USS Charlotte Achieves Milestone During Under-Ice Transit
Friday, December 02, 2005 By Lt. j.g. Dave Ozeck, Commander,
Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs The
improved-Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Charlotte
(SSN 766) arrived in Norfolk, Va., Nov. 29, following an
historic transit that began in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and took
the boat under the arctic ice cap. During the transit, Charlotte
surfaced at the North Pole, ascending through 61 inches of ice -
a record for a Los Angeles-class submarine. Upon reaching the
Pole, the boat commenced a 12-hour underwater search of the ice
canopy, utilizing specialized ice avoidance and side scan sonar
systems. Once an ideal location was found, the ship performed a
flawless vertical ascent. Even though the wind chill factor
reached a low of –50°F while surfaced, the 137 crew members and
17 officers on board reveled in the once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity for "ice liberty." Some of the men took pictures,
while others filmed a “Spirit Spot” for t