Page 28 - NAVAL FORCES 03/2017

Technology Spotlight

The “Virginia” class attack submarine
USS “Illinois” (SSN 786) conducts sea trials.
“Illinois” is a flexible, multi-mission platform
designed to carry out the seven core
competencies of the submarine force:
Anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare;
delivery of Special Operations Forces;
strike warfare; irregular warfare; intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance;
and mine warfare.
(Photo: US Navy/
General Dynamics Electric Boat)

The successive versions of the “Virginia” class
submarine (VCS) are called blocks:
Block Length Displace- Draft Status
ment
Edward Lundquist I SSN 774-777 377ft 7,833t 31.8ft Active
(4 submarines)
Building “Virginia” class II SSN 778-783 377ft 7,833t 31.8ft Active
(6 submarines)

Submarines More III SSN 784-791 377ft 7,833t 31.8ft 3 delivered;

5 building
(8 submarines)

Efficiently and IV SSN 792-801 377ft 7,833t 31.8ft Ordered,
6 under

(10 submarines)

construction
With Greater Capability V SSN 802-811 461ft 10,168t 30.7ft Planned

(10 submarines)
The US Navy is charting a course to tive Officer Submarines observed. “Last year, it before: we delivered as many as six ‘Los
grow the fleet, in which the stealthy we delivered the 786, USS ‘Illinois’, and com­ Angeles’ class submarines in one year in the
attack submarine will play a big part, missioned her, and this year we’ll deliver 787 1980s, and we did that at the same time that
today and tomorrow. and 788, so those are the ‘Washington’ and the we were building the ‘Ohio’ class ‘Trident’
‘Colorado.’ Construction continues to go well
SSBNs [nuclear­powered ballistic missile sub­
in the ‘Virginia’ programme, with ships being marine]. So the potential is there. The question
For many years, the US Navy (USN) relied delivered within the contracted delivery span is at what point do you need to start building
on the “Los Angeles” class as its front-line and within the contracted budget.” more facilities, hiring more people? We are al­
attack submarine. Today the ‘688s’ are being The USN’s current 30-year shipbuilding ready in the middle of a facilities expansion
decommissioned as they reach the end of their plan is to build a total fleet of 308 ships, but a and a significant employee ramp­up at our
service lives, followed by the “Seawolf” class, new force structure analysis calls for 355, and shipbuilders, just to handle the increased de­
optimised for Cold War threats but simply too that means more submarines. mand signal brought by the ‘Columbia’ SSBN,
expensive: the class was originally planned for “We went from managing a trough where which will be the replacement for the ‘Ohio’
nine boats, but just three were built. we were below 48 SSNs, later in the 2020s, to class.”
The mainstay of the attack boat fleet today immediately being in a trough under 66. So we
is the “Virginia” class; USS “Virginia,” first of are working hard to develop a revised 30­year “Virginia” class submarines
class, was commissioned in 2004. shipbuilding programme that will take that into on course
account,” Jabaley commented. “Obviously
30-year Shipbuilding Plan that is a focus for the future on how we are The builders, Electric Boat and Newport
going to meet the new requirements under the News Shipbuilding, are building the ships
In 2014, in what was then its largest-ever Force Structure Assessment.” faster and with higher quality. There have been
shipbuilding contract, the USN ordered the While more submarines would be welcome fewer discrepancies, and less time is needed
ten Block IV boats in a $17.6 billion “block by the combatant commanders and industry for post-shakedown availabilities (PSA). The
buy,” which will produce alike, Jabaley stated there must be the indus- programme has transitioned from year-long
two ships per year over a trial capacity to increase construction and the PSAs to Post-Delivery Work Periods (PDWP).
five-year period. In fact, USN must be able to recruit and train more By completing more work during new con-
the production rate is al- qualified sailors. “In order to do the type of struction, a smaller work package is required
ready there. shipbuilding that would be necessary to get so the PDWPs are approximately six months
“In the ‘Virginia’ class the 66 attack submarines, I would say we in duration. “Virginia” class Programme Man-
submarine programme, have the potential. We have obviously done ager Capt. Mike Stevens said that USS “John
we are fully two per year,”
Rear-Adm. Michael E. Captain Edward Lundquist,
Jabaley, Program Execu- US Navy (Ret.), is a frequent contributor to NAVAL FORCES.
26 NAVAL FORCES III/2017