[WildTurkey]

The sub is salvageable. IIRC, the reactor stuff is in the back of the sub. But it depends on if it is cost-effective to strip out the front half of the sub and repair/replace it. It also depends on if there is a political will to fix it.

Just because the reactor "stuff" is in the back, does not mean that there was no damage. A lot of thought and examination will have to be done before this baby can be considered salvageable.

[IMRight]

Just because the reactor "stuff" is in the back, does not mean that there was no damage. A lot of thought and examination will have to be done before this baby can be considered salvageable.

That's basically it. I haven't done any DC work (other than the basic training everyone gets), but sometimes you'd be surprised at how a problem that LOOKS big turns out to be something you can work with and how sometimes problems you'd hardly notice turn out to be irreparable.

No question though that there's a lot of expensive "stuff" forward of that "total loss" line (much of it sitting under that blue roofers tarp).

[ProudVet77]

Sadly, this boat is pretty much toast.
Every weld on a sub is X-Rayed, every plate magnafluxed for minor cracks. The attention to detail is incredible, as can be attested to by it's survival. To make sure she is seaworthy and safe to submerge, they'd have to take her completely apart and check every weld and every bulkhead and every rib and every plate.
My guess is they will use her for salvage. Get what parts out of her they can, then turn her over to the engineers to study.