ST1 Reduces Availability Costs for Ohio Class Submarines

Submarine Team One (ST1), Team Submarine’s cross-organizational group tasked with reducing submarine maintenance costs, has continued its efforts by pushing for the removal of bore sand from Ohio Class submarine's main propulsion shafts during availabilities. In previous Ohio Class maintenance availabilities, the propulsion shaft was removed from the submarine, restored by the shipyard, refilled with bore sand, and then re-installed. Refilling the shaft with sand is a costly and time-consuming process so ST1 used USS Nevada as a test platform for leaving the shaft empty. Sea Trials following Nevada’s refueling overhaul showed no change in the acoustic signature, and the initiative was deemed a success on August 10. ST1 consists of Commander, Naval Submarine Forces; Commander, Submarine Forces Pacific Fleet; NAVSEA Deputy Commander for Undersea Warfare; the Submarine Maintenance Engineering, Planning and Procurement Activity; NAVSEA Deputy Commander for Industrial Operations; NAVSEA Naval Nuclear Propulsion; Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair in Groton and Norfolk; and the Naval Shipyards.