The San Diego-based fast attack submarine USS Hampton has surfaced through Arctic ice at least twice this month while participating in Operation Ice Camp, an annual three-week operation that tests the fleet’s ability to operate in the hostile environment, according to photos released by the Navy.
The operation also provides submarine forces a chance to deepen their understanding of the Arctic and to foster relationships with other services, allies and partners, the Navy said.
The Hampton is a 362-foot nuclear-powered Los Angeles-class “hunter-killer” sub that typically carries a crew of 110 people. The boat is home-ported at Naval Base Point Loma.
While the Hampton was in the Arctic, the San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt was continuing to patrol the South China Sea, where it recently made a brief visit to Singapore.
The Roosevelt carrier strike group deployed from San Diego on Jan. 12. The group includes two local warships — USS Lake Erie, a cruiser, and USS Halsey, a destroyer.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt is a common sight in San Diego Bay when it is not on deployment.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
