USS Olympia Departs for Western Pacific Deployment
By MC2 Ronald Gutridge
COMSUBPAC Public Affairs

Release Date: 06/18/2010

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – The Los Angeles-class submarine USS Olympia (SSN 717) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a scheduled deployment to the western Pacific region Friday, June 18.

With a crew of 136, Olympia will be conducting a multitude of missions of vital importance in support of the global war on terrorism during the next several months.  

“The ship and crew are primed and ready for this upcoming deployment,” said Cmdr. Michael Coughlin, USS Olympia commanding officer, native of Woodridge, Ill. “The crew has trained extremely hard to make sure we are capable in all mission areas and to serve their nation forward deployed at sea.”

Olympia is the United States Navy's 104th nuclear-powered submarine and the 95th of the attack submarine fleet. She is the second ship to be named for Olympia, Wash. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Va. on Sept. 15, 1977, and her keel was laid down on  March 31, 1981. She was launched on  April 30, 1983. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW/SCW) Ronald Gutridge / Released.)