The Casper Journal :: Casper's Community Newspaper

Wyoming Veterans’ Commission

It’s that time of year again when undersea warriors of the USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) “come home” to their boat’s namesake state. Yes, Trident submarines are called boats, though they’re 560 feet long.

More vital statistics -- she was christened July 15, 1995, and commissioned July 13, 1996, in Groton, Conn., home of the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp.

Wyoming’s famous Vice Admiral Emory S. Land, USN (ret.), was a consultant with that company after he retired from heading the U.S. Merchant Marine during WWII.

Vice Adm. Land attended the Jan. 21, 1954, christening of the first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN 571), an attack sub like the USS Cheyenne (SSN 773).

That christening did more than launch a new submarine: it launched another major event in the Navy’s “silent service” history.

That time began with Bushnell’s Turtle, used in the Revolutionary War, up to the modern Ohio and Los Angeles Class submarines (Wyoming’s and Cheyenne’s classes, respectively) and, more recently, the Virginia Class.

Land, however, could never have anticipated then that this new energy source would some day be powering two boats, bearing the names of his home state and its capital city.

Here’s other USS Wyoming statistics of interest. It displaces approximately 16,765 tons (surfaced) and 18,750 tons (submerged); the ships’ weight is measured by the tons of sea water they displace.

For those interested in the boat’s more technical stuff, she is powered by one nuclear reactor, steam turbine driven with a single shaft and propeller. She does 25-plus knots submerged.

Armament consists of 24 Trident missiles and four torpedo tubes. With nuclear warheads on those missiles, she reportedly has more potential fire power than all of the fire power expended during WW II.

To fully appreciate the full significance of this and understand why the Soviet Union did not dare start anything with the United States and its allies during the Cold War, multiply the USS Wyoming’s potential fire power 13 times; there are 13 more boats in Wyoming’s Ohio Class patrolling the world.

Also, before 2002, when conversion was begun of four of the oldest Ohio Class subs into guided missile submarines (SSGN), that fire power facing the Soviets and others was 17 times greater.

Operating out of the Trident submarines’ Atlantic home port, Kings Bay, Ga., she virtually is always at sea, and therefore has two crews, Blue and Gold, taking turns doing three-month patrols.

While off patrol, crewmembers train to enhance their skills for the highly technical duties they regularly perform at sea.

Blue and Gold crews are comprised of duplicate commanders and other commissioned and non-commissioned officers and enlisteds.

This year, Blue Crew is “coming home” to the state. Its commander is Cmdr. Bill Combes, USN, and its top non-commissioned officer is Chief of the Boat (COB) MTCM Sean Landry, USN.

On Thursday, July 17, a Wyoming Air National Guard C-130 will pick up 20 officers and enlisteds at Kings Bay and fly them to Cheyenne to attend Frontier Days’ functions. Combs and Landry, their wives Moira and Kristyn, plus one officer are traveling separately.

On Sunday, July 20, after completing Cheyenne’s planned functions, this largest ever contingent of visitors will separate into three groups and drive to their host communities: Casper, Cody/Powell and Thane/Star Valley.

They will see more of the state and meet larger numbers of friendly, patriotic, military-supportive Wyoming people than any other delegation did before.

The groups will return to Cheyenne on Thursday, July 24, stay overnight and embark early the next morning on a C-130 for their return trip to Kings Bay.

Activity agendas for the other two communities are not available at this writing, but on July 20 at 6 p.m., Casper’s group is being hosted for dinner at the Paradise Valley Country Club.

People interested in meeting and dining with the visitors are invited on a no-host basis. The menu choices are steak for $17 or chicken/asparagus pasta for $16.

Reservations must be made by noon on Friday, July 18, and can be finalized by calling Navy League Secretary Marie Henthorn at 234-3211.

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