Commanding Officer, USS MEMPHIS (SSN 691) - Naval History and ...

NARRATIVE
USS MEMPHIS had a productive year in 2004. MEMPHIS completed a
six-month CENTCOM deployment, conducted a change of command
February 28th, and began work-up for the 2005 deployment.
Throughout 2004, MEMPHIS was at sea 114 days completing two
TACDEVEXs, two Torpedo Exercises, a Strike Group Exercise, a
Tactical Readiness Evaluation (TRE), and two Operational Reactor
Safeguards Examinations (ORSE).
MEMPHIS began the year with an underway from Rota, Spain to
Groton, CT with an ORSE in between. A strong grade on the ORSE
closed a successful six-month CENTCOM deployment. A one-month
stand-down followed culminating in CDR William R. Merz relieving
CAPT Richard P. Breckenridge as Commanding Officer on February
27th.
Following the change of command, MEMPHIS conducted two
modernization periods in ~archJApri1 and June/~uly. In May
MEMPHIS enhanced its tactical proficiency during a SUBDEVRON
TWELVE TACDEVEX in the Gulf of Mexico that included mine
operations, active sonar tracking, and a torpedo exercise.
MEMPHIS commenced a Pre-Overseas Movement (POM) period in
September highlighted by a Strike Group Operation (SMARTSEARCH)
off Jacksonville, FL, a torpedo proficiency off Boston, MA, a
TRE, and an ORSE. Throughout the POM period, MEMPHIS focused on
tactical proficiency and basic submarining. MEMPHIS' ship-wide
training focus proved to be invaluable with a superior ORSE grade
and the highest fleet TRE grade of the year.
The performance of the officers and crew during 2004 was superb.
MEMPHIS was awarded the Tactical 'T" and Communications "2" by
SUBDEVRON TWELVE for its superior war-fighting readiness. The
crew maintained its high level of proficiency from the 2003
deployment and is poised to take on the challenges of deployment
2005. MEMPHIS is poised to contribute to the Global War on
Terrorism and will begin return to the front lines in March 2005.
Enclosure (3)