Free Republic

The Columbia-class submarine program encountered early setbacks. The United States Navy’s effort to build its newest class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines is now expected to reach a key milestone in 2028, according to General Dynamics. The lead vessel, currently under construction, has faced schedule adjustments but is showing signs of steady progress as production challenges are gradually resolved. First submarine was planned for delivery earlier Reports revealed that the first submarine in this class was initially planned for delivery earlier, but complications during construction led to a revised target. Issues involving the supply of critical components, along with delays...

The delivery of Columbia’s stern section is a milestone for the first ballistic missile submarine built for the Navy since the 1990s. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ he first Columbia class submarine stern section has been delivered to General Dynamics Electric Boat. The massive component will serve as the propulsion section of the inaugural Columbia-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine, the USS District of Columbia. The vessel is the first of a planned 12 boat fleet designed to replace the existing 14 Ohio-class boomers in what the Navy says is its top-priority acquisition program. Images of the first stern section were released on Wednesday by...

I was reading about a new Chinese mini sub - a badly needed distraction - and saw a spurious reference to a new US 'Columbia Class' SSBN which was alien to me. Obviously, I'd missed it, and apparently many here as well. I searched and saw no reference whatsoever to it here at FR, so rather than post a single article, there are a number below in the comments for clickable links, in addition to the linked Report to Congress.