USS Connecticut is a Seawolf-class nuclear powered attack submarine, a class of three hulls that were built and commissioned in the 1990s. In a statement, 7th Fleet said that "sound judgement, prudent decision-making, and adherence to required procedures in navigation planning, watch team execution and risk management could have prevented the incident.” Karl Thomas replaced the submarine's CO, XO and top enlisted officer. Sea trials include various tests of the Seawolf propulsion systems and the first underway submergence of the submarine. * photo courtesy of /EC3qygCtc5Īfter Connecticut struck a seamount, U.S. Field, RN) attacked the German submarine U-562 with six torpedoes about 60 nautical miles south-west of Saint-Nazaire, France in position 46☄1N, 03☃2W. USS Connecticut (SSN 22) Seawolf-class nuclear attack submarine coming into San Diego - Decem#ussconnecticut #ssn22
However, in recent weeks the Pacific Northwest has been hammered by a series of winter storms - unwelcome weather for a submarine transiting on the surface.īREAKING: USS Connecticut (SSN 22) Seawolf-class nuclear attack submarine coming into San Diego - Decem#ussconnecticut #ssn22 /vnesi5xDRBīREAKING: USS Connecticut (SSN 22) Seawolf-class nuclear attack submarine coming into San Diego - note obvious damage to bow - Decem#ussconnecticut #ssn22 /vNT7sTPzod
The submarine's home port is in Bremerton, Washington, where there is a large public shipyard. But due to the difficulties of running a sodium-cooled reactor, the Navy decided to replace SEAWOLFs sodium-cooled reactor with a water-cooled one and use only water-cooled designs in the future. The reason for the selection of San Diego as the destination port was not disclosed. USS SEAWOLF was the Navys second nuclear-powered attack submarine and the first submarine to be equipped with a S2G sodium-cooled nuclear reactor. Guam lacks a dry dock or other advanced repair facilities for submarines, so after basic repairs and a crew change, Connecticut got under way back to the mainland. USNI News has confirmed that Connecticut transited the entire distance back from Guam on the surface, as her sonar is disabled and she cannot safely navigate underwater. Connecticut was badly damaged in a collision with an uncharted seamount in the South China Sea on October 2, and she is back in the United States for repairs. Navy fleet, has made port in San Diego after a long transit back from Guam.
Their pump-jet propulsion helps keep the noise they make at 95 decibels, just above the level of general ocean background noise, while their high-strength HY-100 steel hulls enable them to dive about 2,000 feet.Įquipped with eight torpedo tubes - four more than Los Angeles-class subs - the Seawolfs can carry up to 50 torpedo-sized weapons, including Mk 48 torpedoes, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.The USS Connecticut, one of the most advanced attack submarines in the U.S. They are designed to be the ultimate stealthy hunter-killer submarines.
The first boat, USS Seawolf, was commissioned in 1997, while the second boat, USS Connecticut, was commissioned a year later. The Navy began designing Seawolf-class subs in 1983 in direct response to the Soviet Navy's newest Akula-class attack submarines, which were believed to be stealthier than the US's Los Angeles-class attack subs.Īt 353 feet long and 40 feet wide, Seawolf-class subs displace 9,138 tons when fully submerged and can sailing over 25 knots. USS Jimmy Carter in the Hood Canal as it returns to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, September 10, 2017.