GROTON, Conn. (AP) – A U.S. nuclear submarine that collided with a Turkish cargo ship in September returned home Wednesday to a warm welcome from more than 200 family members and friends.

The USS Philadelphia and its 125 crew members pulled into the Naval Submarine Base New London as “Philadelphia Freedom” by Elton John blared from loudspeakers.

The submarine spent five months at sea as part of a fleet of U.S. and allied vessels trying to stop the movement of terrorists and the smuggling of drugs and weapons in the Persian Gulf.

It was traveling on the surface of the Gulf about 30 miles northeast of Bahrain at about 2 a.m. on Sept. 5 when it hit the bulk carrier M/V Yaso Aysen.

As a result of the accident, Cmdr. Steven M. Oxholm was relieved of his command.

Two other officers were reassigned. Capt. Robert J. Brennan replaced Oxholm as commander of the Philadelphia.

Nobody was injured and the damage was minor.

“She obviously came 8,000 miles back so she does everything she needs to do and was able to answer the bell and accomplish all tasks,” said Brennan, who commended the crew Wednesday for its performance after the accident.

He said the submarine suffered minor damage to the deck, rudder and stern that will require about a week of repair work.

Navy officials said they’re not sure where they’ll send the submarine for final repairs.

On Wednesday, Brennan turned over command of the Philadelphia to a new commander, Jeff Jablon.

Family members said the accident made for some tense moments back at home.

“I’ve been a Navy wife for a long time, and this is the first time I had to endure an accident,” said Rena Carrender, 42, of Groton, who brought 3-year-old daughter Brooke to welcome back her husband, Chief Machinist’s Mate Ricky Carrender. “It was frightening to be woken up in the morning by a phone call saying don’t worry,’ and as he’s saying that, it’s coming over CNN.”

Sandy Jarvis of South Windsor was glad to see her husband, Petty Officer Mark Jarvis. Their daughter, Victoria, was born June 14, four days after the crew deployed. Sandy Jarvis said dealing with the birth, a 2-year-old at home and the accident made for a difficult five months.

“I was very scared when they called me at 12:30 at night to tell me he was OK, but he called me the next day and I felt better,” she said.

It was the Navy’s second collision with a civilian vessel in the Gulf in 14 months.

In July 2004, the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy collided with a dhow in the Gulf, leaving no survivors on the traditional Arab sailing boat.

The Navy relieved the Kennedy’s commander, Capt. Stephen B. Squires, after the incident.

The Kennedy itself was unscathed, but two jet fighters on the deck were damaged when one slid into the other as the carrier made a hard turn to avoid the dhow.

The investigation into the Philadelphia accident has not been completed, Brennan said, and the Philadelphia crew members don’t know when they’ll be deployed next. Turnaround time is generally three months to a year.

For now, Brooke Carrender is just happy to have her father back to give her what she missed most.

“Hugs!”