Story Number: NNS061214-17
Release Date: 12/14/2006 2:50:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Cynthia Clark,
Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- The nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Buffalo (SSN 715) returned home to Pearl Harbor Dec. 12, following a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific, its last Hawaii homecoming before changing homeports to Guam next year. The Los Angeles-class submarine departed Pearl Harbor on June 12. While in the Western Pacific, Buffalo visited ports in Guam, Japan, Hong Kong and Saipan, and conducted operations in support of national security.

“The things you can do in six months is incredible,” said Cmdr. Brian Humm, the ship's commanding officer. “Spending a lot of time at sea was very rewarding."The CO continued, giving credit to his Sailors' hard work."The crew worked very hard," he said. “Even so, it’s great to be home, especially in time for the holidays.”

Commissioned in 1983, Buffalo is the Navy’s 25th Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine. Buffalo has been homeported in Pearl Harbor since 1984. The submarine is scheduled to change homeports in 2007 to Guam, where it will join Submarine Squadron 15. Two other submarines, USS Houston (CA 30) and USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN 705), as well as the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), are homeported in Guam.

For related news, visit the Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/subpac/.

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USS Buffalo Gets Underway for Western Pacific - 6/12/2006