11 of the 12 USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL Commanding Officers

                                                                           Photo Credit:  Mass Communications Specialist MC3, Kelvin Edwards, USN, Commander Submarine Force Staff.

Inactivation Ceremony

Norfolk, Virginia, June 22, 2007

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News Release

USS Minneapolis-St. Paul Arrives at New Homeport
Story Number: NNS070807-02
Release Date: 8/7/2007 10:10:00 AM

From Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- USS Minneapolis-St. Paul (SSN 708) arrived at her new homeport of Pearl Harbor Aug. 3., in preparation for the submarine's decommissioning at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard later this year.

“This is a bittersweet moment. The crew is happy to be in Hawaii, but sad to see their submarine decommissioned,” said Cmdr. Woods R. Brown II, the submarine’s commanding officer.

The Los-Angeles class submarine was inactivated June 22, 2007, in a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk after more than 23 years of service. Five-time Battle Efficiency "E" award winner, the Minneapolis-St. Paul completed 12 deployments and earned seven Meritorious Unit Commendations. Prior to its transit to Pearl Harbor, the submarine returned from its final six-month deployment to the North Atlantic in April.

Brown also extended his condolences to those affected by the bridge collapse in the submarine’s namesake city.

“We heard about this during our transit over here. It was such a shock. Our ties with Minneapolis are still fresh and my heart goes out to all those involved in this tragedy,” said Brown.

Minneapolis-St. Paul is the 21st Los Angeles-class attack submarine and the 16th ship in that class built by Electric Boat in Groton, Conn.

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Upon her decommissioning, for the first time since 1934, there will be no commissioned ship in the US Navy named for any city in Minnesota.

 

The ship's mailing address is: USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (SSN-708) ; FPO NY, NY 09578-2388.
 

Cmdr. Woods R. Brown II

Commanding Officer

USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL (SSN-708)

Commander Brown was born in Rochester, NY and graduated high school in Spring, TX. He graduated from Cornell University in May 1989 with a BS in Applied and Engineering Physics. Following nuclear power training and the Submarine Officer Basic Course, he reported to the USS ALBUQUERQUE (SSN 706) where he served as the Reactor Controls Assistant, Electrical Officer, Main Propulsion Assistant, Sonar Officer and Communicator. While onboard, ALBUQUERQUE completed Mediterranean and WESTLANT deployments.

In June 1994, CDR Brown reported to NPTU Ballston SPA where he served as a Shift Engineer and Operations Officer at the S8G prototype.

After completing the Submarine Officer Advanced Course in August 1997, CDR Brown reported to USS TREPANG (SSN 674) as the Engineer Officer. TREPANG won two Squadron FOUR Engineering “E” awards and after completing Mediterranean and WESTLANT deployments, TREPANG conducted an around the world transit to Bremerton, WA for inactivation. In June 1999, CDR Brown reported to the USS KENTUCKY (GOLD) (SSBN 737) as Navigator. He completed two strategic deterrence patrols while on KENTUCKY.

From March 2001 to March 2002, CDR Brown attended the Naval War College where he received a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies and National Security Affairs.

After completing the Prospective Executive Officer Course, CDR Brown reported to the USS BUFFALO (SSN 715) in Pearl Harbor, HI as Executive Officer from May 2002 to October 2004.

In January 2006, CDR Brown commenced the Prospective Commanding Officer pipeline, completing the Submarine Command Course (SCC) in May 2005. After SCC, CDR Brown reported to Submarine Development Squadron TWELVE as the Deputy for Readiness.

CDR Brown’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (5 awards) and Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards).                                                                                  

Twice As Good

USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (SSN 708) has been at the forefront of submarine operations and training since being commissioned in 1984. This has included eight major deployments of significance to the national defense of the United States. USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul’s exceptional performance during these missions resulted in the ship being awarded five Meritorious Unit Commendations in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, and most recently 1991 for the ships operations in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm.  The ship has excelled in many other areas during her years of commissioned service, earning the Battle Efficiency “E” five times for 1986, 1988, 1989, 1996 and 2003. In January 1992, USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul was awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Bronze Stars for her deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and was the first submarine to carry Tomahawk Missiles specifically designated for use in strike warfare in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.  Following a shipyard availability in the Spring of 1992, the ship completed four highly successful deployments to the North Atlantic Ocean.  USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul will continue to be a leader among her peers and a formidable threat to those opposed to the people and ideals of the United States of America.
 

SSN 708 Facts and Figures

• Builders: Newport News Shipbuilding Co., and General Dynamic Electric Boat Div.
• Power Plant: One nuclear reactor, one shaft.
• Length: 360 feet (109.73 meters).
• Beam: 33 feet (10.06 meters).
• Displacement: Approximately 6,900 tons (7010.73 metric tons) submerged.
• Speed: 20+ knots (23+ miles per hour; 36.8 KPH).
• Crew: 20 officers, 132 enlisted.
• Armament: Tomahawk cruise missiles and MK58 ADCAP torpedoes, delivered from four torpedo tubes.
• Inactivated: June 22, 2007 in Norfolk, Virginia.
• Decommissioned: In Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on August 29, 2008.
• Towed: to Bremerton, WA in September 2008 for layup pending recycling in 2011.
 

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Executive Officer - Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Schultz

Chief of the Boat - FTCS (SS) Jason Breen

HISTORY OF USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL (SSN-708) BUILT BY: GENERAL DYNAMICS ELECTRIC BOAT DIVISION, GROTON, CT.

KEEL LAID.............20 JANUARY 1981, LAUNCHED..............19 MARCH 1983, COMMISSIONED..........10 MARCH 1984, SPONSORED

BY: MRS. PENNY DURENBERGER
USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL (SSN-708) has been at the forefront of submarine operations and training since being commissioned

in 1984. This has included eight major deployments of significance to the national defense of the United States. USS MINNEAPOLIS-

SAINT PAUL'S exceptional performance during these missions resulted in the ship being awarded five Meritorious Unit Commendations

in 1985, 1986, 1987,1988, and most recently 1991 for the ship's operation in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The ship has

excelled in many other areas during her years of commissioned service, earning the Battle Efficiency "E" four times for 1986,

1988, 1989, and 1996. Other awards include the Anti-Submarine Warfare Excellence "A" (1985), the Engineering Excellence "E" four

times (1987, 1993, 1994, and 1995), the Damage Control "DC" three times (1987, 1993, and 1995), the COMSIXTHFLT Hook-'Em

Award for Anti-Submarine Warfare Excellence (1988), the Silver Anchor Award for Retention Excellence (1988), and the Medical

 "M" three times (1990, 1993, and 1995). In January 1992, USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL was awarded the Southwest Asia Service

Medal with 2 Bronze Stars for her deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and was the first submarine to carry Tomahawk Missiles

specifically designated for use in strike warfare in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Following the shipyard

availability in the Spring of 1992, the ship completed four highly successful deployments to the North Atlantic Ocean.
USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL will continue to be a leader among her peers and a formidable threat to those opposed to the people

and ideals of the United States of America.

2005 Sailors of the Year

On May 10,2006 , aboard the USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL (SSN-708) in Norfolk, Virginia the 2005 Sailors of the Year were recognized

by the Twin Cities Council of the Navy League of the US and by the USS SAINT PAUL Association. The honorees were ET1(SS) James

Wilson, Sailor of the Year and STS3(SS) Andy Brashler, Junior Sailor of the Year. At Chan's¹ request MSP skipper Joseph Ruff asked

 Admiral Kenny if he would like to participate in the ceremony. The Admiral was pleased to do so. Assisted by Chan, he presented

 certificates of appreciation from the Twin Cities Council, signed by then-president Chip Laingen, to each of the sailors. He then

presented checks to each of them from the council and from the USS SAINT PAUL Association.
 

The admiral made appropriate remarks, commending the two sailors and noting that Petty Officer Wilson had also been selected

as the Submarine Squadron SIX Sailor of the Year. Following the presentations, Commander Ruff presented Chan an MSP plaque

recognizing the Association's support and suggested that it might be placed in the association's Memorial Exhibit aboard the

USS MASSACHUSETTS. Chan assured him that it would.

¹CAPT Channing M. Zucker (Ret), USS SAINT PAUL'S Association Archivist and Historian.

The Ship's Insignia

The bridge represents the link between the two cities. The bridge is similar to the bridge over St. Anthony Falls on the

 Mississippi River that flows between Minneapolis and St. Paul. This bridge is depicted on the seal of the City of Minneapolis.

The stars around the border represent the Battle Stars the USS MINNEAPOLIS (CA-36) received during World War II and the

 Battle Stars the USS SAINT PAUL (CA-73) received during World War II, and the Korean and Viet Nam conflicts.
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Battle Flag

The USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL Battle Flag was modeled after submarine battle flags of World War II. The Ship's Seal

is surrounded by symbols of significant deployments and unit awards. Above the seal are ship's four Battle Efficiency "E"'s,

while the five Meritorious Unit Commendations awarded since the ship's commissioning are displayed below. Displayed to

the left of the seal are two outlines of the Mediterranean Sea representing successful deployments, while to the right are

symbolic daggers indicating independent submarine operations or successful "cloak and dagger" operations completed by

"The Good Men of MSP". The flag was designed by Lieutenant John G. Carpentier and hand made by Mrs. Lila Hendricks

 of Virginia Beach.
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USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL Commanding Officers
 

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Ships named USS MINNEAPOLIS

The first cruiser, MINNEAPOLIS (C-13) was commissioned in Philadelphia in 1894. She served in the North Atlantic Squadron,

operating in the Mediterranean. She visited Cronstadt, Russia in 1895 as a flagship of Rear Admiral T.O. Selfridge, representing

the U.S. at the coronation of Czar NICHOLAS II. The MINNEAPOLIS preformed scouting duties during the Spanish American War

and was decommissioned. She was re-commissioned in 1903 and assigned to a special service squadron to make astronomical

and other scientific observations off the coast of Spain and Africa. She was at Annapolis, MD in 1906 for ceremonies commemorating

 the arrival of the body of John Paul Jones. Decommissioned again in 1906, she was re-commissioned in 1917 and operated along

the Atlantic Coast as an escort ship during World War I. The second MINNEAPOLIS (CA-34) was a heavy cruiser commissioned in

1934. Arriving in Pearl Harbor in 1940, she was at sea for gunnery practice when Pearl Harbor was attacked. The MINNEAPOLIS

 participated in the Battle of Coral Sea in 1942 and the Battle of Midway in 1942, the landings at Philippines, Bataan and

Corregidor. She was decommissioned in 1947. The MINNEAPOLIS earned 17 engagement stars for World War II.

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