USS Hampton Surfaces on “Top of the World”

Navy NewsStand ^ | 4/20/2004 9:28:00 AM | Chief Journalist (SW/AW) Mark O. Piggott, Commander, Naval Submarine Forces, Public Affairs

[BykrBayb]

Story Number: NNS040420-02 Release Date: 4/20/2004 9:28:00 AM

By Chief Journalist (SW/AW) Mark O. Piggott, Commander, Naval Submarine Forces, Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The fast-attack submarine USS Hampton (SSN 767), along with the Royal Navy submarine HMS Tireless, surfaced through the ice at the North Pole April 19.

The two vessels surfaced through two naturally occurring leads or “gaps” in the ice about one-half mile from each other, following joint operational exercises beneath the polar ice cap.

“It’s a pretty amazing ship, and I’m happy to be a part of it,” said Cmdr. Robert P. Burke, Hampton’s commanding officer. “A lot of preparations and planning are involved in operating a submarine under the ice. After just completing a six-month deployment in December, it took a lot of dedication and training by the entire crew to get us here.”

Both the Tireless and Hampton crews met on the ice, including scientists traveling aboard both submarines to collect data and perform experiments. The two crews had hoped to play an impromptu game of soccer on the ice cap, but the game was called off due to “conditions on the pitch” that had several feet of snow on the ice.

The Ice Exercise that Hampton participated in along with Tireless, demonstrates the U.S. Submarine Force’s ability to freely navigate in all international waters, including the Arctic. The navigational complexities of operating in the harshest maritime environment are overcome only by exercising our capabilities, submerged and surfaced, according to Burke.

From the “top of the world," Burke took the time to speak to the mayors of three of the four namesake cities that sponsor the submarine: Hampton, S.C.; Hampton, N.H.; and Hampton, Va.

The Honorable Charles A. Wornom, mayor of Hampton, Va., told Burke, “We salute you and your crew and your service to our nation. It makes us proud to have your ship named after the city of Hampton.”

Before departing back under the ice, Burke called Larkspur Middle School in Virginia Beach, Va., to speak with a fifth grade science class taught by his wife, Peggy. He talked about the journey under the ice, and what he and his crew experienced at the North Pole.

“This was a great opportunity to share what we’ve learned about the ice cap and to give something back to our community,” Burke said. He talked about everything from the weather to the challenges in bringing a submarine to the North Pole.

For related news, visit the Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/sublant. 030819-N-0780F-044 Souda Bay, Crete, Greece (Aug. 19, 2003) -- The USS Hampton (SSN 767) departs Souda harbor following a brief port visit to Souda Bay, Crete. Hampton, homeported in Norfolk, Va. is the 17th improved submarine in the Los Angeles class and the 25th ship of that class built by Newport News Shipbuilding. U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley. (RELEASED)

[Lee Heggy]

'HMS Tireless'. Did previous British subs have tires?

[BykrBayb]

Yes, the most famous one was HMS Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

[Charles Martel]

Tires? Dunno - but they now use that special aluminIum alloy - supposedly the extra "i" makes the hull stronger! ;-)

[tjwmason]

'HMS Tireless'. Did previous British subs have tires?

Small problem, over here we spell properly, and tire is a verb. Tyres are the rubber things one puts on one's car wheels.

The Royal Navy tends to give the ships of each class names beginning with the same letter (though not universally, we are British, and therefore complete uniformity does not go down well); and usually a suitably 'uplifting' name, so some Naval chap had to think up an array of suitable names beginning with 'T' and thought of Tireless.

[tjwmason]

Yes, the most famous one was HMS Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang merely floated on water and flew, it was not a submarine.

[FreedomPoster]

If submarines are "Ts", can I assume there's a Trafalgar?

[BykrBayb]

It was so a submarine. The problem they had with it was the air in the tires prevented it from submerging. That's why they developed the HMS Tireless. ; )

[blackie]

The Brits spell it, tyres. :)

[1Old Pro]

Photos must have been taken. Were they released?

[blackie]

I see that you have already described tyres, tires, etc.

Good job!

[BykrBayb]

I checked the Navy NewsStand for photos, but they didn't have any from this event.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

Glad to see the US Navy displaying some under the ice capability once again.

[Levante]

"If submarines are "Ts", can I assume there's a Trafalgar?"

You assume CORRECTLY!

Not only Trafalgar (the class ship) but also:

Turbulent
Tireless
Torbay
Trenchant
Talent
Triumph

See this cool website:
http://www.royal-navy.mod.ok/static/pages/2299.html

Regards,
Levante

[Calvin Locke]

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, (D) TX: "When are we going to send a submarine to the bottom of the world? Whey don't we meet a Haitian
submarine there? How come we never do things with the Zimbabwean navy?"

[FreedomPoster]

Let's correct that link:

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/2299.html

[Calvin Locke]

The UK sold a couple of used subs to Canada two or three years ago. Buyer's remorse. The big selling feature were the leaks that created a hockey rink.

I guess the Canadians thought they could try to compete with Russia's Kursk, which had a sauna and swimming pool.

Anyway, the leaks were more than they bargained for, and all the hockey sticks were put to use as levers on valves, or
otherwise employed in stopping leaks.

[Lee Heggy]

"Small problem, over here we spell properly, and tire is a verb"

I see...over here we just say things any old way...kind of like the Noddys do in Birmingham. 'Tired' as a verb comes out as 'tarred' or 'tuckered'. Didn't know about that alphabet rule with ship names. Thanks for the info!

[GOPcapitalist]

Queen Sheila continued: "And the USS Hampton? That's an anglo name! Why come there ain't no USS Port au Prince and no USS Mogadishu?"

[M1Tanker]

I always did have a fondness for British ship names. Most are very descriptive and some did well to relay a sense of power and pride (Dreadnaught, Dauntless, etc).

Though being American, the link to cites, leaders, states, etc. weighs heavily in my liking of US naming conventions.

And being in the US Army Armored Corps means we also get to name our tanks, but use the naming conventions similar to the British. I was in a Delta Company as an LT. Thus my tanks all had names starting with "D". It does make for interesting naming.