The Uss Alaska (a ballistic missile submarine) has won the coveted Omaha trophy for the fifth time in a row for excellence and operational efficiency. The submarine remained out on the high sea for 270 days last year and beat out 13 other submarines. The trophy was presented by the deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command, Vice Adm. Charles Richard, for Best Ballistic Missile Submarine at the Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, on August 3rd. The submarine was commissioned in 1986 and has seen over three decades of continuous service, according to Military News.
The submarine
The submarine has been part of naval forces for nearly one hundred years. Its true potential emerged during World War II when the U-Boat fleet of the German Navy commanded by Admiral Doenitz, almost won the Atlantic war but the invention of radar in 1943, dented the drive to victory and ultimately the U boat fleet was annihilated. The Imperial Navy also used midget submarines for the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.During the cold war, the erstwhile Soviet Union maintained a fleet of over 300 submarines, though many of them were obsolete and not efficient.The purpose was to intimidate the USA but with the collapse of the USSR, the threat vanished. In the present era, the US Navy operates the largest number of submarines in the world and is a global force that cannot be matched by any other power including Russia and China.
Omaha Trophy
The Omaha Trophy was created in 1971 by the Strategic Air Command's Consultation Committee along with representatives of the citizens of Omaha and has been awarded every year since then. The trophy is awarded to U.S. military units who demonstrate the highest standards professionalism and knowledge during the course of the year, during the tasks allocated to them.
USS Alaska
The USS Alaska won the trophy this year for the fifth year in a row. This is a tribute to the crew who were out on the high sea for almost 9 months. Along with the trophy, the submarine crew also won the 2016 Battle Efficiency award for the best-commanded submarine of the squadron. This is a feather in the cap of the Commanding Officer and the crew.The USS Alaska is now nearing the end of its lifespan, as it is over three decades old and is slated to be decommissioned in another few years. Despite this, the name of the submarine and its crew will remain a part of U.S. naval history and will feature in the records of the historical section of the Pentagon.
