THE TENSION: USS Georgia Departs Kings Bay for Maiden Deployment as Converted Guided Missile Sub

KINGS BAY, Ga. (Aug. 5, 2009) The guided-missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729) transits the St. Marys River on her first operational deployment as a converted Guided-missile submarine. Georgia will deploy for approximately one year to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility before returning to homeport at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga. (U.S. Navy photo Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kimberly Clifford.)

KINGS BAY, Ga. (Aug. 5, 2009) Sailors aboard the guided-missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729) wait for a storm to pass as the submarine prepares to get underway from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga. for the first time since conversion from a ballistic missile submarine to a guided-missile submarine in 2008. (U.S. Navy photo Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kimberly Clifford.)

KINGS BAY, Ga. (Aug. 5, 2009) The guided-missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729) prepares to get underway from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga. for the first time since conversion from a ballistic missile submarine to a guided-missile submarine in 2008. (U.S. Navy photo Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kimberly Clifford.)

Focus on Defense:

KINGS BAY, Ga., Aug. 7, 2009 -- The fourth of the four guided-missile submarines (SSGN) departed for its maiden operational deployment as a newly converted SSGN from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., Aug. 6.

USS Georgia (SSGN 729), led by Capt. Brian McIlvaine, Blue crew commanding officer, completed its conversion from a ballistic missile submarine to a guided-missile submarine and returned to service March 28, 2008.

Georgia will deploy for approximately one year to the 5th and 6th Fleet Areas of Responsibility before returning to its homeport in Kings Bay. Georgia's two crews, Blue and Gold, will alternate manning the submarine every three months, conducting crew swaps in Diego Garcia.

Georgia's blue and gold crews are well-trained for a wide variety of missions including strike, special operations and irregular warfare. The submarine carries MK48 torpedoes and can carry 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles. There is additional space provided aboard Georgia to accommodate living, working and training of up to 66 special operations forces and their equipment.

"I could not be more pleased with the way the Georgia team has prepared and trained for their deployment," said Rear Adm. Barry Bruner, commander, Submarine Group 10. "I know the forces forward will use USS Georgia wisely and look forward to watching her excel throughout the many real-world and exercise events that she will participate in."

Georgia credits fellow commands at Kings Bay for preparing the boat and crew for the deployment, including the numerous certifications and inspections that the boat has completed in the past 45 days.

"All the support external organizations provided was superb," said Command Master Chief Richard Rose, Blue crew chief of the boat. "Submarine Group 10 and Submarine Squadron 16 staff, Trident Training Facility, Trident Refit Facility, and Naval Submarine Support Command Kings Bay's support during the [pre-deployment] phase has been above board. Every time the ship went to sea was a testament on all the hard work and support these facilities provided."

(Report by Commander Submarine Group 10 Public Affairs.)