US Submarine USS Michigan In South Korea

By

Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Michigan arrived in Busan, South Korea on Tuesday, for a routine visit during a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific, the US Navy said in a statement.

“This visit is yet another example of the steadfast ROK (South KoreaO and US naval partnership,” said Rear Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea. “We [U.S. and ROK navies] work closely with one another every day of the year and this well-deserved port visit is a chance for Michigan Sailors to enjoy the wonderful Busan culture that US Navy Korea Sailors experience each and every day.”

USS Michigan is one of four Ohio-class guided-missile submarines. The Navy’s guided-missile submarines provide the Navy with strike and special operation mission capabilities from a stealthy, clandestine platform. Armed with tactical missiles and equipped with superior communications capabilities, guided-missile submarines are capable of launching missile strikes and supporting Special Operation Forces (SOF) missions.

“This crew has displayed incredible professionalism and dedication throughout this deployment,” said Capt. Joe Turk, Michigan’s commanding officer. “Every Sailor understands the importance of our mission and every one of them is dedicated to ensuring that mission is a success. I simply cannot be more proud of their service.”

Measuring more than 560 feet long and weighing more than 18,000 tons when submerged, Michigan is one of the largest submarines in the world.

“We are looking forward to a chance meet up with our [Republic of Korea Navy] partners and learn about the culture of Korea, for the first time for many of us, myself included,” said Turk.

Michigan is the second submarine of the Ohio-class of ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and guided missile submarines (SSGNs), and the third U.S. Navy ship to bear the name. Michigan is homeported in Bremerton, Washington, and is forward deployed from Guam.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *