USS Emory S. Land (AS-39)

USS "Emory S. Land" (AS-39) is the lead ship in her class of submarine tenders in the United States Navy. She was named for Admiral Emory S. Land.

She was the first submarine tender in the United States Navy since the "L.Y. Spear"-class submarine tenders. "Emory S. Land" was designed to support the "Los Angeles"-class submarine. The "L.Y. Spear"-class was decommissioned between 1995 and 1996.

The ship provides food, electricity, water, consumable, spare parts, medical, dental, disbursing, mail, legal services, ordnance, and any parts or equipment repair that a submarine may require. To accomplish this, the ship has a physical plant similar to that of a small town, including 53 different specialized shops. In September 1980, "Emory S. Land" deployed to the Pacific Fleet to provide services to the Indian Ocean Battle Group. In July 1986, "Emory S. Land" operated as Officer in Tactical Command of four United States ships and five foreign ships in transit from the Virginia Capes operating area to the New York Harbor where she participated in the International Naval Review and Fourth of July Statue of Liberty Rededication ceremonies. In August 1987, "Emory S. Land" operated as the tactical and communications platform for Submarine Squadron EIGHT and Submarine Squadron SIX to work both with and against a surface combatant group.

In 1988, "Emory S. Land" was underway and deployed for 182 days. During the deployment, the ship steamed convert|26011|nmi|km|0 and circumnavigated the world. Port visits included Lisbon, Portugal; Naples, Italy, Port Said, Egypt; Muscat, Oman; Fremantle, Western Australia; and Rodman, Panama. During her 92 days anchored in the North Arabian Sea, she tended the surface combatants of Joint Task Force Middle East and Carrier Battle Group operating in the North Arabian Sea.

In July 1993, "Emory S. Land" served as the Commander, Submarine Group TWO flagship during a port visit to Boston, and was the host ship for a visit by the Commanding-In-Chief, Russian Northern Fleet and three visiting Russian ships.

Since her commissioning, "Emory S. Land" has received two Meritorious Unit Commendations, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and four Battle Efficiency Awards in addition to numerous departmental awards. The ship won the Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial for Large Ship Food Service Excellence in 1985 and 1995, the Safety "S" award for 1995, and the Red "DC" in 1995.

"Emory S. Land" served at La Maddalena, Italy as the sole permanently assigned vessel in Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet's Submarine Group 8 from June, 1999, until September 30, 2007, on which date she departed for Bremerton, Washington. [cite web|url=http://www.tendertale.com/tenders/139/139.html |title=USS Emory S. Land Page on TenderTale.com]

References

This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register as well as various press releases and news stories.

External links

* [http://www.nol.navy.mil/homepages/emory/ Official site]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/3639.htm navsource.org: USS "Emory S. Land"]
* [http://www.tendertale.com/ TenderTale]
* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/AS39.htm U.S. Naval Register]