NSA Souda Bay History
From 1957 to 1962, the USS ALAMEDA COUNTY (AVB 1), and from 1962 to 1969 the USS TALLAHATCHIE COUNTY (AVB-2) were frequently deployed to Souda Bay, Crete, Greece. The positioning of these Advance Aviation Base (AVB) ships at Souda Bay was the first step taken by the United States Navy in supporting forward deployed SIXTH fleet units from this eastern Mediterranean island. These ships were designed to provide fuel, spare parts, technicians and facilities necessary to establish and operate an airstrip for patrol and carrier aircraft in locations where there were no base facilities.
U.S. Naval Detachment, Souda Bay was commissioned on 28 May 1969. At that time a sixteen personnel complement, under the command of a First Class Petty Officer, made up the entire detachment. As time passed and the detachment expanded, the base personnel count rose to ninety-three enlisted personnel and three officers as of 01 August 1972. The following departments/activities comprised USNAVDET, Souda Bay: Mobile Mine Assembly Group DET SIX; Naval Communication Station, Greece Detachment; Naval Inshore Warfare Task Unit, Europe; and Naval Weather Service Environmental Detachment.
The mission of the NAVDET at that time was to maintain and operate facilities providing base support for U.S. Naval Forces operating in the Mediterranean, including transient, temporary, and permanently based ships, aircraft, units, detachments, and personnel during normal and contingency operations.
The Naval Detachment was, in itself, a detachment of Naval Air Facility Sigonella, Sicily and was under the operational administrative control of Commander Fleet Air, Mediterranean, Naples, Italy.
In 1973, base build-up program commenced. Two 8-Room BOQ’s, four 8-Room BEQ’s, a work shop, a sickbay and supporting utilities were projects undertaken and nearly completed at the end of that year.
On 01 October 1980, U.S. Naval Detachment, Souda Bay was disestablished and U.S. Naval Support Activity, Souda Bay, Crete, Greece was established.
Today, the Naval Support Activity is comprised of thirteen officers, approximately 227 enlisted personnel, and 245 U.S/Local National civilians and consists of the following departments: Administration, Chaplain, Comptroller, Legal, Morale Welfare and Recreation, Navy Exchange, Operations, Public Affairs, Public Works, Safety, Security, Supply, CROF, Information Systems, Fire, Command Master Chief and eighteen tenant commands.
The Naval Support Activity now routinely functions as a Naval Operating Base, Naval Air Station and Naval Weapons Station. NSA Souda Bay skillfully orchestrated joint USN/USAF reconnaissance missions and air refueling support for Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM and other joint USN/USAF and multi-national operations. NSA Souda Bay never missed a beat while providing this support, Chief and First Class Petty Officers filled the responsibilities normally held by commissioned officers at other places, and junior officers routinely performed the duties normally held by more senior officers. It takes dedicated and professional people to provide the wide-range of support that the mission requires. At the U.S. Naval Support Activity, Souda Bay, “SUPPORT” is our middle name. Our presence is dedicated to taking care of the fleet and airborne operations in this strategically critical area of the world, which is our primary mission, and to building a new spirit of cooperation with our Greek Allies.