Museum Brings Decommissioned Submarine Home to Minnesota

The USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul is home. The decommissioned nuclear-powered fast attack submarine’s towering sail and rudder have been transported to the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum in Little Falls from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.

The disassembled pieces arrived at Camp Ripley, Minnesota on Monday, Aug. 29, and the artifact will be a distinctive feature at the new 32-acre Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum & Library, expected to open in Spring 2025. The “sail” of a submarine is the tower-like portion that protrudes from the hull at the center of the boat, and the rudder is at the rear of the vessel.

 “While there is a great deal of restoration to make sure these pieces are ready for display, the addition of the sail and rudder of the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul to the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum is an important step in continuing to build a world-class museum,” said Randal Dietrich, Executive Director of the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum. “Minnesota is mobilizing to honor the Veterans of all branches of service.”

The USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul was a nuclear-powered Los Angeles Class submarine in service between 1984 and 2008. It was the first vessel of the United States Navy to be named for the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Known with the hull classification of SSN-708, the submarine served with distinction in Operation Desert Shield and the First Gulf War. It was the first submarine to carry Tomahawk missiles specifically designated for use in strikes against Iraq. 

“Preserving this vital Naval artifact is important to the men who served on her, but also to the history of Minnesota,” said Bill James, United States Navy League Minnesota Council President. “The USS Minneapolis Saint Paul admirably served from 1984-2008 and took part in Operation Desert Shield and the Gulf War. The Navy League and submarine Veterans continue to mourn the deaths of two SSN-708 Sailors who died in rough seas on the coast of southwestern England in 2006. Along with the Minnesota Submarine League we look forward to the restoration of the sail and rudder and placement at the new Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum.”

Transported by St. Cloud, Minn. based Anderson Trucking Service, and expertly unloaded by Camp Ripley logisticians, the pieces will receive extensive renovation over the next two years. “This project is a great opportunity to show our support for Veterans and military personnel,” said Scott Anderson, Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer of Anderson Trucking Service. “We are honored to assist with this amazing addition to the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum and can’t wait to see it come to fruition. Many of our drivers and employees are Veterans, and this is one way that we can honor their service and show how grateful we are.”

Introducing Brooks Berg

SSN-708 Restoration Team Leader

CAPT Brooks DeLisle Berg was raised in White Bear Lake, MN. Appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1977, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering and graduated with the Class of 1981. CAPT Berg was one of the last individuals to interview with the creator of nuclear engineering, ADM Hyman G. Rickover, for acceptance into the Navy Nuclear Power Program. After initial nuclear power and submarine officer training completed in 1983, CAPT Berg was assigned to the fast attack submarine USS Finback (SSN 670). He completed several aggressive forward area special operations deployments aboard Finback and completed Nuclear Engineering Officer certification. In April of 1986, CAPT Berg was transferred to oversee the technical aspects of the construction of the USS Newport News (SSN 750) at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, VA. He led several major shipyard testing events including taking the newly installed nuclear reactor into critical power operations for the first time. Subsequently, CAPT Berg completed Submarine Officer Advanced Course training at New London, CT, and was deployed as the Blue Crew Navigator and Operations Officer aboard USS Alabama. From 1988 through early 1992, CAPT Berg completed five nuclear weapons deterrent Brooks Berg Restoration Team Leader Mark Stange U.S. Navy League MN Randal Dietrich MN Military & Veterans Museum patrols. The Alabama was on station and covering target packages assigned to support Middle East military operation Desert Storm in case a nuclear weapons response was ordered by the President of the United States. In 1992, CAPT Berg was transferred to the role of Navigation Assistant to the Director of Strategic Programs, Washington DC. There he trained, monitored and certified strategic missile submarines in the targeting and launch of nuclear weapons. CAPT Berg then left active duty and performed as Commanding Officer of five navy reserve units. Under his command, the Commander, Naval Forces Japan reserve detachment received the Meritorious Unit Citation for superior support of active duty requirements in the Western Pacific area of operations. CAPT Berg retired on 1 May 2006 at the Minneapolis Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center.

Concurrently with reserve duty, CAPT Berg completed a 25-year career in the medical device industry in the Twin Cities.

CAPT Berg resides in Woodbury, MN, with his wife Linda and together have raised two young men who have graduated from the University of Wisconsin and St. John’s University.