USS Topeka Gets Underway with Friends and Family

21 December 2015

From Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Alana Langdon

SANTA RITA, Guam -- The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Topeka (SSN 754) welcomed more than 30 friends and family members for two one-day tiger cruises, Dec. 16 and 17.

Guests aboard Topeka toured the submarine with their respective Sailors and got hands-on education and experience operating equipment.

"My son drives the submarine," said Lisa Simpson with a big smile, mother of Topeka Sailor Electronics Technician (Radioman) 3rd Class Mitch Leonard. "It was amazing to see and experience what he does. It means everything to me."

Topeka hosted the tiger cruise to give friends and families the opportunity to understand what their submariners do and why being forward-ready is so important to national security.

"Friends and family are Sailors' biggest supporters and that's why dependent cruises are so important," said Cmdr. Dave Lammers, commanding officer of Topeka. "We want to take this opportunity to show them our appreciation and help them understand how important our mission is to national security."

Guests had the opportunity to operate periscopes, take soundings, perform lookout duties on the bridge, inspect torpedo tubes, shoot water slugs, see how oxygen is supplied underway and don emergency reaction equipment.

Cruise members could present a Submarine Qualification Card to a qualified Sailor and earn a signature once they received proper training and showed understanding of the equipment. If guests earned all of the signatures required on their qualification card, they were awarded an Honorary Submariner Certificate signed by the commanding officer.

"I can see how finishing all of those qualifications could be a big stress; I had to run around to get all those signatures," said Sarah Rau, mother of three and wife to Sonar Technician 1st Class Eric Rau. "Coming on this underway and seeing what he does gives me more respect and understanding for the mental fortitude it takes to get through a deployment. I think it even makes us a stronger couple."

Topeka, forward deployed to the island of Guam, is third ship to carry the name of the city in Kansas. She is the fourth ship of the improved Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarines and is 360 feet long and 6,900 tons. Her mission is to project sea power in support of naval, joint and combined operations.

For more news from U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas, visit www.navy.mil/local/guam