Commanding Officer
USS PASADENA (SSN 752) is the third vessel and first submarine
so named in the United States Navy. Her missions include
anti-submarine warfare and strike warfare.
The first PASADENA, a cargo ship, originally named the War
Beacon, was commissioned on May 13, 1918. She plied the
treacherous waters between the United States and Europe making
several transatlantic crossings supplying critical material to
the allies in the closing year of World War I.
The second PASADENA (CL-5) was launched December 28, 1943 by
the Bethlehem Steel Company in Quincy, Massachusetts and was
commissioned Jun 8, 1944. During World War II, she participated
in several important naval campaigns in the Pacific theater. In
her most sugnificant engagement, PASADENA provided naval
bombardment to cover the landings on the beaches of Iwo Jima. As
flagship for CRUDIV 17, PASADENA participated in continuous
strikes against Japanese positions in Okinawa and Kyushu. On
September 2, 1945, she anchored in Tokyo Bay to witness the
official surrender ceremony. PASADENA was awarded five battle
stars for her service during World War II.
The current PASADENA is the second Improved 688 Class
submarine and was built by General Dynamics Corporation, Electric
Boat Division, Groton, Conneticut, and was commissioned February
11, 1989.
Originally assigned to Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet,
PASADENA conducted an interlfleet transfer in October 1990 to the
Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and was homeported in San
Diego, California.
In July 1991, PASADENA became the first Improved 688 Class
submarine to deploy, commencing a six month Western Pacific
deployment. In June 1993, PASADENA commenced a six month Western
Pacific deployment to the Persian Gulf. While deployed, PASADENA
participated in several exercises with the Royal Saudi, Omani and
Australian Navies.
In March 1995, PASADENA again deployed on a six month Western
Pacific Deployment. While deployed to the Arabian Gulf PASADENA
became the first United States SSN to conduct exercises with the
Indian Navy, the first nuclear powered submarine to visit the
port of Muskat Oman, the first to operate continuosly inside the
Arabian Gulf, and the first SSN to be assigned to Commander, U.S.
Fifth Fleet. From June 1996 to September 1996, PASADENA underwent
a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) where she was outfitted
with improved offensive and defensive weapon systems.
In November 1996, PASADENA changed homeports to Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii where she is now assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron
Seven. In April 1997, PASADENA deployed to the Eastern Pacific
for a four month deployment in support of UNITAS. PASADENA is
currently on a six month Western Pacific Deployment providing
services for both U.S. Fifth and Seventh Fleets.
PASADENA provides the Fleet Commander or Task Force Commander
a multi-mission platform. This vessel has unlimited endurance due
to the nuclear propulsion plant, the most advanced sonar,
torpedo, cruise missile, and mine delivery systems, the best
combination of speed and stealth due to quieting and the capacity
to fulfill numerous missions because of the versatility of the ship
with its highly trained and dedicated crew.
PASADENA was awarded the Submarine Squadron Seven Battle
"E" Effieciency award for 1998.
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