USS Asheville (SSN-758)

USS ''Asheville'' (SSN-758), is a nuclear powered fast attack submarine. She is the fourth vessel of the United States Navy to be named for Asheville, North Carolina. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 26 November 1984 and her keel was laid down on 9 January 1987. She was launched on 24 February 1990, sponsored by Mrs. Dorothy Helms, and commissioned on 28 September 1991.

''Asheville'' was fitted with a developmental Advanced Mine Detection System (AMDS) high-frequency active sonar array with transmitters and receivers in the sail and in a disc-shaped chin sonar dome beneath the hull at the bow. The system is used for target detection, mine avoidance, and bottom navigation. After a highly successful testing period the system was removed during overhaul in 2003.

Ship's history

1990s

In December 1996, ''Asheville'' served as a trials platform for the Northrop Grumman Sea Ferret reconnaissance drone. After ''Asheville'' simulated an underwater launch, a Cessna 206 test aircraft flew over the area of operations with the Sea Ferret attached to its underside. Technicians aboard ''Asheville'' transmitted commands to the Sea Ferret, which were received and responded to by the Cessna pilot. Control of the drone was then passed back and forth among the ''Asheville'' team, USMC First Force RECON, and a United States Army Aviation team, with all three teams continuing to receive a continuous flow of sensor data.

In August 1998 ''Asheville'' returned from a six-month Western Pacific Deployment (WESTPAC). After a 30-day stand down, she entered an extended maintenance period at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard remaining there until the beginning 1999. Almost immediately after the maintenance period ''Asheville'' began a work-up for another six-month deployment to the Western Pacific. This work-up included various underway periods, for weekly operations.

At the end of May 1999, ''Asheville'' conducted two family day cruises. The first left Pearl Harbor and steamed to Lahaina, Maui. ''Asheville'' anchored a mile off the Maui coast for five days. She returned to Pearl Harbor, at the end of the week, with the second group of family members aboard.

In July 1999, she deployed to the Eastern Pacific (EASTPAC) for two months, continuing work-ups with the Carrier Strike Group (CSG). During this deployment, she visited San Diego, CA, Esquimalt and Victoria, British Columbia, and Ketchikan, Alaska. While conducting sound testing off the coast of Ketchikan, ''Asheville'' was suspended at a depth of 400 feet, and held in position by four mooring buoys above. During this 36-hour period, the crew made phone calls with a line rigged though an electrical fitting. After the testing, the boat surfaced. Some of the crew members swam in the 50-degree waters of Behm Canal.

''Asheville'' returned to Pearl Harbor, at the end of August, 1999 and conducted a six-week upkeep period. At the end of October 1999, she returned to San Diego for three weeks where she completed final work-ups with the ''John C. Stennis'' CSG, including staged attacks on the ship. ''Asheville'' was the only ship in the Carrier Group that was not successfully boarded or attacked. Another part of this final work up included Naval Special Warfare, off the coast of California, when ''Asheville'' launched a BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile. After the launch, an F-14 Tomcat pilot took control of the missile. The missile flew to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, hitting the target perfectly. ''Asheville'' returned to Pearl Harbor at the end of November, 1999. She completed a six-week upkeep period, and made final preparations for her forthcoming deployment.

2000s

On 11 January 2000, ''Asheville'' departed Pearl Harbor for a six-month WESTPAC Deployment. She was part of the ''John C. Stennis'' CSG. This Group included the carrier ''John C. Stennis'', guided missile cruisers and , destroyer , guided missile destroyer , amphibious warfare ships and , guided missile frigate , fast combat support ship , and sister submarine . ''Asheville'' arrived in Yokosuka, Japan on 27 January 2000, in time for the crew to watch Super Bowl XXXIV. She departed Yokosuka, on 3 February, and arrived in Hong Kong on 8 February, sailing into Victoria Harbour along with the entire ''John C. Stennis'' Carrier Group. She was tied up alongside ''Lake Champlain'' for electric power. ''Asheville'' left Hong Kong on 12 February, and arrived in Singapore, on 17 February. On 21 February, she departed Singapore, and arrived in Manama, Bahrain on 7 March 2000. During this time ''Asheville'' completed a mission vital to National Security, the details of which remain classified. She left Bahrain that night after loading stores and became the first submarine to participate in Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO). On 18 March 2000 ''Asheville'' arrived in the free port of Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates. On 23 March, she left Jebel Ali and returned to Manama, Bahrain on 28 March.

''Asheville'' departed Bahrain on 3 April to head back to the Pacific, turning over Carrier Group responsibilities to ''Jefferson City''. Prior to leaving the area, ''Asheville'' completed a second, National Security mission. While in transit to a port call in Australia, the crew received word that three sailors from the command ship had assaulted a taxi driver in Cebu, Philippines. In an effort to smooth tensions with the Philippine Government, ''Asheville'' was directed to make way for Subic Bay, Philippines. Prior to pulling into Subic Bay, the captain took ''Asheville'' to a location a few miles south of the Equator for crew members to become Shellbacks. The next day while steaming north, ''Asheville'' stopped off the coast of Borneo where the captain allowed a swim call. On 28 April 2000, ''Asheville'' pulled into Subic Bay, and became the second U.S. Navy submarine to port in Subic Bay Freeport in four years. While there, ''Asheville'' sailors assisted in renovating a school, and conducted a VIP tour and cruise for top members of the Philippine government. The day was cut short due to a suspected coup attempt, with the emergence of Abu Sayyaf. ''Asheville'' returned to port, returning the VIP's and taking on crew members previously left ashore.

''Asheville'' departed Subic Bay on 3 May, returning to Yokosuka, Japan, on 8 May to complete an upkeep period. On 15 May, she departed Yokosuka, Japan to complete a third, National Security mission. On 15 June 2000, ''Asheville'' arrived in Sasebo, Japan, and tied up alongside the submarine tender for weapons exchange. After an eight-day stay in Sasebo, she departed for home on 22 June. On the way home, ''Asheville'' conducted an Operational Reactor Safeguard Examination (ORSE). The ORSE team was brought on board 1 July. After a night of successful "Drilling and Spilling", the ORSE Board gave ''Asheville'' a high score. She returned to Pearl Harbor in time for Fourth of July celebrations, to the sound of the submarine and surface ship whistles, on 2 July. During this deployment, ''Asheville'' reported to; COMSUBRON III, COMSUBGRU 7, CTF-74, CTF-54, as well as the Commander of Carrier Strike Group Seven.

On 1 April 2005 ''Asheville'' returned to San Diego, California, after a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific. While deployed she performed National Security Missions, and took part in two international exercises. During the deployment, she made port calls at Guam, Singapore, Japan, Saipan, and Hawaii. On 1 August 2006, ''Asheville'' departed San Diego to return to the Western Pacific, for another six-month Deployment.
While deployed, she made port calls at Yokosuka, Japan, Hong Kong, Saipan, & Guam. She returned to her home port of San Diego, California, on 3 February 2007. On 27 April 2007, ''Asheville'' entered Floating Dry Dock , at Naval Base Point Loma, for a scheduled maintenance period. On 16 August 2007 she, exited ''Arco'', having completed her upkeep. In 2009 ''Asheville'' completed pre-deployment preparations and returned to the Western Pacific.

2010s

She deployed from 3 February until 3 August 2010, and made multiple port calls in Guam and Sasebo. Having completed a Western Pacific deployment, she commenced preparations for further operations by returning to the floating drydock, ''Arco''. This maintenance period prepared her for a Southern Command area of responsibility deployment. She was deployed from mid-August to 16 December 2011, twice visiting Panama City, Panama.

Awards

''Asheville'' has received many awards during her service.

* Meritorious Unit Commendation (2)
* Navy "E" Ribbon Squadron Battle "E" Award
* Navy Expeditionary Medal
* National Defense Medal
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
* Southwest Asia Service Medal
* Sea Service Ribbon
* Engineering Excellence RED "E" (2)
* Medical Yellow "M"
* Navigation Red/Green N (2)
* 1999 Submarine Squadron III Commodore's Cup
* Captain Edward Ney Award Silver Medal (2)
* CINCPACFLEET Gold Anchor
* CINCPACFLEET Silver Anchor
* Submarine Squadron Eleven Tactical "T" 2010

In Fiction

*In the Tom Clancy novel ''Debt of Honor'', ''Asheville'' is sunk by a Japanese Navy submarine after a surprise attack, during what was supposed to be a training operation.

References

External links

Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet
* USS ''Asheville'' (SSN-758) 1996 command histories – Naval History & Heritage Command

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Asheville (Ssn-758)
Los Angeles-class submarines
Cold War submarines of the United States
Nuclear submarines of the United States Navy
1990 ships
Submarines of the United States
Asheville, North Carolina
Ships built in Newport News, Virginia