“It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the prosperous voyage.”
~George William Curtis.
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. (March 26, 2025): Thanks to the skillful performance of its crew, the U.S.S. Vermont has returned from its maiden voyage to the Western Pacific. In this photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Scott Barnes, Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Gailiatabarez plays with his child upon his return following a seven-month deployment.
The Vermont is a member of the Virginia class, the newest version of nuclear-powered cruise missile fast attack submarines in service. The ship is replacing the aging Los Angeles class subs and will be fully acquired by 2043. By incorporating “open architecture,” or the ability to easily update with modular sections, the Vermont is expected to remain in service until at least 2060. The newest ships will primarily be used for anti-submarine warfare and to gather intelligence.
These new ships incorporate dozens of cutting-edge technologies and innovations that increase firepower, maneuverability, and stealth. They can race along at speeds up to twenty five knots and they have a new bow-mounted spherical active/passive sonar array. Also included are expanded payload tubes to carry numerous Tomahawk cruise missiles. According to news reports, the Navy plans to equip these new subs with the latest high energy weaponry.
The USS Vermont departed Pearl Harbor in August 2024 and conducted port visits to Busan, South Korea, Yokosuka, Japan, and Apra Harbor, Guam. Wherever she went, America’s enemies took notice. Vermont’s visit to South Korea in September 2024 generated headlines white its crew replenished its supplies and got some rest.
From January 12 through 20, the Vermont stopped off at the island of Guam, the westernmost U.S. territory in the Pacific. Guam is fifteen hundred miles east of the Philippines, making it an ideal staging point for the Navy in the Indo-Pacific. After a port call in Japan, the Vermont returned after a highly successful first voyage. During the deployment, over one hundred Sailors earned their Sea Service Deployment ribbons and another twenty advanced to their next pay grade. Support Our Troops extends a hearty welcome home to the highly skilled crew of the USS Vermont on their first voyage.