November 16, 2015 FLEET ACTIVITIES YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) — The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726) arrived alongside the USS Emory S. Land (AS-39) in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia for a port visit as part of its Indo-Asia-Pacific deployment Nov. 14.
With a crew of approximately 165, Ohio will conduct a multitude of missions and showcase the latest capabilities of the submarine fleet.
During the visit, Ohio pulled alongside the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) for scheduled maintenance and to take on stores.
The officers and crew of Ohio are excited to be in Kota Kinabalu and on deployment in the Western Pacific. For many of the crew, this was their first time visiting Kota Kinabalu. The crew was anxious to meet their Royal Malaysian Navy counterparts and immerse themselves in the Malaysian culture.
The USS Ohio is the first of four Ohio-class guided-missile submarines. The Navy’s guided-missile submarines provide the Navy with unprecedented strike and special operation mission capabilities from a stealthy, clandestine platform. Armed with up to 154 tactical missiles and equipped with superior communications capabilities, guided-missile submarines are capable of launching missile strikes and supporting Special Operation Forces (SOF) missions.
Measuring more than 560 feet long and weighing more than 18,000 tons when submerged, Ohio is one of the largest submarines in the world.
Ohio is homeported in Bremerton, Washington and is forward deployed from Guam.