U.S. Navy orders sub to leave Saipan dock

Citing security concerns, ranking U.S. Navy officials from Washington ordered military submarine personnel to stay away from near the shore shortly after it arrived and docked at the Saipan International Harbor yesterday morning.

The undersea vessel and its crew were welcomed by local government officials headed by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio.

Its presence near the shore where the public can apparently have easy access to at least come near the submarine may pose security concerns since USS Columbus is considered a highly classified U.S. military vessel.

A 362-foot, 6,927-ton undersea vessel, USS Columbus is well equipped to carry out missions that include deployment of special forces, minelaying, precision land attack or anti-submarine or surface warfare while remaining undetected.

The submarine possesses highly accurate sensors, weapon control systems and central computer complexes. It has the ability to get on station quickly and stay for an extended period of time.

Reports obtained disclosed that USS Columbus is armed with sophisticated ADCAP and MARK-48 anti-submarine or ship torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

It is the fifty-first 688 Improved Class and the 12th improved version of this class which includes a vertical launch system for Tomahawk cruise missiles and an improved hull design for under-ice operations.

Commonwealth Ports Authority Board Chair Roman S. Palacios said USS Columbus will remain stationed outside the Saipan reef as it awaits further instruction from Navy officials in Hawaii, where the submarine is homeported.

Mr. Palacios said the submarine went out in the open sea yesterday afternoon after receiving orders from the defense department in Washington that it should not go near the shore.

Rear Admiral Joe Krol, who is in charge of all U.S. Navy submarines in the Pacific, will arrive here from Japan today to join local officials in welcoming USS Columbus to the island.

Until Mr. Krol’s arrival here, USS Columbus which is one of the most advanced undersea vessels in the world, will remain outside the Saipan lagoon.

Because of its sensitive role in undersea warfare, the submarine will not be open for a public tour during its entire five-day stay in the Northern Marianas.

Before its scheduled arrival on the island, CPA installed basic infrastructure needs of the undersea vessel that include power generator and sewage system.

USS Columbus completed a Post Shipyard Availability in June 1994 in Groton, Cincinnati after initial construction and shakedown operations. The vessel conducted an interfleet transfer to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in September 1994.

The submarine joined the U.S. Pacific Fleet Submarine Force in 1994 and was deployed to the Western Pacific in late 1995 and conducted a variety of operations as a unit of the U.S. Seventh Fleet.