If you want to see a nuclear-powered attack submarine head back out to sea after more than 15 months at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, go to Peirce Island this morning. Portsmouth’s tugboats will be escorting the USS Norfolk out of the port sometime between 11 a.m. and noon Tuesday morning.
The Norfolk, which was decommissioned late in 2014, arrived at the shipyard in January of 2015 with a crew of 16 officers and 122 enlisted personnel. Since then, the 360-foot Los Angeles-class attack sub has been undergoing the process of inactivation.
During 31 years of service, Norfolk completed 15 deployments to the North Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. European Command. The ship received two Arleigh Burke awards, a Navy Unit Commendation, four Meritorious Unit Commendations, six Battle Efficiency awards, and two Armed Forces Service Medals.
During the Norfolk’s stay at the shipyard, Dover served as the host community for its crew. Tugboat pilot Chris Holt estimated that the Norfolk would sail between 11:45 a.m. and noon today.