U.S.S. Toledo received Navy Unit Commendation
The Blade
Sun, 24 May 2020 15:00:00 GMT
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NORFOLK, Va. — The crew of the U.S.S. Toledo fast-attack submarine received the Navy Unit Commendation early this month for the boat’s “outstanding performance” during an eight-month deployment last year to the U.S. European Command area of operations.
“Toledo’s crew worked tirelessly to ensure constant maritime security in the waters surrounding Europe and Africa and enabled U.S. 6th Fleet to execute the full spectrum of naval operations,” Vice Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the commander of the U.S. 6th Fleet, said in a statement announcing the May 8 award. “Unseen and undeterred, their commitment to the mission while forward deployed fostered a safe operating environment for U.S. and partner nation maritime units alike.”
The award citation stated that the submarine’s activities during the deployment included “the management of two dynamic operational periods” during which, among other things, it “completed a challenging and short-notice intelligence collection event that provided extremely sensitive information to help maintain the Navy’s undersea superiority and improve national defense.
“Throughout the deployment, Toledo expertly executed national-level tasking, including several first-of-its-kind collections,” according to the Navy statement. “The unit strengthened key allied relations by supporting a multi-national theater anti-submarine warfare exercise in the Eastern Atlantic.”
Toledo’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Philip P. Castellano, praised the crew for their warrior spirit and exemplary performance.
“Our crew is extremely honored by this recognition and I could not be more proud of them,” he said. “Throughout the entire deployment, Toledo’s crew worked together seamlessly and never buckled under pressure during challenging missions. This award is a credit to their unwavering professionalism, dedication and bravery.”
The Toledo, commissioned in 1995 and home-ported in Groton, Conn., has an assigned crew of 147, consisting of 18 officers and 129 enlisted sailors.