TERRORISM: Attempt to Seize Nuclear Submarine

StrategyPage.com ^ | February 7, 2002 | Adam Geibel

[Spar]

TERRORISM: Attempt to Seize Nuclear Submarine

February 7, 2002; The Kremlin claims that the personal file of the first president of Chechnya, Dzhokhar Dudayev, found in the course of a special operation in the villages of Novye and Starye Atagi, Chechnya, revealed a plan to seize a Russian nuclear-powered submarine in 1995-1996. Russian NTV reported on 4 February 2002 that seven people of Slavic descent were expected to participate.

In addition to his personal mobile phone and several radio stations, photos of Dzhokhar Dudayev, his personal military file (purloined from his military unit) and his personal stamps were found (along with illegal firearms) in a house populated by refugees.

The Chechen rebels have long been known to have an interest in Russian nuclear submarines, if only for propaganda purposes. Shortly after the Kursk sank on 12 August 2000 in the Arctic Barents Sea with 118 crew on board, the pro-Chechen "Kavkaz" web-site claimed that rebels were responsible for the vessel's destruction.

Kavkaz wrote that "a member of the crew made contact with the rebel high command through a close friend from Dagestan in [June 2000]. He made clear his desire to help the Muslims of Chechnya and Dagestan in their struggle against the Russian empire.

"The sailor said he had access to top secret naval equipment and could sink [the submarine] if he got the chance. He emphasized that he was willing to die for Allah in order to help his Islamic brothers who were fighting against a common enemy."

Everyone wanted in on the Chechen conspiracy theory. Dmytro Korchynskyy, head of the nationalist Ukrainian Political Association "Brotherhood", claimed that two explosive devices (equivalent to 800 grams of TNT) were planted during repair work, that "people close to [Chechen field commander] Ruslan Gelaev" were responsible and that the Chechens paid only $6,000 to a repair team member to plant the explosive devices.

Korchynski also claimed that Russia's Federal Security Service ignored a warning two weeks before the "Kursk" tragedy, since the informer was from less-than-trusted Chechen interim administration head Akhmed Kadyrov's entourage.

Two Dagestanis were on board the Kursk - Mamed Gadzhiev (a civilian specialist from the Makhachkala firm Dagdizel reportedly on board to test a new torpedo propulsion system) and First Lieutenant Arnold Borisov. Both were cleared, as the Kursk tragedy was related to a problem with a misfiriing torpedo that set off the fatal second blast.

At the end of January 2002, Colonel of Justice Artur Yegiyev told the Moscow Rossiyskaya Gazeta that the investigation failed to yield any information that would allow the Russians to say an act of terror or sabotage had been committed.

Meanwhile, General Yury Baluyevsky, first deputy chief of Russia's General Staff, told a 2-3 February 2002 weekend edition of the Tribuna newspaper that the Kremlin's priority was being given to sea-launched rather than land-based Topol-M ballistic missiles. With a range greater than 10,000 km (6,250 miles), the Topol-Ms were designed to defeat the same sort of missile defense systems that the United States is now planning to build.

While this is a significant shift in missile strategy, it is probably spurred more by budget constraints than anything else. Dwindling funds leave the Kremlin with an "either or" choice between land and sea-based (which are harder to detect) systems. - Adam Geibel

[kinghorse]

I shudder to think...

[Asclepius]

... revealed a plan to seize a Russian nuclear-powered submarine in 1995-1996 ...

Doubtless Dudayev wanted to use the vessel to patrol the Chechnyan coastline, protect Chechnyan shipping, escort Chechnyan aircraft carrier battle groups, that sort of thing.

[RussianBear716]

And if the Chechens seized a Russian nuclear sub, they'd use the missiles on Moscow not the US, so where exactly is the downside??

[Poohbah]

I seem to recall that the FBI busted some folks in 1979 or 1980--they were planning to hijack the USS Hawkbill, SSN-666, lob a SUBROC at a major US harbor, and then sell the boat to an unidentified foreign power.

[vannrox]

History of USS HAWKBILL (SSN 666)

1966-1971
12 Sep 66	KEEL LAID, Vallejo California, Mare Island Naval Shipyard
12 Apr 69	LAUNCHED, Sponser Mrs. Bernard Roeder, wife of Vice Admiral Roeder
Aug 70	New Construction Power Range Testing, Mare Island California
Sep 70	Initial Sea Trials
04 Feb 71	COMISSIONING Comissioned by Rear Admiral W.H. Groverman, USN, Commander Western Sea Frontier Assigned to Submarine Squadron Five, San Diego, California
Mar 71	Depart shipyard for shakedown trials in Puget Sound area, Weapons System Accurracy Testing in Dabob Bay, Washington, and Sound Trials at Carr Inlet
19 Apr 71	Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
May-Jun 71	Local Operations, San Diego
08 Jul 71	Depart San Diego for Post Shakedown Availability in Mare Island
07 Sep 71	Depart Mare Island, returning to San Diego
18 Oct-30 Dec	Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle Technical Evaluation
26 Oct 71	First mother submarine mating with DSRV(DSRV-1). Transfered aboard Captain S H Packer, Commander Submarine Developement Group One
1972
Jan-Feb 72	Local Operations, San Diego Op Area
09 Mar 72	Deploy to Western Pacific (FIRST) Awarded Navy Expeditionary Medal
Apr-May 72	South China Sea Awarded Vietnam Service Medal
05-19 Jun	Upkeep, Guam
Jul-Aug 72	Underway
18 Sep 72	Return to San Diego, logged 40,000 miles on WESTPAC. Visited Subic Bay, Guam, Hong Kong, and Yokosuka
18 Sep - 07 Nov	In Port, Stand-Down
Nov-Dec 72	Local Operations/Upkeep
1973
Jan-Feb 73	Local Operations/Upkeep
09 Feb 73	Moored outboard USS Dixon, San Diego, California
02 Mar 73	Depart San Diego
06 Mar 73	Arrive Bangor, Washington for Weapons Testing
16 Mar - 06 Apr	Under Ice: First submarine to operate in Bering Strait under winter ice
13 Apr 73	Completed Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination, return to San Diego
23 May 73	Depart San Diego for Mare Island and Selected Restricted Availability
29 May 73	Arrive Mare Island
01 Jul 73	Transfer from Submarine Squadron Five to Submarine Group Five
30 Jun 73	Return to San Diego following completion of Selected Restricted Availability
13 Jul 73	Depart for Bangor, Washington
17 Jul 73	Arrive Bangor Washington for Weapons System Testing and Mk-48 Certification on Nanoose Range
03 Aug 73	Depart for San Diego
13 Aug 73	Arrive San Diego
Aug-Sep 73	Upkeep
02 Oct 73	Deploy to Western Pacific (SECOND)
02-20 Oct	Underway, Transit
Oct 73	Port visit Pearl Harbor
Oct 73 - Apr 74	Deployed, Operations
Nov 73	Upkeep in Guam
19 Dec-02 Jan	In Port, Subic Bay for Christmas
1974
Jan 74	Port Visit Hong Kong
Feb 74	Seventh Fleet guest cruise from Subic Bay
14 Feb 74	In Port Guam, Upkeep with USS Proteus
Feb 74	Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
Mar-Apr 74	67 days underway for operations
28 Apr 74	In Port Guam, Moored next to USS Proteus
13 May 74	Return to San Diego, completed 7 1/2 month deployment
May-Jun 74	Stand-down
Jul 74	Dependents Criuises, INSURV Inspection
Aug 74	Upkeep, alongside USS Dixon, San Diego
Sep 74	Steaming for POTS
Sep-Oct 74	Local Operations, San Diego Initial testing of submarine launched Tomahawk Cruise Missle Initial mating with DSRV-2
19-24 Oct	Underway, transit to Bangor, Washington
24 Oct-08 Nov	In Port Bremerton, Washington
08 - 17 Nov	Underway to Nanoose for weapons tests
09 Dec 74	Commence first Regular Overhaul, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Drydock #1
1975
29 Aug 75	Undocking
Sep 75	PORSE, Crew Cert, Dock Trials, Fast Cruise
Oct 75	Sea Trials
08 Nov 75	Completed first regular overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington(one month ahead of schedule). Commence weapons testing and sound trials in Puget Sound area.
21 Dec 75	Arrive Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Submarine Squadron One
1976
Jan-Mar 76	Local Operations/Training in port
Mar 76	In Port, Upkeep
Apr 76	Underway training and MK-48 certification
May 76	Subroc testing and firing Kauai Range
Jun 76	Upkeep with USS Sperry(AS-12)
04 Jul 76	Lahaina, Maui
Jul 76	Local Operations
04 Aug 76	Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
Sep 76	POM Upkeep, Pearl Harbor
Oct 76	MK-48 Proficiency, 31 exercise weapons fired, 25 hits
29 Oct 76	Deploy to Western Pacific (THIRD)
20-26 Nov	Chinhae, South Korea
Dec 76	Underway, operations
1977
Jan 77	Subic Bay visit, Sattahip Thailand visit
Feb 77	Sea Siam V exercise, Subic Bay visit, Hong Kong visit
03-20 Mar 77	Upkeep, Guam
21 Mar	Depart for operations
15 May 77	Return to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, commence 30 day stand-down Awarded Navy Unit Commendation(76/77) (FIRST)
Jun 77	Upkeep, Subbase Pearl Harbor
Jul-Aug 77	Local Operations Filming session for CNO SITREP series
Aug 77	Lahaina, Maui Dependents Cruise Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
01 Sep 77	Commence 6-week Selected Restricted Availability, Pearl Harbor
07 Nov 77	Underway for MK-48 Proficiency firings, Kauai with COMSUBPAC and COMSUBRONONE on board
10 Nov 77	INSURV Inspection
01 Dec 77	Completed Navy Technical Proficiency Inspection, Excellent
Dec 77	Kailua Kona, Hawaii for liberty
1977	Awarded Battle E for 1977 (FIRST)
1978
Jan 78	Local Operations Lahaina, Maui visit Kailua-Kona, Hawaii visit
13 Feb-16 Mar 78	Upkeep, Subbase Pearl Harbor
17 Mar 78	Deploy for EASTPAC
24 Mar 78	Arrive San Diego, California for 10 days liberty
04 Apr 78	Commence RIMPAC 78
22 Apr 78	Arrive Pearl Harbor, commence upkeep and drydocking
13-20 Jun 78	Sea Trials
09 Jul 78	Deploy to Western Pacific (FOURTH)
20 Jul 78	Moor, S/D for Repairs in Guam
Aug 78	READEX 1-79, major Seventh Fleet ASW exercise
13 Sep 78	Moor, 10 day visit Subic Bay, Phillippines
25 Sep 78	Underway for READEX 1-79, ASW Exercise
Oct 78	Visits to Chinhae, South Korea and Hong Kong
25 Oct 78	Moor, S/D in Guam for 3 week upkeep with USS Hunley(AS-31)
Nov 78	Underway
25 Nov 78	Completed Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination, arrive Subic Bay for 2 weeks of liberty
06 Dec 78	Depart Subic Bay for transit home
20 Dec 78	Arrive Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Awarded Battle E for 1978 (SECOND) Awarded ASW A for 1978 (FIRST)
1979
Jan 79	Stand-down/Upkeep, Pearl Harbor
22 Jan 79	Sea Trials
Feb 79	Local Operations Lahaina, Maui visit
Mar 79	Upkeep, Pearl Harbor
Apr 79	Local Operations Mark 48 warshot firing
May 79	Upkeep, NTPI Inspection
Jun-Jul 79	Local Operations
20 Jul 79	Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
Aug 79	POTS Testing/Upkeep
Sep 79	PACSUBASWEX, new 688 ASW evaluation
16 Oct 79	Depart Pearl Harbor for Alameda, California
29 Oct 79	Departed Alameda for refueling overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
02 Nov 79	Moor in Bremerton, Washington, commence overhaul
1980
1980	Refueling Overhaul, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Installed WLQ-4 Sea Nymph System Installed BQQ-5 Sonar System Installed Mark 117 Fire Control System
1981
1981	Overhaul, PSNS
05 Aug 81	Undocking
24 Nov 81	Post Overhaul Reactor Safeguards Examination
1982
Jan-Feb 82	Complete overhaul
Mar 82	Visit Nanaimo, British Columbia Nanoose Tracking Range for weapons testing
Apr 82	Transit to Pearl Visit San Francisco and San Diego
29 Apr 82	Return to Pearl Harbor, Submarine Squadron One
May 82	Upkeep, Pearl Harbor
Jun - Aug 82	Local Operations including submerged lock-in/lock-out training with navy divers
Sep 82	Port visit to Lahaina, Maui Dependents Cruise
Sep - Oct 82	Completed Nuclear Weapons Acceptance Inspection Completed Supply Management Inspection Completed Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination Co-host for Japanese submarine KUROSHIO Upkeep
Nov 82	Local Operations
Dec 82	POM Upkeep and stand-down
1983
23 Jan 83	Commence four week Pre-deployment Workup
19 Feb 83	Deployed to Western Pacific (FIFTH)
Mar 83	Operational Exercise
24 Mar 83	Visit to Yokosuka, Japan for liberty
01 Apr 83	Sortie to North Pacific for FLEETEX 83-1
20 Apr 83	Return to Yokosuka, Japan for 5 day upkeep
Jun 83	18 day upkeep in Guam following 6 weeks at sea
27 Jun 83	Depart for Subic Bay port visit
06 Jul 83	Commence Exercise BATTLEWEEK with the USS New Jersey Battle Group
12 Jul 83	Return to Subic Bay for Upkeep
17 Jul 83	Underway for port visit in Hong Kong
28 Jul 83	Port visit Subic Bay
01 Aug 83	Underway for Pearl Harbor escorting New Jersey Battle Group
18 Aug 83	Arrive Pearl Harbor, leave/stand-down
Sep 83	Local Operations Underway Material Inspection(Excellent)
Oct-Nov 83	Local ASW exercises and upkeep
26 Nov 83	Completed Defense Nuclear Security Inspection
15 Dec 83	Completed Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination, commenced leave/stand-down
1983	Awarded Battle E for 1983 (THIRD) Awarded 1983 Silver Anchor Award (FIRST) Underice exercises, 65 days, 38 breakthroughs ICEX (FIRST)
1984
Jan 84	POM Upkeep, Subbase Pearl Harbor
31 Jan 84	Commence four week pre-deployment workup Completed first ever Tactical Readiness Evaluation (Above Average) Completed Pre-Overseas Movement Certification
01 Mar 84	Deployed to Western Pacific for underice operation(SIXTH) 38 ice breakthrus 65 days of operations Port visit to Chin hae, South Korea
17 May 84	Return to Pearl Harbor, 3 week leave/stand-down
Jun 84	Local Operations
28 Jun 84	Begin two week upkeep, Subbase Pearl Harbor
Jul 84	Local Operations Port visit to Lahaina, Maui, Dependents Cruise 22 July
01 Aug 84	Drydocked for Selected Restricted Availability, Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor
01 Oct 84	Sea Trials
Oct 84	Awarded Battle E for 1984 (FOURTH)
Oct-Nov 84	Local Operations, ASW Exercises, NTPI
21 Dec 84	Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
1984	Awarded Supply Excellence Award (FIRST)
1985
Jan-Feb 85	Preoverseas Movement upkeep and certification
05 Mar 85	Begin Western Pacific Deployment(SIXTH) ASW Exercise BGAREM 85 USS Midway and USS Constellation Battle Group Antisubmarine Services US-Malaysian Exercises
17 Jul 85	Crossed Equator US-Thialand Exercise (COBRA GOLD 85) Assisted Vietnamese refugees with food and water
01 Sep 85	Completed Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
05 Sep 85	Return to Pearl Harbor 141 of 185 days deployed at sea Port visits included Yokosuka, Japan; Sattahip, Thialand; and Subic Bay, Philippines Awarded Battle E for 1985 (FIFTH)
11 Oct 85	Change of Command
Oct-Dec 85	Local Operations and Navy Technical Proficiency Inspection with no reportable deficiencies
1985	Awarded 1985 Engineering Excellence Award (FIRST)
1986
01 Jan 86	PACSUBASWEX 1-86 with USS Buffalo and other Pacific Fleet units
06 Jan 86	Begin 4 week POM Upkeep Subbase Pearl Harbor
Feb 86	3 weeks of POM Workup Preoverseas Movement Certification Tactical Readiness Evaluation
11 Mar 86	Depart for Arctic Ocean, ICEX 1-86(SECOND)
06 May 86	Rendezvoused and surfaced at North Pole with: (ICE-4) USS Archerfish (SSN 678) from New London, Connecticut USS Ray (SSN 653) from Charleston, South Carolina Visited by the Secretary of the Navy John Lehman
24 May 86	Return to Pearl Harbor for leave and stand-down
12 Jun 86	Participated in RIMPAC 86 providing target services
20 Jun - 23 Jul	In Port, Intermediate Maintenance Activity upkeep, Pearl Harbor
24 Jul 86	1 week underway for type training
02-19 Aug	SF upkeep, Battery replacement
19-29 Aug	Prospective Commanding Officer operations and torpedo exercises
30 Aug 86	Port visit, Lahaina, Hawaii
01 Sep 86	Dependents cruise from Lahaina,Maui to Pearl Harbor
05 Sep-03 Oct	CNO project and US-Canadian ASW exercise MARCOT 2-96 Port visits to Nanoose and Esquimalt, British Colombia, Canada
04-13 Oct	Transit to Southern California for SOEC acoustic trials at Santa Cruz island 3 day port visit in San Diego
14-20 Oct	Underway in transit
20 Oct 86	Return to Pearl Harbor operating area for PACSUBASWEX 1-87 and underway engineering training
13 Nov 86	Completed Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
14-19 Nov	Underway - Local Operations Tactical Readiness Evaluation services for USS Sam Houston (SSBN-609)
20 Nov-07 Dec	In-port training
09 Dec 86	Startup/Underway to provide services for USS Cavalla (SSN-684) Tactical Readiness Evaluation
11 Dec 86	Weapons offload, Westloch
14-31 Dec	Holiday Stand-down
1987
05 Jan 87	Commence Selected Restricted Availability Drydocked in USS Competent (AFDM-6)
20 Mar 86	Sea Trials and completion of Selected Restricted Availability
23 Mar 87	Commence SUBASWEX 3-87 with USS Swordfish (SSN-579)
05 Apr 87	Return to USS Competent for 3 weeks to replace 400 hz MG following HPP repture Defense Nuclear Surety Inspection and Nuclear Technical Proficiency Inspection
13-15 May	Underway - Local Operations PACSUBASWEX with USS Bremerton (SSN-698)
15 May 87	Depart for 2 month Northern Pacific deployment Port visit Yokosuka, Japan
15 Jul 87	Return to Pearl Harbor
16 Jul-05 Aug	IMA upkeep and Supply Management Inspection(Above Average)
10-21 Aug	Prospective Commanding Officer operations
22-23 Aug	Port visit Lahaina, Maui
24 Aug 87	Dependents cruise from Maui to Pearl Harbor
26-29 Aug	Tactical Readiness Inspection
06-30 Sep	Local Operations TRE services for USS Henry M Jackson (SSBN-730) Antenna and sonar calibration on FORACs range
02 Oct 87	Completed Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
03 Oct 87	Commence Pre Overseas Movement upkeep
30 Oct 87	Completed POM Upkeep, commence PACSUBASWEX 88-1 with USS Buffalo (SSN-715) and USS Olympia (SSN-717) Employ new joint submarine/aircraft ASW coordinated operations
08 Nov 87	Return to port, loadout
16 Nov 87	Commence Pre Overseas Movement Certification
30 Nov 87	Depart for Western Pacific Deployment(SEVENTH)
16-19 Dec	Port visit Chinhae, South Korea
23 Dec 87	Arrive Yokosuka, Japan for upkeep
1988
Jan-Feb 88	Port visits to   Sasebo, Japan   Subic Bay, Philippines   Pattya Beach, Thialand Encounterex with USS Enterprise (CVN-65) battlegroup ASW exercise with USS Pogy (SSN-647)
24 Feb 88	Commence 3 week upkeep in Subic Bay, Philippines
15 Mar 88	Depart Subic Bay for operations
16 May 88	Arrive Yokosuka, Japan
19 May 88	Depart Yokosuka for transit home
27 May 88	Arrive Pearl Harbor for stand-down Awarded Sea Service Ribbon Awarded Meritorious Unit Commendation (MAR - MAY 1988)(FIRST)
05 Jul 88	Underway for RIMPAC 88 with Australia, Canada and Japan MK-48 testing
21 Jul 88	Return to port
28 Jul 88	Navy Technical Proficiency Inspection(Outstanding)
01 Aug 88	Commence Underway Material Inspection(Excellent)
09 Aug 88	Depart for Lahaina, Maui
11-13 Aug	Port visit Lahaina, Maui
14 Aug 88	Dependents cruise Lahaina to Pearl Harbor with 45 riders
19 Aug 88	Change of Command Commence 1 week shakedown cruise
27 Aug 88	2 week IMA upkeep
Sep 88	Local operations and TRE services for USS Buffalo (SSN-715) and USS Alaska (SSBN-732)
17 Oct 88	Underway for local operations with USS HelenA (SSN-725) and USS Honolulu (SSN-718)
10 Nov 88	Completed Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
16 Nov 88	Commence local operations and TRE services for USS Omaha (SSN-692)
12-15 Dec	Completed Tactical Readiness Examination Return to Pearl Harbor for stand-down
1988	Awarded 1988 Deck Seamanship Excellence Award (FIRST) Awarded 1988 Engineering Excellence Award (SECOND) Awarded 1988 Medical Excellence Award (FIRST)
1989
Jan 89	Preoverhaul Testing Consolidated ASW Readiness Testing Prospective Commanding Officer Support
30 Jan-14 Feb	ASW Exercises with USS Olympia (SSN-717)
15 Feb-27 Mar	Upkeep
28 Mar-14 Apr	POPS 205/225 and BQR-23 OPEVAL with USS Olympia (SSN-717)
17-21 Apr	Battle Group services during Fleet Training Group week
22-26 Apr	In port, loadout
27 Apr-1 Mar	Pre-Overseas Exercises
08 May 89	Depart on Western Pacific Deployment (EIGHTH, part of Olympia's) Korean Navy battlegroup operations
29-31 May	Port visit Yokosuka Japan
05-06 Jun	Port visit Chinhae, Korea
16-21 Jun	Port visit Hong Kong
03 Jul 89	Return to Pearl Harbor
10-19 Jul	Tactical Readiness Evaluation services for USS Florida (SSBN-728) CNO Project Kaui Pacific Missle Range
20 Jul-04 Sep	IMA Upkeep, Pearl Harbor
05 Sep 89	Depart Pearl Harbor for overhaul CNO project
15-19 Sep	Alameda Naval Air Station
20 Sep 89	Transit to Mare Island Naval Shipyard
30 Sep 89	Awarded 1989 Deck Seamanship Award
17 Oct 89	Struck by the pier when a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck San Francisco. Slight damage to shipyard, no damage to ship.
18 Oct 89	Enter Drydock 4 Mare Island Naval Shipyard
1990
02 Feb 90	Completed ripout phase of overhaul
04 Aug 90	Motor Generators restored
02 Oct-15 Nov	Cold Operations Testing   Installed upgraded sonar and fire control   Installed special hull treatment for noise reduction   Produced and distributed Submarine Cleaning and Preservation Video   Visits by COMSUBRON FIVE, COMSUBPAC, NAVSEA(07), NAVSEA(08), OP-02   Awarded 1990 Silver Anchor Award (SECOND)
1991
30 Jan 91	Undocking
20 Feb 91	20th anniversary ceremony
18 Apr 91	Change of Command
May-Nov 91	Hot Operations and Engineroom Steaming
21 Dec 91	Post Overhaul Reactor Safeguards Examination
1992
09 Mar 92	Initial Criticality
16-17 Mar	Dock Trials
05-11 May	Sea Trials Phase 1
21-23 May	Sea Trials Phase 2
26 May 92	Compete Overhaul, depart Mare Island Naval Shipyard
29 May 92	Arrive SUBBASE Bangor for degausing
01-09 Jun	First 637 to use Behm Canal, Alaska acoustic range for sound trials Third ship and first 637 Class submarine to use new acoustic range
10-17 Jun	Transit to Pearl Harbor, Submarine Squadron One
29 Jun-31 Jul	Local Operations for Training
10-11 Aug	Underway Material Inspection
15 Aug-30 Sep	Upkeep and Battery Replacement
Sep 92	Rode out Hurricane Iniki tied to pier with masts removed
30 Sep-01 Oct	Sea Trials
26-30 Oct	MK-48 Weapons Certification
09-24 Nov	CNO Project
18 Dec 92	Completed Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
1993
04-05 Jan	Dependents Cruise
06 Jan-02 Feb	Upkeep
03-05 Feb	Sea Trials
08-11 Feb	Local Operations
12-14 Feb	Anchored in Lahaina, Maui for Port Call
15-19 Feb	Local Operations
03-08 Mar	Local Operations with Japanese Defense Forces
09-17 Mar	Mine Readiness Certification and Testing
18Mar-19 Apr	Upkeep Pearl Harbor
30 Apr-04 May	SEAL Operations
04-06 May	Tactical Readiness Evaluation and Pre-Overseas Movement Certification
07 May 93	VIP Cruise
08-10 May	Loadout
21 May 93	Embark on Western Pacific Deployment (NINTH)
11-20 Jun	Upkeep Yokosuka, Japan
21 Jun-20 Jul	Operations, Joint exercises with Japanese Defense Forces and Singapore Navy
21-25 Jul	Port Call Sembawang, Singapore
26-29 Jul	Transit
30 Jul-08 Aug	Upkeep with USS Holland (AS-32), first upkeep done in Singapore
09-13 Aug	Transit
14-18 Aug	Port visit Hong Kong
19-22 Aug	Transit
23 Aug-01 Sep	Upkeep Sasebo, Japan
02 Sep-18 Oct	Operations
19 Oct-06 Nov	Upkeep with USS Holland (AS-32), Guam
07-18 Nov	Transit
19 Nov 93	Completed Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
19 Nov 93	Return to Port, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Awarded Navy Expeditionary Medal
06 Dec 93	Change of Command
07-10 Dec	Independent Steaming Exercises
1994
03 Jan - 14 Jan	Torpedo Exercises, Independent Steaming Exercises
15 Jan - 21 Feb	Intermediate Maintenance Activity Upkeep Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
22 Feb - 25 Feb	Local Operations
26 Feb - 06 Mar	In Port
07 Mar - 18 Mar	Local Operations
19 Mar - 27 Mar	Tactical Weapons Proficiency Phase 1, In Port
28 Mar - 08 Apr	Local Operations
09 Apr - 17 Apr	In Port
18 Apr - 28 Apr	Tactical Weapons Proficiency Phase 2/Certification
29 Apr - 01 Jun	Upkeep Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
02 Jun - 03 Jun	Sea Trials
04 Jun - 05 Jun	In Port
06 Jun - 17 Jun	Battlegroup Exercises, RIMPAC '94
18 Jun - 10 Jul	In Port
11 Jul - 30 Jul	Local Operations and Tactical Readiness Evaluation
31 Jul - 05 Sep	Upkeep Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
06 Sep - 09 Sep	Sea Trials
10 Sep - 15 Sep	USMC Training, Underway
16 Sep - 18 Sep	In Port
19 Sep - 28 Sep	Underway Transit to Bangor, Washington
29 Sep - 02 Oct	In Port Bangor, Washington
03 Oct - 04 Oct	Underway CNO Project, Operations at Nanoose Range, Canada
05 Oct 94	Transit to Bangor, Washington
06 Oct - 19 Oct	In Port Bangor, Washington
20 Oct 94	Transit to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
21 Oct - 12 Dec	In Port PSNS for voyage repairs
13 Dec 94	Transit to Bangor, Washington
13 Dec - 14 Dec	In Port Bangor, Washington
15 Dec - 22 Dec	Underway Transit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
22 Dec 94	Return to Pearl Harbor Awarded Damage Control DC (FIRST)
23 Dec - 31 Dec	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
1995
01 Jan - 08 Jan	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
09 Jan - 13 Jan	Underway, Local Operations/Services
14 Jan - 01 Feb	In Port Pearl Harbor
02 Feb - 07 Feb	Underway, Services
08 Feb - 16 Feb	Underway, Type Training
17 Feb 95	Completed Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
17 Feb - 20 Feb	In Port Pearl Harbor
21 Feb - 03 Apr	Underway Type Training and Services
04 Apr - 06 Apr	Mine Readiness Certification Inspection
07 Apr - 09 Apr	In Port Pearl Harbor
10 Apr - 14 Apr	Underway Services
15 Apr - 08 May	In Port Upkeep Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
08 May - 19 Jun	Selected Restricted Availability, Drydock USS Competent
20 Jun - 24 Jul	Selected Restricted Availability
25 Jul - 27 Jul	Sea Trials
28 Jul - 31 Jul	In Port Pearl Harbor
01 Aug - 04 Aug	Underway Services
05 Aug - 27 Aug	SPRUCE Upkeep
28 Aug - 08 Sep	Tactical Weapons Proficiency
09 Sep - 17 Sep	In Port Upkeep, Pearl Harbor
18 Sep - 05 Oct	Underway Services Battlegroup exercises
06 Oct - 09 Oct	In Port Pearl Harbor
10 Oct - 20 Oct	Tactical Readiness Evaluation
21 Oct - 26 Nov	In Port Upkeep Pearl Harbor
27 Nov - 30 Nov	Underway Services
01 Dec - 03 Dec	Port Visit Lahaina Maui
04 Dec - 15 Dec	Type Training
16 Dec - 31 Dec	In Port Pearl Harbor Awarded Tactical Operations T (FIRST) Awarded Communications C (FIRST)
1996
01 Jan - 28 Jan	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
29 Jan - 23 Feb	Underway - Local Operations Fleet Exercises
24 Feb - 25 Feb	In Port Pearl Harbor
26 Feb - 27 Feb	Underway Type Training
29 Feb - 05 Mar	Underway Type Training
06 Mar 96	Completed Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
06 Mar - 07 Mar	In Port Pearl Harbor
08 Mar - 16 Mar	Underway for Joint Fleet Exercises Pre-Overseas Movement Certification
17 Mar - 21 Apr	POM Upkeep Pearl Harbor
22 Apr - 26 Apr	Underway Sea Trials
27 Apr - 09 May	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
10 May 96	Depart on Western Pacific Deployment (TENTH)
11 May - 31 May	Underway   Battlegroup Exercises with the Carl Vinson Battle Group   USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), USS California (CGN-36), USS Arkansas (CGN-41),   USS Shiloh (CG-67), USS Crommelin (FFG-37), USS Camden (AOE-2) and   USS Jefferson City (SSN-759)   Transit to Western Pacific
01 Jun - 16 Jun	Upkeep Guam
17 Jun - 20 Jun	Underway Transit
21 Jun 96	In Port Yokosuka Japan
22 Jun 96	Underway VIP Cruise
23 Jun - 24 Jun	In Port Yokosuka Japan
25 Jun - 09 Aug	Operations
10 Aug - 29 Aug	Upkeep Yokosuka Japan
30 Aug - 01 Sep	Underway Transit
02 Sep 96	In Port Okinawa, Japan
03 Sep - 05 Sep	Shin Kame, exercises with Japanese Defense Forces
06 Sep 96	In Port Okinawa Japan
07 Sep - 08 Sep	Underway Transit
09 Sep - 13 Sep	In Port Subic Bay Philippines
14 Sep - 18 Sep	Underway Transit
19 Sep - 20 Sep	In Port Guam
21 Sep - 26 Sep	Underway Transit
27 Sep - 01 Oct	In Port Darwin Australia
02 Oct - 12 Oct	Underway Exercises with Royal Australian Navy Lungfish, first to fire new Australian torpedo
13 Oct 96	In Port HMAS Stirling, Australia
14 Oct - 16 Oct	Underway Torpedo Exercises
17 Oct - 20 Oct	In Port HMAS Stirling Australia
21 Oct - 08 Nov	Transit
09 Nov 96	Completed Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
09 Nov 96	Return to Pearl Harbor Awarded Sea Service Ribbon Awarded Expeditionary Medal
10 Nov - 02 Dec	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
03 Dec - 06 Dec	Underway, Local Operations Type Training
07 Dec - 12 Dec	In Port Upkeep Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
12 Dec 96	Change of Command
13 Dec - 16 Dec	In Port Upkeep Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
17 Dec - 20 Dec	Underway Local Operations Type Training
21 Dec - 31 Dec	In Port Pearl Harbor, Stand-down Awarded 7th Fleet Undersea Warefare Excellence Award (FIRST) Awarded 1996 Tactical Operations Excellence Award (SECOND) Awarded 1996 Communications Excellence Award (SECOND)
1997
01 Jan - 14 Jan	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Stand-Down
15 Jan - 16 Jan	Underway Local Operations - Underway Material Inspection
17 Jan - 20 Jan	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
21 Jan - 25 Jan	Underway - Local Operations
26 Jan - 10 Feb	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
11 Feb - 21 Feb	Underway - Local Operations Tactical Weapons Prificiency Inspection
22 Feb - 30 Mar	In Port Upkeep Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
31 Mar - 11 Apr	Underway - Local Operations
12 Apr - 15 Aug	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - Selected Restricted Availability
14 Jul 97	Change of Command
16 Aug - 02 Sep	CNO Project
05 Sep - 15 Sep	Battlegroup Exercises
17 Sep - 03 Oct	Underway - Local Operations
04 Oct - 20 Oct	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii SPRUCE
21 Oct - 02 Dec	In Port Upkeep Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
03 Dec - 18 Dec	Underway - Local Operations
19 Dec 97	Completed Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
20 Dec - 31 Dec	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Stand-Down Awarded 1997 Engineering Excellence Award (THIRD)
1998
01 Jan - 15 Jan	In Port Pearl Harbor Stand-Down
16 Jan - 22 Jan	Underway - Local Operations
23 Jan - 03 Feb	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
04 Feb - 08 Feb	Underway - Local Operations
09 Feb - 11 Feb	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
12 Feb - 21 Feb	Underway - Local Operations Tactical Weapons Proficiency Inspection (Excellent)
22 Feb - 25 Feb	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
26 Feb - 27 Feb	Underway - Local Operations
28 Feb - 01 Mar	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
02 Mar - 17 Mar	Underway - Local Operations
18 Mar - 19 Mar	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
20 Mar - 27 Mar	Underway - Local Operations Tactical Readiness Evaluation (Excellent)
28 Mar - 03 May	In Port Upkeep Pearl Harbor, Hawaii with USS McKee (AS-41)
04 May - 15 May	Underway - Local Operations Pre Overseas Movement Certification
16 May - 31 May	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
01 Jun - 23 Jun	Underway - Transit to Bangor, Washington
24 Jun - 28 Jun	In Port Upkeep Bangor Washington
29 Jun - 14 Jul	Underway - Transit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
15 Jul - 21 Jul	In Port Upkeep Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
22 Jul - 15 Sep	Underway - SCICEX '98
16 Sep - 18 Oct	In Port Stand Down Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
19 Oct - 23 Oct	Underway - Local Operations
24 Oct - 25 Oct	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
26 Oct - 30 Oct	Underway - Local Operations
31 Oct - 01 Nov	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
02 Nov - 10 Nov	Underway - Local Operations
12 Nov 98	Completed Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination
1998	Awarded 1998 Battle E
1999
12 Nov - 16 Nov	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
17 Nov - 20 Nov	Underway - Local Operations
21 Nov - 18 Jan	In Port Upkeep Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
19 Jan - 22 Jan	Underway - Local Operations
23 Jan - 01 Feb	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
02 Feb - 05 Feb	Underway - Local Operations
06 Feb - 07 Feb	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
08 Feb - 14 Feb	Underway - Local Operations
15 Feb - 21 Feb	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
22 Feb - 26 Feb	Underway Pre-Overseas Movement Certification
27 Feb - 17 Mar	In Port Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
18 Mar - 20 May	Underway - SCICEX '99   Last 637 to make winter transit of Bering Straits under ice   VIP visit SECDEF, SECNAV, DEPSECDEF, COMSUBPAC   Media rides CNN, National Geographic   Seven surfacings through ice
16 May 99	Depart Arctic Circle into Atlantic Ocean for first time Completed 51 days under ice with no candles, no freon leaks
21 May - 27 May	In Port, Portsmouth England
28 May - 07 Jun	Underway - Transit
08 Jun - 14 Jun	In Port, Port Everglades Florida
15 Jun - 01 Jul	Underway - Transit First trip through Panama Canal Cross Equator for Shellback
01 Jul - 31 Jul	In Port, Pearl Harbor Hawaii - Stand-Down
01 Aug - 26 Aug	In Port, Pearl Harbor Hawaii, Upkeep
27 Aug 99	Inactivation/Decommissioning Ceremony
01 Sep - 08 Sep	Underway - Transit
09 Sep - 15 Sep	In Port, San Diego California
16 Sep - 20 Sep	Underway - Transit
20 Sep 99	Arrive Bangor Washington, Offload Weapons
21 Sep 99	Transit to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Final Reactor Shutdown
01 Oct 99	Commence Inactivation
03 Dec 99	Drydocked ship at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
2000
15 Mar 00	Official Decommissioning, Strike colors
01 Apr 00	Crew release

[vannrox]

From www.terroristwatch.com...

In April of 1997, in an extremely sophisticated operation developed over a period of many years, members of the intelligence branch of the Iranian army, Usama bin Laden and senior members of the lethal international terrorist organization al Qai'da successfully smuggled a submarine containing several nuclear bombs into the US.


An early element of this operation began with the purchase of a large piece of river-front property along the Willamette river in what used to be a pre-colonial Russian community called New Era., Oregon. I grew up in that area, but I had never associated that long-ago abandoned community with Hitler's infamous 1936 World Olympics speech when he said, " I hereby declare a New Era with the beginning of these Olympic Games."


There was an old cedar shake mill on this land, replete with a large mill pond used to park and sort large rafts of cedar logs brought down the Willamette River. After purchasing this land, they then proceeded to fill in that small lake, surreptitiously bringing in two ocean-going barges during the night, sinking them, and covering them up. A man I knew only as Gary Tour hinted that they had received a grant from the State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to pay for the costs. Their next step was to begin the long-term task of turning these barges into submarine bays, complete with two levels of living quarters, enough room to house a small village. While I was living there they brought in over a dozen truckloads of furniture which mysteriously disappeared. They had constructed, and concealed with exceptional skill, a freight elevator capable of raising and lowering furniture for their living quarters, as well as vehicles such as small pickup trucks.


Al Qai'da had purchased a tug company, with three large ocean-going tugboats, and included with their purchase were contracts for dredging the Willamette and Columbia rivers, and hauling in limestone and other products from Canada. When all of their interrelated tasks and their usual plethora of backup plans were in place an Iranian Submarine carrying a number of nuclear bombs began its long journey to the US. They had also constructed a mobile sub bay also constructed from an ocean barge, and this was used to conceal the submarine during transit into US waters. After entering US territory they proceeded up the Columbia River, where they likely paused at Pier # 4, the International Port of Portland, Oregon. Being at the confluence of the Columbia River and the Willamette Rivers, they then had only to navigate up the Willamette River from Portland 20 miles to New Era, where they had built their huge submarine bay.


I have knowledge of the arrival of this submarine due to the fact that my family and I lived in a mobile home which sat above the submarine bay, and although we were not at the time aware of the cause of the roaring in the water, (defective muffler on the diesel sub) nor of the reason for the intense shaking of the mobile home, (the gates of the underwater sub bay being raised) we were there when the submarine arrived. Those readers who have faced an extreme life-threatening situation before will have an idea of what this was like.


Although the senior members of the US Government and the intelligence community understandably declined to publicize these events, the highly trained foreign agents described herein came within a heartbeat of succeeding in their plan to cause the destruction of Washington DC and New York City, the political and financial hubs of the US; and I suspect as well CENTCOM and NORAD. CENTCOM is the acronym for Central Command, responsible for the protection of US interests in the Middle East, Northern Africa and Southwest Asia. The Commander in Chief NORAD (CINCNORAD) is responsible to the governments of both Canada and the United States for the aerospace defense of North America.


The principals in this operation included the upper level members of al Qai'da, composed of: Usama bin Laden, Djamel Beghal, until his recent arrest in U.A.E., director of European terrorist operations; Soubhi Mahmoud Fyad, a high ranking member of Hezbollah, the terrorist group created in 1984 by the Iranian military intelligence service that analysts consider to be a front for that agency; Ayman al-Zawahiri, bin Laden's military commander, founder and head of al-Jihad, the Egyptian terrorist group responsible for the assassination of Anwar Sadat and for the live dismemberment and subsequent murder of 65 mostly Swedish tourists at Luxor, Egypt in 1995; Damien Hachey, also known as Yahya Ayyash, the former military commander of Hamas and the former prophet, power and brains behind al Qai'da, and Abu Zubaydah, al Qai'da's coordinator of European Operations..


The 'Charter of Hamas', the philosophical basis for Islamic fundamentalism and their terrorist activities, allows for the 'existence' of religions other than fundamentalist Islam, 'but only if under the umbrella of (their warped interpretation) of Islam. I came to know the top ranking members of al Qai'da, Hezbollah, Hamas, al Jihad and al-Gaama al-Islamiya organizations more thoroughly than I would have preferred, and I assure you that although the supreme prophet of the operation is now dead, they came extremely close to succeeding, and they will most certainly try again.


If you are concerned about your loved ones, your family, and our country, the United States of America, become aware of the inherent power cloaked within the unbridled hatred these Islamic fundamentalist zealots hold towards the free and enlightened culture of Western society. This power is lethally directed against you and I, and towards our society; not only through increasingly frequent large-scale 'terrorist acts' against American institutions abroad; it now also directed with lethal force against innocent Americans on our own soil; men, women and children alike, and all undertaken with absolute celebratory delight.

[Thud]

There are lots of x-Soviet nuclear subs rusting and sinking at anchor with no security whatever. And they are being stripped by thieves. Every once in a while some people die from stripping something dangerous off those hulks.

[E.G.C.]

WOW!!! Um, um, um. Thanks, vannrox for the posting.

[Poohbah]

This guy needs to up his Prozac dosage.

[vannrox]

To SEE AN ARIAL IMAGE OF THE SITE.


The photograph above is a satellite image of the property at New Era. A large, streamlined ocean-going barge is docked with its bow docked on the property. The submarine bay, complete with living quarters fit for a small village, was buried along the waterfront from directly underneath the south edge of the mobile home (visible just north of this barge); East to within 10 feet of the railroad tracks, and south to the large building that housed the former cedar shingle mill. The submarine bay was made from the substantial reconstruction of two heavy-gauged steel ocean-going barges laid side by side in the former New Era cedar mill pond, and buried. The concept of hiding a submarine inside of a large barge is apparently from a historical perspective not a particularly original solution. The long-range planning and the requisite resources necessary to accomplish the multitude of interdependent tasks required in an operation of this magnitude is indicative of involvement by one or more governments. They not only managed to find and purchase property ideally suited for their needs, but they also secured ownership of a tug and barge company with established routes from as far away as Vancouver, BC. These routes traveled between Vancouver, B.C., Canada, an international port and a country known to be a funnel into the US for terrorists, and several US international ports. These routes also traveled upstream from the port of Astoria, Oregon at the mouth of the Columbia River; upstream to Pier # 4, the international Port of Portland at and above the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette rivers; and upriver past Portland and the locks at Oregon City. These tugs push barges carrying freight, and they are also employed in river dredging operations on the Willamette River and also on the Columbia River, to and beyond the Hanford nuclear reservation.


It was nine months after the submarine arrived, and six months after I left the state before I came to the realization that there were barges buried underneath the ground. However, it was the authorities who, alerted to the presence of the underground barges, came to the inescapable but horrific determination that foreign agents had an underground bomb-proof 'OPS' Center replete with a submarine bay. Their operational base was also conveniently located within 10 feet of an international fiber optic cable trunk line, which was being laid from Vancouver, BC to Mexico. I observed the crew of Northern Pacific Railroad burying this cable adjacent to the railroad tracks, a joint venture between Northern Pacific RR and Sprint. As if the presence of the fiber optic cable begged for a solution of how to tie into the line without detection, they also had the additional benefit of a junction on both sides of the tracks due to a curve in the RR line. They could not have had a more convenient link to the outside world if they had custom ordered it directly from Sprint.

[cardinal4]

Doubtless Dudayev wanted to use the vessel to patrol the Chechnyan coastline, protect Chechnyan shipping, escort Chechnyan aircraft carrier battle groups, that sort of thing.

Yes you are correct.With help from the Paraguayans.Who believe it or not have a Naval Attache.

[illbenice]

Right, and you dont have picutres of this, do you....

[illbenice]

bad link

[Redcloak]

seven people of Slavic descent were expected to participate.

That narrows it down.

[js1138]

a Red Crescent October?

[Poohbah]

TO SEE AN ARIAL IMAGE

I'm much more partial to Futura or Garamond, myself.

[cardinal4]

You can see where the ancient maritime traditions both in Paraguay and Chechnya come from.

[Timesink]

Even if this is true ... and that's one hell of a big if, so what? They wouldn't have the codes to launch the nukes at anybody. The Russians just would have sent another sub, or ship, to sink it.

[RightWhale]

If someone seized a submarine, it would be difficult to do anything with it beside sink it. These are complicated machines. Just understanding how to drive it around isn't easy.