USS Georgia (SSGN-729)
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.jpg) USS Georgia (SSBN-729) |
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| Career (US) |  |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | U.S. state of Georgia |
| Ordered: | 20 February 1976 |
| Builder: | General Dynamics Electric Boat |
| Laid down: | 7 April 1979 |
| Launched: | 6 November 1982 |
| Commissioned: | 11 February 1984 |
| Homeport: | Kings Bay, Georgia |
| Motto: | Wisdom, Justice, Moderation |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2009[update] |
| Badge: |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 16,764 tonnes (16,499 long tons) Surfaced[1][2] 18,750 tonnes (18,450 long tons) Submerged[1] |
| Length: | 170.69 meters (560 feet) |
| Beam: | 42 ft (13 m)[1] |
| Draft: | 11.5 meters (38 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 1xS8G PWR nuclear reactor[1] 2x geared turbines[1] 1x325hp auxiliary motor 1 shaft @ 60,000shp[1] |
| Speed: | 20+ knots (37+ km/h) |
| Complement: | 15 officers[1][2] 140 enlisted[1][2] |
| Armament: | 4 × 21-inch torpedo tubes 154 × BGM-109 Tomahawks in 22 groups of seven. |
USS Georgia (SSBN-729/SSGN-729), a Ohio-class submarine, is the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the fourth state. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 20 February 1976 and her keel was laid down on 7 April 1979. She was launched on 6 November 1982 sponsored by Mrs. Sheila M. Watkins, and commissioned as a fleet ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) on 11 February 1984, with Captain A.W. Kuester commanding the Blue crew and Captain M.P. Gray commanding the Gold crew. This ship was later converted to a guided missile submarine (SSGN) for carrying guided cruise missiles instead of fleet ballistic missiles in its missile compartment.
From March to April, 1984 she went on her shakedown cruise and test-launched a Trident C-4 missile in the Eastern Test Range on 7 April 1986 [3]. In November 1984, she arrived in her home port of Bangor, Washington. In January 1985 she started her first strategic deterrence patrol. As an element of Task Unit 14.7.1 from September 1983 to May 1986, she was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation. She was awarded her second Meritorious Unit Commendation for Submarine Operations between February 1986 to August 1986.
On 22 March 1986, near Midway Island, USS Secota (YTM-417) had just completed a personnel transfer with the Georgia, when the Secota lost power and collided with the Georgia. Secota sank. Ten crewman were rescued, but two drowned. Georgia was undamaged[4].
Her Gold Crew was awarded the Comsubron Seventeen Battle Efficiency Award for 2001.
On 30 October 2003, Georgia returned from her 65th and last deterrent patrol.
On 7 November 2003, while Georgia was docked at Bangor, Washington, her C-4 Trident I missiles were offloaded. The process proceeded smoothly until tube number 16. When each tube was opened, a ladder was lowered into the tube so a sailor could climb down and attach a hoist to lift the missile. After attaching the hoist was attached to the missile in tube 16, the sailor climbed out, and the crew took a break without removing the ladder. When they returned, they began to hoist the missile, pulling against the ladder and cutting a nine-inch (229 mm) hole in its nose cone. No radioactive material was released.
Three enlisted men in the missile handling team faced a court-martial. The Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific was immediately shut down and inspected by the Navy, and failed to pass. SWFPAC's commanding officer, Captain Keith Lyles, was relieved of command on December 19, followed by his executive officer, Commander Phillip Jackson, weapons officer, Commander Marshall Millett, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Command Steven Perry. SWFPAC reopened after passing inspection under a new commanding officer on 9 January 2004. Georgia’s crew was unaffected.
Georgia was redesignated to SSGN on 1 March 2004. In October 2004 she participated as the command node of Exercise Silent Hammer, to validate and showcase the new Joint Warfare and ISR capabilities[5].
In March 2005, Georgia entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for her scheduled Engineered Refueling Overhaul. The SSGN conversion took place concurrently.[6][7]. The conversion and refitting work was completed in February 2008.[8] Georgia was officially welcomed home on March 28 in a ceremony attended by Governor Sonny Perdue[9]
After the refit, Georgia will be moving to her new home port in Kings Bay, Georgia[10].
[edit] Georgia in fiction
- Georgia is mentioned briefly in Tom Clancy's novel The Hunt for Red October.
- Georgia is mentioned in the 1996 movie Independence Day but the film footage of the submarine was from the set of Crimson Tide.
[edit] References
- This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register and various press releases.
- ^ a b c d e f g h FAS Information
- ^ a b c Newport News contract awarded: Daily Press - Peter Frost
- ^ "Florida Today Space and Missile Launch Database". http://www.floridatoday.com/maps/launches/TridentLaunches.htm. Retrieved 2006-08-29.
- ^ "This Day in Submarine History". http://www.thesubreport.com/zsubh0322. Retrieved 2006-08-29.
- ^ Duryea, Dave, Capt., USN. "USS Georgia – The Silent Hammer". Undersea Warfare. http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/cno/n87/usw/issue_25/hammer.htm. Retrieved 2006-08-29.
- ^ "Conversion of USS Georgia From SSBN to SSGN". http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/462-2729.aspx. Retrieved 2006-08-29.
- ^ "USS Georgia SSBN Enters Conversion to SSGN "Tactical Trident" SpecOps Sub". Defense Industry Daily. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/10/uss-georgia-ssbn-enters-conversion-to-ssgn-tactical-trident-specops-sub/index.php. Retrieved 2006-08-29.
- ^ "Four SSGNs, No Waiting". http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsub/articles/20080222.aspx. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
- ^ "Navy Marks USS Georgia's Return To Service". CBS 4 News Jacksonville. http://atlanta.navyleague.us/. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
- ^ "Isakson Praises Navy’s Decision to Move USS Georgia to Kings Bay". http://isakson.senate.gov/press/2006/072506ussga.htm. Retrieved 2006-08-29.
[edit] External links
- USS Georgia Official Navy Home Page
Media related to USS Georgia (SSGN-729) at Wikimedia Commons
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