USS Connecticut (SSN-22)

USS Connecticut (SSN-22) is a Seawolf-class nuclear powered fast attack submarine operated by the United States Navy. Connecticut is the fifth active United States Ship to be named for the U.S. state of Connecticut, going back to 1776. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 3 May 1991 and her keel was laid down on 14 September 1992. She was launched on 1 September 1997, sponsored by Patricia L. Rowland, wife of the Governor of Connecticut, John G. Rowland, and commissioned on 11 December 1998.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Connecticut.

USS Connecticut departing Puget Sound, 2016
History
United States
NameUSS Connecticut
NamesakeThe U.S. State of Connecticut
Ordered3 May 1991
BuilderGeneral Dynamics Electric Boat
Laid down14 September 1992
Launched1 September 1997
Commissioned11 December 1998
HomeportKitsap Naval Base, Bremerton, Washington
Motto"Arsenal of the Nation"
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeSeawolf-class submarine
Displacement7,568 tons light, 9,137 tons full, 1,569 tons dead
Length107.5 meters (353 feet) overall, 107.5 meters (353 feet) waterline
Beam12.1 meters (40 feet)
Draft10.9 meters (36 feet)
Propulsion
  • 1 S6W PWR 220 MW (300,000 hp), HEU 93.5%[1][2]
  • 1 secondary propulsion submerged motor
  • 2 steam turbines 57,000 shp (43 MW) [2][3]
  • 1 shaft
  • 1 pump-jet propeller
Complement15 officers, 101 men
Armament8 × 26.5 inch torpedo tubes, sleeved for 21 inch weapons[4] (up to 50 Tomahawk land attack missile/Harpoon anti-ship missile/Mk 48 guided torpedo carried in torpedo room)[5]

History

1999 was spent conducting shakedown operations that evaluated Connecticut's weapons systems, sensors, stealth and engineering proficiency. She participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 2-99 as an opposing force asset, and completed acoustic trials, a shallow water exercise, and an anti-submarine warfare exercise.

In September 1999 Connecticut began a Post-Shakedown Availability (PSA) at the Electric Boat shipyard. Despite a 100% growth in the amount of PSA work, making this the submarine force's most demanding PSA, Connecticut completed all work ahead of schedule. This PSA concluded as the safest in the 100-year history of Electric Boat.

In April 2003, Connecticut surfaced through the Arctic ice at the University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station (APLIS). While there, she encountered a polar bear, which gnawed on her rudder for a while before disengaging.[6]

Connecticut breaks polar ice and is encountered by a polar bear.

On 31 March 2004 Connecticut put to sea in support of the War on Terror as part of the Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), returning to NSB New London on 2 September with a pierside band blasting Thin Lizzy's "The Boys Are Back in Town". For the next three years, Connecticut was largely confined to port as she underwent a prolonged maintenance cycle.

In early 2007, it was announced that Connecticut would be transferred to Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, in Washington's Puget Sound, following a six-month deployment commencing on 25 July 2007.[7] She would be the last of the Navy's three Seawolf-class submarines to be transferred from New London to Kitsap as part of a larger U.S. Navy realignment shifting 60% of the fleet's submarines to the Pacific.[8][9] Upon arrival at Kitsap on 30 January 2008, Connecticut joined her Seawolf sisters in Submarine Development Squadron Five.[6][10]

Connecticut surfaced for ICEX 2019

In early 2011, Connecticut participated in ICEX 2011 to "train today’s submarines in the challenging Arctic environment", as well as "refine and validate procedures and required equipment."[11]

Connecticut received extensive overhauls from 2012 to 2017. She returned to operation in early 2018 and participated in the Arctic ICEX 2018 operational readiness exercise.[12] Later that year she deployed to the western Pacific before returning on 30 January 2019.[13]

From 26 March through 19 August 2019, Connecticut underwent maintenance and modernizing in a drydock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.[14] The US$17 million project involved 30,000 worker days, and used a hull-climbing robot to inspect the ship's hull.[14][15]

The Navy plans to extend a submarine pier to moor Connecticut and USS Seawolf together with USS Jimmy Carter at Naval Submarine Base Bangor.[16]

2021 pier and seamount collisions

On 14 April 2021 during pre-deployment training, Connecticut hit a pier in Point Loma, California, prompting a separate command investigation and a navigation safety stand down for the boat.[17]

On 2 October 2021 Connecticut was damaged after she collided with a seamount[18] while maneuvering in the South China Sea.[19] About eleven sailors sustained injuries, though none were reported to be life threatening. The submarine's propulsion system were said to be operating normally.[20] After an investigation, the commanding officer, his executive officer, and the chief of the boat were all relieved of duty.[21]

The US Navy intends to repair the submarine, with work to begin in 2023 and a planned repair time frame of 31 months, returning to service in September 2025.[22][23]

See also

References
  1. Alan Kuperman; Frank von Hippel (10 April 2020). "US study of reactor and fuel types to enable naval reactors to shift from HEU fuel". IPFM Blog.
  2. "Validation of the Use of Low Enriched Uranium as a Replacement for Highly Enriched Uranium in US Submarine Reactors" (PDF). dspace.mit.edu. June 2015. p. 32. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  3. "S6W Advanced Fleet Reactor". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  4. Schank, John F.; Cesse, Cameron; Ip, Frank W.; Lacroix, Robert; Murphy, Mark V.; Arena, Kristy N.; Kamarck; Lee, Gordon T. (2011). "Learning from Experience: Volume II: Lessons from the U.S. Navy's Ohio, Seawolf, and Virginia Submarine Programs". rand.org.
  5. "Attack Submarines - SSN". United States Navy Fact Files. United States Navy. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  6. Friedrich, Ed (29 January 2008). "Feels Just Like Old Home to USS Connecticut Crew". Kitsap Sun. Archived from the original on 1 February 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  7. Grogan, Jennifer (16 July 2007). "Connecticut's Namesake Sub Leaving Groton For New Home". The Day. New London, CT. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
  8. 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review Report (PDF) (Report). U.S. Department of Defense. 6 February 2006. p. 47. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  9. Barber, Mike (1 February 2008). "Navy's fast-attack submarine signals new mission in Pacific". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  10. Rowley, Eric (30 January 2008). "USS Connecticut Arrives Home to Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton". Navy.mil. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  11. "Navy Announces Submarines Participating in ICEX 2011". Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  12. Barker, Corey B. "Submarines USS Hartford, USS Connecticut Surface Together in the Arctic Circle". navy.mil. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  13. "USS Connecticut, among Navy's most secret subs, returns to Bremerton". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  14. Farley, Josh. "Shipyard returns USS Connecticut to fleet". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  15. Miller, Nathanael (13 May 2019). "Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and NUWC Division, Keyport Climb into the Future". navy.mil. Archived from the original on 13 May 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  16. Stanford, Julianne (3 April 2018). "Navy moves closer to starting construction on submarine pier extension at Bangor". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  17. Sam LaGrone (24 May 2022). "Investigation: USS Connecticut South China Sea Grounding Result of Lax Oversight, Poor Planning". USNI News.
  18. Burns, Robert (1 November 2021). "Officials: Damaged US Navy Sub Struck Underwater Mountain". Military.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  19. "US Nuclear Sub Damaged in Underwater Collision in South China Sea - October 7, 2021". Daily News Brief. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  20. Sam LaGrone (7 October 2021). "UPDATED: Attack Submarine USS Connecticut Suffers Underwater Collision in South China Sea". USNI News.
  21. Geoff Ziezulewicz (4 November 2021). "USS Connecticut's leadership fired following undersea mountain collision". Navy Times.
  22. Ong, Peter (5 July 2022). "US Navy Comments on USS Connecticut Submarine". Naval News. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  23. Ong, Peter (26 March 2023). "U.S. Navy Commences USS Connecticut (SSN 22) Repairs".

Based on the Naval Vessel Register, various press releases and former shipmates.

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