Guam welcomes new submarine

The first Virginia-class fast-attack submarine to be forward deployed to Guam joins four Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarines at Naval Base Guam, as part of Submarine Squadron 15.

USS Minnesota arrived at its new homeport in Guam. Photo by MC1 Justin Wolpert.

Virginia-class submarines are the Navy’s next-generation attack submarines and are set to replace Los Angeles-class submarines as they retire.

The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Minnesota arrived at its new homeport in Guam, Nov. 26, as part of the U.S. Navy’s strategic laydown plan for naval forces in the Indo-Pacific region.

“The entire crew is thrilled to be in Guam,” said Cmdr. Isaac Pelt, commanding officer of the Minnesota, in a statement.

The Minnesota has a crew of approximately 140 sailors, some of whom will typically be accompanied by families.

The Minnesota was commissioned in 2013 and was previously homeported at Pearl Harbor, according to Journal files. See: Guam to get another submarine/ mbjguam.com

Guam’s Submarine Squadron 15 has four Los Angeles class nuclear-powered fast attack submarines - the USS Springfield, the USS Ashville, the USS Jefferson City, and the USS Annapolis. A fifth submarine, the USS Key West left Guam in January, headed for the U.S. mainland and de-commissioning.

Guam is also the home port for the U.S. Navy's only submarine tenders, the USS Emory S. Land and the USS Frank Cable.

Guam will also see a submarine maintenance facility at Polaris Point, according to Journal files. mbj

Leon Guerrero seeks Supreme Court ruling on attorney general’s contract authority

On Oct. 30, Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero filed a petition with the Supreme Court of Guam requesting for declaratory judgement that the Attorney General Douglas B. Moylan does not have authority to approve contracts for autonomous agencies such as the Guam Power Authority and the Guam Waterworks Authority.