The USS Minnesota returned to Naval Base Guam on July 29 after completing its inaugural deployment as the Navy’s first forward‑deployed Virginia‑class submarine. The patrol included participation in Valiant Shield 2026, port visits to Japan and Australia, and support for allied submarine training programs. During the deployment, 20 enlisted sailors and two officers earned their submarine warfare insignia, highlighting crew proficiency and readiness.
USS Minnesota Returns to Guam After Milestone First Deployment as First Forward‑Deployed Virginia‑Class Submarine
Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Minnesota returns to its homeport at Naval Base Guam, July 29, 2026. (MC1 Bryan Mai/Navy)
The nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine USS Minnesota returned to Naval Base Guam on July 29 after completing its inaugural deployment as the Navy’s first forward‑deployed Virginia‑class boat. The deployment bolsters U.S. undersea presence and operational flexibility across the Indo‑Pacific.
Virginia‑class submarines pair stealth, sustained nuclear endurance and multi-mission flexibility for operations in shallow littoral waters and the deep ocean. Minnesota is the 10th Virginia‑class submarine to enter service; she was commissioned on Sept. 7, 2013, in Norfolk, Virginia, and is now assigned to Naval Base Guam.
During the deployment, Minnesota took part in Valiant Shield 2026, a large multinational field training exercise, and made port visits to Okinawa and Sasebo, Japan. The boat also operated with Australian forces at HMAS Stirling, participated in Exercise Lungfish — a bilateral tracking drill with the Royal Australian Navy — supported the Submarine Command Course and called in Darwin.
"Operating from Guam, this crew demonstrated the readiness, endurance and advanced capabilities the Virginia‑class platform brings to ... the Western Pacific," Capt. Christopher Carter, commander of Submarine Squadron 15, said in the release.
Twenty enlisted sailors and two officers earned their submarine warfare insignia while deployed, signifying their qualification to operate undersea systems. Master Chief Electronics Technician (Navigation) Joshua Garrett, Minnesota’s chief of the boat, praised the crew’s professionalism and effectiveness throughout the patrol.
As one of four Virginia‑class fast-attack submarines forward‑deployed to the region, Minnesota’s assignment and successful first deployment strengthen the Navy’s ability to sustain persistent, advanced undersea operations across the Indo‑Pacific.
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