The USS Montpelier (SSN-765) is a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the United States Navy, named after Montpelier, Vermont. Constructed by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia, the contract for her build was awarded on February 6, 1987. Her keel was laid down on May 19, 1989, and she was launched on August 23, 1991, with Mrs. Nancy Hayes Sununu serving as the sponsor. The submarine was officially commissioned on March 13, 1993, under the command of Commander Victor Fiebig. Designed for versatility and stealth, USS Montpelier played a notable role in contemporary naval operations. She was the first submarine to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles during Operation Iraqi Freedom, firing all 20 missiles and earning a "clean sweep" under the command of Commander William J. Frake. This demonstrated her capability as a strategic strike platform. Throughout her service, USS Montpelier underwent several modernization and maintenance periods. Between May 27, 2004, and early 2006, she completed an 18-month Depot Modernization Period at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, finishing three months ahead of schedule. Further upgrades occurred in 2010 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, where she received enhancements to her buoyancy and sonar systems, with work completed by July 26, 2010, slightly ahead of schedule. Her operational history includes a collision on October 13, 2012, with the cruiser USS San Jacinto off the U.S. east coast near Florida, during a training exercise. Fortunately, no injuries occurred, but the incident resulted in $70 million in repairs for the submarine. The USS Montpelier remains a significant example of the Los Angeles-class submarines’ versatility, technological advancement, and strategic importance in U.S. naval operations.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.