 2022 for a regularly-scheduled deployment, throughout which the submarine and its crew carried out a full spectrum of operations, to incorporate anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare within the Indo-Pacific area.
“I’m extraordinarily pleased with not solely the Chicago Sailors however the Chicago households and supporters,” stated Chicago’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Andrew Kopacz, from Hartford, Wisconsin. “Being gone from house is a problem for the crew and we couldn’t have remained centered on the mission with out figuring out our households had been sturdy again at house. This crew demonstrated the fortitude, resiliency, and enthusiasm that make this nation nice. We’re wanting to reunite with our households and revel in some down time of their firm.”
Chicago’s crew skilled to be combat-ready previous to departure and maintained these excessive requirements all through the deployment.
“The toughness and constructive perspective displayed by your complete Chicago crew has been extraordinary,” stated Grasp Chief Info Techniques Technician (Submarines) Christopher Kyser, from Warner Robins, Georgia, Chicago’s Chief of the Boat. “The work put in by Chicago Sailors to take care of a presence at sea has been spectacular. I could not be extra pleased with the work our Sailors have put in over the past seven months to maintain the oldest submarine within the power in high form throughout her final deployment. Particular due to all of the households for holding the house entrance safe and enabling us to perform our major mission. None of this might be attainable with out your sacrifice.”
Throughout the deployment, greater than 50 Chicago Sailors turned totally certified in submarines, incomes their submarine warfare specialist designation dolphins.
“Probably the most memorable a part of deployment has been seeing my junior Sailors qualify for his or her dolphins,” stated Torpedoman’s Mate 1st Class Devon Schilling, from Sacramento, Calif. “I’ve been on board Chicago for 5 years, and I’ve by no means been extra proud than I’m now, seeing the boys I skilled flip into males. I’m all the time proud to realize a brand new brother or sister of the ‘fin.”
Chicago was commissioned Sept. 27, 1986. Chicago is the thirty-fourth Los Angeles-class submarine and the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be named for the town of Chicago, Illinois. It’s 360 toes lengthy with a beam of 33 toes.
