USS Asheville (SSN 758)

Ship's history

In December 1996, Asheville served as a trials platform for the Northrop Grumman Sea Ferret reconnaissance drone. After Asheville simulated an underwater launch, a Cessna 206 test aircraft flew over the area of operations with the Sea Ferret attached to its underside. Technicians aboard Asheville transmitted commands to the Sea Ferret, which were received and responded to by the Cessna pilot. Control of the drone was then passed back and forth among the Asheville team, USMC First Force RECON, and a United States Army Aviation team, all three teams continuing to receive a continuous flow of sensor data.

In August 1998 Asheville returned from a six-month Western Pacific Deployment (WESTPAC). After a 30-day stand down, she entered an extended maintenance period at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Dry Dock #4. On 14 December 1998, she was floated off the blocks, but remained tied up inside the flooded dock, until after the New Year.

Almost immediately after the maintenance period Asheville began a work-up for another six-month deployment to the Western Pacific. This work-up included various underway periods, for weekly operations. At the end of May 1999, Asheville conducted two family day cruises. The first left Pearl Harbor and steamed to Lahaina, Maui. Asheville anchored a mile off the Maui coast for five days. She returned to Pearl Harbor, at the end of the week, with the second group of family members aboard. In July 1999, Asheville deployed to the Eastern Pacific (EASTPAC) for two months, continuing work-ups with the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group. During this deployment, she visited San Diego, CA, Esquimalt/Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and Ketchikan, Alaska. While conducting sound testing off the coast of Ketchikan, Asheville was suspended at a depth of 400 feet, and held in position by four mooring buoys above. During this 36-hour period, the crew made phone calls with a line rigged though an electrical fitting. After the testing, the boat surfaced. The crew ate hamburgers, and "got some sun". Some of the crew members swam in the 50 degree waters of Behm Canal. She returned to Pearl Harbor, at the end of August, 1999. She conducted a six-week upkeep period, after which a Change of Command Ceremony was held on 15 October 1999, as CDR Grooms was relieved by CDR Ingalls. At the end of October 1999, Asheville returned to San Diego for three weeks where she completed final work-ups with the Stennis Battle Group, including staged attacks on the ship. Asheville was the only ship in the Battle Group that was not successfully boarded or attacked. Another part of this final work up included SPEC WAR, off the coast of California, when Asheville launched a BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile. After the launch, an F-14 Tomcat pilot took control of the missile. The missile flew to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, hitting the target perfectly. Asheville returned to Pearl Harbor at the end of November, 1999. She completed a six-week upkeep period, and made final preparations for her forthcoming deployment.

On 11 January 2000, Asheville departed Pearl Harbor for a six-month Western Pacific Deployment (WESTPAC). She was part of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group. This Battle Group included the carrier USS John C. Stennis, USS Lake Champlain, USS Port Royal, USS Elliot, USS Russell, USS Denver, USS Pearl Harbor, USS Thach, USNS Bridge, and partner fast-attack submarine USS Jefferson City. Asheville arrived in Yokosuka, Japan on 27 January 2000, in time for the crew to watch Super Bowl XXXIV. She departed Yokosuka, on 3 February, and arrived in Hong Kong on 8 February, sailing into Victoria Harbour along with the entire Stennis battle group. She was tied up alongside USS Lake Champlain for electric power. Asheville left Hong Kong on 12 February, and arrived in Singapore, on 17 February. On 21 February, Asheville departed Singapore, and arrived in Manama, Bahrain on 7 March 2000. During this time Asheville completed a mission vital to National Security, the details of which are not published. She left Bahrain that night after loading stores and became the first submarine to participate in Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO). On 18 March 2000 Asheville arrived in the free port of Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates. On 23 March, she left Jebel Ali and returned to Manama, Bahrain on 28 March. Asheville was tied up to the pier, just aft, of USS The Sullivans. Asheville departed Bahrain on 3 April to head back to the Pacific, turning over Battle Group responsibilities to USS Jefferson City. Prior to leaving the area, Asheville completed a second, secret mission. While in transit to a port call in Australia, the crew received word that three sailors from the USS Blue Ridge had assaulted a taxi driver in Cebu, Philippines. In an effort to smooth tensions with the Philippine Government, Asheville was directed to make way for Subic Bay, Philippines. Prior to pulling into Subic Bay, the captain took Asheville to a location a few miles south of the Equator for crew members to become Shellbacks. The next day while steaming north, Asheville stopped off the coast of Borneo where the captain allowed a swim call. On 28 April 2000, Asheville pulled into Subic Bay, and became the second US Navy submarine to port in Subic Bay Freeport in four years. While there, Asheville sailors assisted in renovating a school, and conducted a VIP tour and cruise for top members of the Philippine government. The day was cut short due to a suspected coup attempt, with the emergence of Abu Sayyaf. Asheville returned to port, returning the VIP's and taking on crew members previously left ashore. Asheville departed Subic Bay on 3 May, returning to Yokosuka, Japan, on 8 May to complete an upkeep period. On 15 May, Asheville departed Yokosuka, Japan to complete a third, secret mission. On 15 June 2000, Asheville arrived in Sasebo, Japan, and tied up alongside the USS Frank Cable for weapons exchange. After an eight-day stay in Sasebo, Asheville departed, for home on 22 June. On the way home Asheville conducted an Operational Reactor Safeguard Examination (ORSE). The ORSE team was brought on board 1 July. After a night of highly successful "Drilling and Spilling", the ORSE Board gave Asheville a high score. Asheville returned to Pearl Harbor in time for Fourth of July celebrations, to the sound of the submarine and surface ship whistles, on 2 July. During this deployment, Asheville reported to the following organizations, COMSUBRON III, COMSUBGRU 7, CTF-74, CTF-54, as well as the Commander of the John C. Stennis Battle Group.

On 1 April 2005 Asheville returned to San Diego, California, after a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific. While deployed she performed National Security Missions, and took part in two international exercises. During the deployment, she made port calls at Guam, Singapore, Japan, Saipan, and Hawaii.

On 1 August 2006, Asheville departed San Diego to return to the Western Pacific, for another six-month Deployment. While deployed, she made port calls at Yokosuka, Japan, Hong Kong, Saipan, & Guam. She returned to her home port of San Diego, California, on 3 February 2007.

On 27 April 2007, Asheville entered Floating Dry Dock USS Arco (ARDM-5), at Naval Base Point Loma, for a scheduled maintenance period.

On 16 August 2007 Asheville, exited USS Arco, having completed a highly successful upkeep. In 2009 Asheville completed pre-deployment preparations and returned to the Western Pacific. She deployed from 3 Feb 2010 until 3 Aug and made multiple port calls in Guam and Sasebo. Having completed a Western Pacific deployment she commenced preparations for further operations by returning to the floating drydock, ARCO. This maintenance period prepared her for a Southern Command area of responsibility deployment. She was deployed from mid-August 2011 to 16 Dec 2011, and visited Panama City, Panama, twice.

Awards

USS Asheville has received many awards during her Naval Career. Below is a list of known awards she has received since her commissioning in 1991.