1991-1998 USS Trepang (SSN-674)

during remainder of career, trepang conducted many fast-attack submarine drill missions mediterranean cruise interrupted stay of many weeks in la maddalena, italy, , haifa, israel. during mediterranean deployment, participated in nato operations off bosnia-herzegovina, became first american submarine in history perform peacetime operations german submarine—namely u-29 (s178), conducted secret mission tailing drug-smuggling ship, , trained seal team 6.

the drug-smuggling ship recon mission largely kept secret among officers , crew whom aboard during time; commanding officer during mission kept details secret aboard (it textbook need know situation). upon returning port post-mission, commanding officer debriefed crew. informed them owner of ship (and related organization) have no problem killing our crew , crew knew in order protect secrets learned during mission. many aboard boat @ time, scary prospect , few (if any) shared details of mission anyone.

during these years, 1 of trepang s sister ships, uss bluefish (ssn-675) considered sister submarine, , 2 docked near 1 another.

after trans world airlines flight 800 exploded , crashed off long island, new york, on 17 july 1996, 1 of theories cause of disaster posited various unofficial investigators held missile fired u.s. armed forces had shot airliner down. u.s. navy confirmed trepang operating off coast of long island @ time of disaster had nothing crash.

trepang conducted final six-month deployment mediterranean between june , december 1997. in late 1998, circumnavigated world in order use nuclear fuel possible prior decommissioning. awarded during time joint meritorious unit award (reasons unknown).