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Nuclear-powered attack submarine visits Saipan
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Posted on Jun 22 2005
The nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Charlotte, the fourth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name, docked on the shores of Saipan last Saturday for her first recreational visit in the CNMI.
Commanding officer Dennis E. Carpenter said the trip to Saipan is part of their deployment to the Western Pacific. He said this is the first time for the entire crew to visit the island. The USS Charlotte’s homeport is in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The submarine, which boards a total of 140 crewmen, completed its first deployment to the Western Pacific in April 1998. So far, the USS Charlotte has conducted highly successful missions for the Office of Naval Intelligence and was assigned to the USS Independence battle group in support of operations in the Persian Gulf.
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce held a courtesy cocktail gathering at the Pacific Islands Club last Monday.
SCC president Alex Sablan led the recognition ceremony and handed plaques and pins to the commanding officer expressing Saipan’s appreciation for their visit to the CNMI. Sablan said during the ceremony that Saipan is the best recreational destination for the submarine in the Pacific.
Carpenter, in return, gave a plaque of appreciation to the Saipan Chamber of Commerce for the “wonderful hospitality” it had shown his group. Carpenter also gave a plaque of appreciation to retired U.S. Navy serviceman Cal Calvechio for being the first to communicate with them informing them of what they could expect from the island of Saipan.
He said the trip to Saipan was a superb experience before they head back to Hawaii. Carpenter said his crewmen tremendously enjoyed the beautiful beaches and hotels on Saipan. “I guess we needed a break,” he said.
Military and Veterans Affairs Office executive officer Ruth Coleman, Coastal Resources Management deputy secretary Steve Tilley, associate judge David Wiseman, Office of Insular Affairs Jeff Schorr, Pacific Trading Co. general manager Charles Cepeda, Triple J’s Jay Jones, Continental Airlines Ivan Quichocho, Coca Cola’s marketing manager Kathryn Barry, and other government officials and business sector officials attended the event.
USS Charlotte left the island for its homeport yesterday.
