NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA, Calif. - USS San Francisco (SSN 711) deployed from Naval Base Point Loma for a scheduled six-month Western Pacific deployment Dec. 18.

The Los Angeles-class, fast-attack submarine's deployment is in support of the Chief of Naval Operations' Maritime Strategy.

San Francisco's missions will focus on maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts, which help establish conditions for regional stability.

The deployment is part of an on-going rotation of deployed forces to support maritime security operations and operations in international waters around the globe, working with other coalition maritime forces. During the past few months, San Francisco has conducted several training exercises off the coast of California and is fully prepared to deploy.

"My entire crew has been hard at work to ensure our ship is fully prepared to execute all tasking and missions during the deployment," said Cmdr. Eric Severseike, commanding officer of USS San Francisco. "It is certainly a privilege to command such a capable warship. Every crew member looks forward to the challenges of the deployment and to safely returning in the summer and reuniting with our supportive families."

San Francisco was commissioned April 24, 1981. Displacing more than 6,900 tons, San Francisco has a crew of nearly 140 Sailors. She is one of six Los Angeles-class, fast-attack submarines homeported in San Diego.