A formidable U.S. weapon in the Pacific

Crew members maneuver the Mississippi as they prepare to submerge off Hawaii. The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine will be deployed to the Western Pacific next year.

(David Cloud / Los Angeles Times )

Sept. 25, 2015 4 AM PT

The Mississippi departs Pearl Harbor in August for an exercise. The submarine was shifted to Pearl Harbor from Groton, Conn., in November; the Navy now has 43 of its 71 submarines in the Pacific.

(David S. Cloud / Los Angeles Times)

Petty Officer 2nd Class Estevan Trevino, left, and Lt. Rob Graham aboard the Mississippi as it leaves Pearl Harbor in August.

(David Cloud/ Los Angeles Times )

Two torpedoes aboard the hydraulic lifts used to insert them into the tubes aboard the Mississippi. The submarine carries 27 torpedoes and a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles.

(David S. Cloud / Los Angeles Times)