The nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Columbia returned to Pearl Harbor on Friday from a six-month deployment in the western Pacific.

The crew of 150 was welcomed by family members and friends who lined the piers with signs, banners and lei.

During its deployment, the sub took part in several multinational exercises and made port stops in Sasebo and Yokosuka, Japan, and Singapore.

"The ship and crew performed extremely well during our deployment to the 7th Fleet," said the sub’s captain, Cmdr. John Friedman, in a Navy release. "I am very proud of their accomplishments and consider it an honor to have served with them."

Friedman also commended the crew on their conduct while in other nations. "They were exemplary ambassadors of the United States, and represent the best the country has to offer," he said.

Over the course of the deployment, 13 enlisted sailors and three officers crew became submarine-qualified and are now able to wear their "dolphins," or submarine warfare insignia.

The chief of the boat, Master Chief Petty Officer Wayne Fetterly, a machinist’s mate, said the crew performed exceptionally well considering many were on their first deployment.

Among the crowd were newborn children who had never met their fathers.

The new dads include Petty Officer 2nd Class David Ranger of Haines City, Fla.

"We have been waiting for this day!" exclaimed his wife, Patty, as the sub approached.

USS Columbia (SSN 771), commissioned in 1995, was the last Los Angeles-class submarine to be built at Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Conn. The sub, armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles, is capable of several types of missions, including anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare, surveillance and SEAL team insertions.

In all, the Pacific Fleet has 14 Los Angeles-class subs based at Pearl, including the Bremerton, Buffalo, Charlotte, Cheyenne, City of Corpus Christi, Columbus, Greeneville, Houston, Jacksonville, Louisville, Olympia, Santa Fe and Tucson. A 15th, the Jefferson City, is underway to Hawaii from Guam.