Forward-Deployed USS Minnesota Completed Maiden Patrol

Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN 783) transits Apra Harbor arsenic Minnesota returns to its homeport astatine Naval Base Guam July 29, 2026

(U.S. Navy photograph by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Bryan Mai)

The United States Navy’s USS Minnesota (SSN-783) arrived astatine its homeport astatine Naval Base Guam earlier this week, completing its maiden patrol since becoming the oversea service’s first forward-deployed Virginia-class accelerated onslaught submarine.

“This homecoming marks the successful completion of Minnesota’s first deployment from Guam,” said Cmdr. Jeffrey Cornielle, commanding serviceman of the USS Minnesota.

“The unit performed superbly while executing missions captious to the defense of the homeland and strengthening our alliances and partnerships. The acquisition they gained operating passim the Western Pacific will style Minnesota’s continued occurrence for years to come. I americium proud of each Sailor and profoundly grateful to our families, whose spot and support made this deployment possible. From the North!”

Long Patrol, Few Details Provided

The United States Navy doesn’t mostly denote aliases item the circumstantial patrol routes aliases the operating areas wherever its submarines person operated, moreover aft the deployment. However, the work did corroborate that during this year’s patrol, SSN-783 participated successful the multinational workout Valiant Shield 2026, which took spot successful precocious June and concluded connected July 1, 2026. In addition, it was confirmed that the USS Minnesota made larboard visits to Okinawa and Sasebo, Japan.

“The Okinawa sojourn demonstrated the Navy’s expertise to prolong undersea capabilities guardant astatine a assortment of locations passim the Pacific,” the work added.

During the deployment, 20 enlisted sailors and 2 officers earned their submarine warfare insignia. Commonly known arsenic the “dolphins” aliases the “fish,” the insignia signifies qualification to run astatine the highest standards of the undersea unit and reflects mastery of submarine systems, watch stations and ngo execution.

“The Sailors aboard Minnesota represented the Navy pinch pridefulness and professionalism, nary matter the task,” said Master Chief Electronics Technician (Navigation) Joshua Garrett, Minnesota’s main of the boat. “Every clip a situation stood earlier them, they answered the telephone pinch discipline, characteristic and an unwavering committedness to 1 another. Their readiness and effectiveness were evident passim this deployment, and I could not beryllium prouder of what this unit accomplished.”

What Is Forward Deployed?

The USS Minnesota is 1 of respective U.S. Navy vessels that are “forward-deployed,” meaning that it is permanently based astatine an overseas larboard person to a imaginable conflict zone, alternatively than astatine a guidelines wrong the United States mainland.

Naval Base Guam hosts respective nuclear-powered forward-deployed fast-attack submarines nether Submarine Squadron 15.

These see the Los Angeles-class boats USS Tucson (SSN-770), which only arrived astatine its caller homeport connected July 10, 2026; and USS Springfield (SSN-761).

Another Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine, the USS Jefferson City (SSN-759), was antecedently forward-deployed successful Guam earlier transitioning to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

SSN-783 was sent to Guam arsenic portion of the U.S. Navy’s strategical laydown scheme to boost warfighting readiness and to spot much precocious capabilities successful the Indo-Pacific.

“Minnesota’s return marks a important milestone for the Pacific Submarine Force and demonstrates the Navy’s expertise to prolong and employment precocious Virginia-class capabilities successful the Pacific,” explained Capt. Christopher Carter, commander, Submarine Squadron 15. “Operating from Guam, this unit demonstrated the readiness, endurance and precocious capabilities the Virginia-class level brings to the strategical outpost successful the Western Pacific.”

Since first arriving successful Guam successful November 2024, the USS Minnesota paid a sojourn to HMAS Stirling successful Western Australia. The fast-attack vessel besides took portion successful at-sea operations successful support of the Submarine Command Course and participated successful Exercise Lungfish, a tactical improvement workout betwixt the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Navy. The nuclear-powered accelerated onslaught submarine besides paid a sojourn to the larboard of Darwin successful Australia’s Northern Territory successful support of bilateral engagements.

Named For the North Star State (Not the River)

SSN-783 is the 10th Virginia-class nuclear-powered boat, and is only the 2nd United States Navy alloy to beryllium named for the North Star State.

The very first USS Minnesota, a woody steam frigate that was launched successful 1855, was really named for the Minnesota River. The warship ran aground during the Battle of Hampton Roads successful March 1862, and was severely damaged. That American Civil War engagement marked the first conflict betwixt alleged “ironclads.”

Later repaired, the frigate remained successful work until being decommissioned and scrapped successful 1898.

BB-22 was the 5th of six Connecticut-class pre-dreadnought battleships, and the first to honor the 32nd state. That USS Minnesota joined the Great White Fleet for its circumnavigation of the globe successful 1908–1909. During World War I, the battleship was utilized arsenic a training vessel and struck a German naval excavation disconnected the eastbound seashore of the United States. Also repaired, BB-22 carried U.S. work members location from Europe aft the warfare and was utilized again arsenic a training vessel until being decommissioned successful 1921.

The existent USS Minnesota was commissioned connected September 7, 2013, successful Norfolk, Virginia.