Navy Sub

Navy Sub and Merchant Vessel Collide

The Navy issued a report in response to the collision involving a Navy submarine and merchant vessel. According to the Navy's report, no U.S. sailors or merchant crew were injured when a U.S. Navy submarine and a commercial cargo vessel collided in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday evening January 8, 2007. The collision between USS Newport News (SSN 750) and the Japanese-flagged motor vessel Mogamigawa occurred at approximately 10:15 in the evening (local time) in the strait of Hormuz while the submarine was transiting submerged. Overall damage to the USS Newport News is being evaluated. The propulsion plant was unaffected by this collision. The incident is currently under investigation. USS Newport News is currently on a regularly scheduled deployment to the US Navy Central Command area of responsibility conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO). MSO set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. MSO deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons, or other material. Source: U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs

General Dynamics Awarded Second U.S. Navy Sub

The U.S. Navy has released $1.2b for the construction of the 14th Virginia-class submarine, SSN-787, to General Dynamics Electric Boat, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).  This award marks the beginning of production of two submarines per year on the Virginia-class program.   The release of the funding allows procurement of long lead-time components that will support the planned official construction start later this year on the as-yet-unnamed submarine at

Human-Powered Sub Races Held At Navy Lab

The U.S. Navy's David Taylor Model Basin provided the setting for the sixth running of the International Human-Powered Submarine Races (ISR), a biennial engineering design competition, held June 11-15 at the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Carderock Division in Bethesda, Md. This was the third time the event was staged in the 3,000-ft. test tank. The races are a challenge that began in 1989 and have grown to an event that has seen the participation of universities, high schools, corporations

After Two Accidents, Navy Orders Subs to Stand Down

The Navy has ordered an operational stand-down for all submarines following two recent accidents, charging commanders to “focus energy and intellect back onto the basics of submarine operations,” according to the Submarine Force’s leader. Vice Adm. Chuck Munns, U.S. Submarine Force commander, lamented that the two incidents — one which resulted in the death of two sailors — happened under standard operations. Normal operations will continue while commanders review recently

Navy Hearing Pushed To March 5

The U.S. Navy bowed to a request from the captain of the Greeneville and set a March 5 hearing date for an official inquiry into the disaster in which the nuclear sub slammed into a Japanese fishing trawler, leaving nine people missing, presumed dead. Lawyers for Cmdr. Scott Waddle had asked the Navy to delay a court of inquiry, originally due to begin on Thursday, into the fatal collision to give them more time to prepare.

Women Soon On U.S. Subs?

U.S. Navy May Consider Lifting Female Submarine Ban The U.S. Navy has no current plans to assign women to submarine duty but should carefully consider a Pentagon advisory panel's landmark recommendation to lift the ban, Navy Secretary Richard Danzig said. Danzig said that women had made major contributions to the Navy, including flying warplanes and serving on surface combat ships, and that undersea duty must not be discounted over concerns about privacy and the cost of modifying

Portsmouth Sub Overhaul Saves Navy $59M

A decision to repair a nuclear submarine at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard instead of at privately owned Electric Boat in Groton, Conn., will save the U.S. Navy $59 million, according to Associated Press reports. The maintenance of the USS Philadelphia will cost $85.8 million now. The work, which is scheduled to start in February, is intended to extend the Los Angeles class submarine's life until its scheduled decommissioning in 2010

Electric Boat Awarded Sub Support Work at NNS

The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat $10 million to support submarine maintenance and modernization work on USS Charlotte and USS Georgia at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. An Electric Boat team of 56 trades people and supervisors will work with the Navy on a depot modernization period (DMP) for USS Charlotte and an engineered refueling overhaul (ERO) for USS Georgia, prior to its

CVF Manufacturing Contract Boosts VT Group

VT Group announced that its new shipbuilding and naval support joint venture, BVT Surface Fleet Limited, is to be the major beneficiary from the manufacturing contract signed for two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers (CVF). The CVF contract will contribute in the region of £3 billion to BVT’s order book, of which just under half will be delivered by the joint venture directly and the balance sub-contracted

Berthing a Submarine

Project to design, develop and fabricate a composite universal camel for all classes of submarines Berthing a fast attack or fleet ballistic missile (Trident) submarine requires skilled vessel handling, knowledge and practice. The larger Trident subs are 560 ft. long with a beam of 42 ft. and displace almost 17,000 tons.  When maneuvering them into port a deep draft camel is a crucial aide to optimizing berthing and mooring procedures