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The US Navy's new $166billion fleet of Virginia-class submarines is being hampered by infrastructure issues and defective parts that are breaking down decades earlier than expected. The Navy is facing 'significant delays' in submarine maintenance that will stunt its ability to keep up with its workload for the next 25 years, according to a recent report from the Congressional Budget Office. The CBO report found that the Navy faces a drastic shortage of parts and has too often relied on a solution called 'cannibalization.' In other words, when a submarine is missing a part, the Navy typically swaps it with...

America's most advanced nuclear submarine was slicing through the water off Hawaii last month, 400 feet under the surface, when a sonar operator suddenly detected an ominous noise on his headphones. It was a faint thump … thump … thump — the distinctive sound of a spinning, seven-bladed propeller on a Chinese attack submarine called a Shang by the Pentagon and its allies. A neon green stripe on his sonar screen indicated that the Shang was only a few thousand yards off the U.S. sub's bow. "Sonar contact!" he yelled to 15 officers and crew in the dimly lighted control...

It's 7,800 tons, 337 feet and $2 billion worth of steel and stealth, with war-fighting controls that look like a big arcade video game. That new-boat smell may have worn off a bit during sea trials, but the man in charge was pumped with pride as the U.S. Navy's newest submarine joined the fleet in a commissioning ceremony at Norfolk Naval Station on Saturday. The shiniest and coolest thing I've ever seen in my military career," Cmdr. Daniel Caldwell, a 22-year Navy veteran and the first captain of the USS John Warner, told CNN. "It's going to make whatever I...

Groton, Conn. – While floating partially submerged in icy waters along a dock at a General Dynamics’ Electric Boat facility here, the Navy’s first Block III Virginia-Class attack submarine is being readied for sea-trials, certifications and delivery. As a key step prior to formally handing the boat over to the Navy to begin service, Electric Boat engineers and Navy professionals are testing the electronics, wiring, missile tubes and propulsion system on-board the submarine, among other things, said Kurt Hesch, vice president of Virginia-Class submarines, Electric Boat. The USS North Dakota, the first Block III Virginia-Class submarine slated for delivery, is...

Virginia-Class Subs Could Bolster Cruise Missile Fleet, But Where's the Money? By David Axe The nuclear-powered submarine USS Florida was lying in wait, quietly submerged off the Libyan coast, when the order came from then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to launch its cruise missiles. It was the evening of March 19. Two days before, the U.N. Security Council had unanimously voted to approve Resolution 1973, authorizing a no-fly zone over Libya aimed at protecting civilians against the forces of Muammar Gaddafi's repressive regime. To clear the way for the no-fly zone, the U.S. Navy and Royal Navy prepared a barrage...

EB: Submarines can be ''stretched'' to boost firepower By Jennifer McDermott Publication: The Day Electric Boat says it can add more missile tubes to Virginia-class submarines without compromising speed or stealth. EB has been working on a concept for a "stretch Virginia" to boost firepower. The task was to figure out whether the subs could be lengthened by about 90 feet to accommodate triple the number of Tomahawk missiles they now carry, and to launch the weapons of the future, including unmanned undersea vehicles. Preliminary estimates say the modification could cost up to $500 million per ship, adding roughly 20...

Navy Cutting Time To Produce Virginia Subs Apr 7, 2011 By Michael Fabey The U.S. Navy is approaching its 60-month construction goal for its Virginia-class submarines, despite a recent redesign of the bow to accommodate larger and more versatile weapon tubes, according to Capt. Michael Jabaley, Virginia-class program manager. The sub-building contractor team of General Dynamics’ Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding is now producing each sub within about 65 months and should get the next sub pair closer to the 60-month mark, Jabaley told Aviation Week. The sub construction time reduction is ahead of schedule, he...

Nuclear subs buy floated Brendan Nicholson From: The Australian February 07, 2011 12:00AM AUSTRALIA could buy 10 of the latest nuclear attack submarines from the US for much less than it would cost to build 12 conventional replacements for the Collins-class boats, says the Kokoda Foundation think tank. Foundation founder Ross Babbage said the submarines could operate with US boats sharing an Australian naval base and they could be maintained by US nuclear experts. Dr Babbage, a member of the government's advisory panel for the 2009 Defence white paper, told The Australian 10 of the US Navy's new Virginia-class attack...

On the American ballistic submarine USS Maine in waters off the Florida coast not too long ago, two submariners eyed a U.S. aircraft carrier through their periscope in the roiling sea. “I think it’s the Washington,” one submariner said. “It doesn’t matter — it doesn’t know we’re here,” the other replied, eyeing the carrier through the scope. “Bang,” he said. “You’re dead.” In the submarine world, carriers, like other surface ships, represent targets. But lately U.S. aircraft carriers have appeared to be growing more vulnerable to threats deployed from under the sea and in the air. And those threats have...

For the past five years a group of dedicated New Mexicans have worked to secure New Mexico the name of the Navy’s newest Virginia-class attack submarine. On Saturday, that happened at a ceremony in Norfolk, Virginia. The USS New Mexico was officially commissioned by the United States Navy. The 134 man crew boarded the $2.3 billion sub after it was deemed ready for combat duty. The USS New Mexico won’t only carry the Land of Enchantment’s name, curtains on the bunks are made from Native American prints, and one New Mexico congressman says there are some more pieces of New...

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- With the spray of bubbly from a champagne bottle, PCU Missouri (SSN 780), the Navy's newest Virginia-class attack submarine, was christened during a late morning ceremony at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn., Dec. 5.

Click Here For More News Links, Photos and a Re-Broadcast of the Commissioning Ceremony The USS North Carolina was Commissioned today at Wilmington, NC. Linda Bowman, who sponsored the submarine and christened it in April 2007, sent the crew running from the back of the audience onto the submarine. "You are a team and ready to go forth and defend this country," Bowman told the crew. "My hope is that she will sail in peace to keep us free. My assurance is that she will always be ready to defend that freedom whenever necessary. "Officers and crew of the...

Story Number: NNS080131-05 WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Donald C. Winter announced Jan. 30 the names of three Virginia class submarines -- the Missouri, California and Mississippi. The selection of Missouri honors the continuous support of the military by the people of the "Show Me State," and its leaders. Designated SSN 780, Missouri is the fifth ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state. The last Missouri (BB 63), a U.S. Navy battleship, saw action in World War II, Korean War and the 1991 Gulf War. Missouri was also the...

The Navy debuted its newest nuclear-powered submarine Friday in an Atlantic Ocean swing off the Florida coast, the second in the latest fast-attack class that marks a broad departure from the Cold War-era deterrence boats. The Texas, which will officially earn a "USS" designator in a commissioning ceremony in two weeks, weighs 7,800 tons, measures 377 feet long and can remain submerged on covert surveillance up to three months. It travels faster than 25 knots underwater and dives farther than 800 feet. "It's much more effective than any ship I've been on before," said Capt. John Litherland, who has been...

One of Germany's crack new fuel-cell-powered submarines has set a world record with a two-week-long dive, the German Navy said Wednesday. The trip by the U212A-class sub with a crew of 27 from Eckernfoerde in Germany to Rota in Spain involved the longest period that any non-nuclear vessel had ever spent under water. The navy did not say what the previous record had been. US and Russian nuclear submarines can stay under water for longer. Germany, which has no nuclear weapons and no nuclear-powered ships, developed the high-tech hybrid-powered submarines to replace diesel-electric vessels that need to surface more often...

The Navy's submarine force is in trouble. A shrinking number of boats is struggling to meet steady demand from regional commanders. Meanwhile, the cost of the only U.S. submarine currently in production, the super-high-tech Virginia-class attack boat, has risen to $2.3 billion apiece. At that price, the Navy can afford to buy only one per year. Do the math: since attack boats last only 30 years, building one boat per year means your fleet is eventually going to shrink to 30 boats from the current 55. Long-range plans call for 48 attack subs, so how is the Navy going to...

Found a link to this one on Subsim.com. The launch of SSN 775, nuclear attack submarine USS Texas, only the second Virginia class sub. She's a big one! Video Website

Northrop Grumman Newport News celebrated its first submarine christening in nearly a decade when Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States and the ship’s sponsor, broke a bottle of American-made sparkling wine across the hull of the Virginia-class submarine Texas (SSN 775). Also pictured is U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Tom Schievelbein, Northrop Grumman Newport News president. Photo by Chris Oxley, Northrop Grumman Newport News

First of Virginia-class submarines passes sea trial cleanly Friday July 30, 2004 By DIANE SCARPONI Associated Press Writer GROTON, Conn. (AP) The first of the Virginia class of submarines returned from sea trials Friday with a simple straw broom perched atop the world's most advanced nuclear attack submarine. The broom signified that the Virginia had made a ``clean sweep'' of the first round of sea trials meeting or exceeding the U.S. Navy's expectations for performance of its propulsion and diving systems, emergency nuclear shutdowns and other tests. ``This sea trial was an absolute success, a clean sweep, as we say...

NEWPORT NEWS -- First lady Laura Bush will christen the shipyard's newest submarine July 31 at a morning event on the banks of the James River, Northrop Grumman Newport News said Monday. The Texas, known as SSN (submersible ship nuclear) 775, is the second boat in the Virginia class, a new group of nuclear-powered attack submarines that eventually could consist of 30 ships. That boat is the first of the class to be getting its christening in Newport News. During the traditional event, which celebrates the official naming of the submarine as the Texas, Lone Star State native Laura...