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- Boat Info -
The USS LOUISIANA (SSBN 743) is a nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine. This is the fourth U.S. naval vessel to bear the name LOUISIANA. She is named after the eighteenth state of the union and is the eighteenth and final Ohio Class Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine (Trident Submarine) to be commissioned. Each Trident Submarine has two crews, a blue crew and a gold crew.

This ship continuously operates approximately 70 days at sea and afterwards it stays in port to refit for approximately 25 days. During deployments this ship is stealthily hiding somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. The official USS Louisiana web site is located on the Commander, Submarine Group Nine's website. 

Information about previous ships named LOUISIANA and the ship's crest.

 
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My tour of duty onboard Louisiana: 2003 - 2006

For my third and final sea tour, I transferred to the USS Louisiana (SSBN743)(Gold)

She is an Ohio Class TRIDENT Submarine, originally stationed in Kings Bay, GA. She completed a homeport change in September 2005 to Bangor, Washington.

Jim Barbe c.2005

As a senior Leading Petty Officer I oversaw all Strategic Weapons System operations. I completed 5 Strategic Deterrent patrols earning 2 Good Conduct Medals, 2 Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, War on Terrorism Service Medal, and a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

The USS Louisiana was a good ship with good crew members. Upon arriving onboard I was designated the Fire Control Leading Petty Officer. I was responsible for all the targeting, the fire control equipment maintenance, assignment of watches, and personnel qualification (for fire control only).

The only thing I did not like was the homeport move to Washington state. Not that I had anything against Washington. It is a beautiful state but I had personal reason for not going. I filled out the appropriate paperwork for a humanitarian relocation (to stay in Georgia) but it was denied. But it was not denied for humanitarian reasons though. It was denied because they wanted an experienced fire control technician for the ship. I personally believe that was the most absolutely stupid reason to keep me onboard because I was retiring only 13 months after the move. They had to replace me anyway.

Jim Barbe c.2006

I was so mad. It still makes me mad even today. I don’t know why the Navy has processes and procedures for certain items and then chooses to ignore them when it is convenient for them. Why even have the paperwork?

Anyway, besides that, I had a good time onboard. Made some great friends that I hope to see many times in the future.

Key Events:

• My last sea command
• Conducted homeport move to Bangor Washington (Moved to Silverdale, WA - a one week cross country trip with a U-Haul)
• Continued to be an expert in the Fire Control System
• Retired from the Navy
• Reirement ceremony held at the Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, Washington
• Moved back to Saint Marys (another one week cross country trip with a U-Haul).

Jim Barbe (Retired)

-This concludes my Naval Career. It seemed slow at the time but now 20 years have come and gone.

I meet some great friends during the past twenty years, so many that I wish I still had contact with. If you knew me, please contact me here and state your name, how we met, and the time period we hung out together (everyone, military and non-military, can respond)