The Los Angeles-class submarine USS Tucson returned today to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after completing a scheduled six-month deployment to the Western Pacific.

The Pearl Harbor based submarine was part of a 13-ship formation from South Korea and the United States that participated in the maritime and air readiness exercise “Invincible Spirit” in the seas east of the Korean peninsula July 25-28. 

The exercise was scheduled as one of a number of measures the U.S. and South Korea took in response to the March 26 sinking of the warship Cheonan where 46 South Korean crewmen were killed. South Korean investigators believe a torpedo fired from a North Korean submarine sunk the vessel. North Korea has denied any responsibility for sinking the Cheonan.

 The sub is led by Cmdr. Gary Pinkerton.