Michigan completes first SSGN deployment

USS Michigan

 

The guided-missile submarine Michigan returned Saturday to Bangor, Wash., having completed its maiden deployment as an SSGN.

The sub deployed Nov. 10, 2008. During the 13-month deployment, the blue and gold crews conducted numerous missions with Naval Special Warfare, experimented with unmanned aerial vehicles and completed several theater security cooperation engagements with Pacific Rim nations.

The crew will off-load the 100-plus cruise missiles and 40 tons of weapons and explosives Michigan carried on deployment, then go into a four-month major maintenance period and dry-docking at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Bremerton, Wash.

Michigan, which completed 67 strategic deterrent patrols as an SSBN, began conversion to SSGN in February 2004, and returned to service June 12, 2007. (Original News)