USS Ohio (SSGN-726)
 USS Ohio SSGN conversion
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 US | |
| Namesake | U.S. state of Ohio |
| Ordered | 1 July 1974 |
| Builder | General Dynamics Electric Boat |
| Laid down | 10 April 1976 |
| Launched | 7 April 1979 |
| Commissioned | 11 November 1981 |
| Homeport | Bangor, Washington |
| Motto | Always first |
| Nickname(s) | First and Finest! |
| Status | in active service |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Template:Sclass- SSGN |
| Displacement | list error: <br /> list (help) 16,764 metric tons (16,499 long tons) surfaced[1][2] 18,750 metric tons (18,450 long tons) submerged[1] |
| Length | 560 ft (170 m)[1] |
| Beam | 42 ft (13 m)[1] |
| Propulsion | list error: <br /> list (help) 1x S8G PWR nuclear reactor[1] 2x geared turbines[1] 1x 325 hp (242 kW) auxiliary motor 1 shaft @ 60,000 shp (45 MW)[1] |
| Speed | list error: <br /> list (help) 12 knots (14 mph; 22 km/h) surfaced[1] +20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h) submerged (official)[1] 25 knots (29 mph; 46 km/h) submerged (reported)[1] |
| Range | unlimited |
| Endurance | approximately 60 days with food supplies |
| Test depth | +800 ft (240 m) |
| Crew | list error: <br /> list (help) 15 officers[1][2] 140 enlisted[1][2] |
| Sensors and processing systems | list error: <br /> list (help) BQQ-6 Bow mounted sonar[1] BQR-19 Navigation[1] BQS-13 Active sonar[1] TB-16 towed array[1] |
| Armament | list error: <br /> list (help) 4 × 21 inches (530 mm) bow torpedo tubes. SSGN conversion 22 tubes, each with 7 Tomahawk cruise missiles. |
USS Ohio (SSBN-726/SSGN-726), the lead boat of her class of nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarines, was the fourth vessel of the United States Navy to be named for the 17th state. She was commissioned with the hull designation of SSBN-726, and with her conversion to a guided missile submarine she was re-designated SSGN-726.
Construction and commissioning
The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 1 July 1974 and her keel was laid down on 10 April 1976 by Mrs. Robert Taft, wife of Senator Taft. On 2 February 1978, the Precommissioning Unit was formed with Commander A. K. Thompson as its Commanding Officer. Ohio was launched on 7 April 1979 sponsored by Mrs. Annie Glenn, wife of Senator John H. Glenn.
Operational History
In the summer of 1981, sea trials were held to test the equipment and systems, and the submarine was delivered to the U.S. Navy on 28 October 1981. On 11 November 1981, Ohio was commissioned. The principal speaker, Vice President George H. W. Bush, remarked to the 8000 assembled guests that the ship introduced a "new dimension in our nation's strategic deterrence," and Admiral Hyman G. Rickover noted that Ohio should "strike fear in the hearts of our enemies." On that day, command of the two crews (designated Blue and Gold) of the USS Ohio was assumed by Captain A. K. Thompson (Blue) and Captain A. F. Campbell (Gold).
Following Post Shakedown Availability at Electric Boat Division, Ohio left the Atlantic and transited to her new home port, Bangor, Washington, by way of Cape Canaveral - where she tested her missile launch systems - and the Panama Canal, arriving on 12 August 1982. During August and September 1982, the first loadout of Trident C-4 missiles and a predeployment refit were conducted. Ohio and her Blue Crew departed on the first Trident Submarine Strategic Deterrent Patrol in October 1982.
From June 1993 to June 1994 Ohio underwent overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, receiving extensive upgrades to sonar, fire control, and navigation systems. Ohio resumed strategic deterrent patrols in January 1995 as part of Submarine Squadron Seventeen, Submarine Group Nine, Pacific Submarine Force.
Conversion to SSGN
Original plans called for Ohio to be retired in 2002. Instead, Ohio and three sister ships were modified and remain in service as conventional missile submarines (SSGNs). (See the discussion of the entire Template:Sclass- for details.) In November 2003 Ohio entered drydock, beginning a 36-month refueling and conversion overhaul. Electric Boat announced on 9 January 2006 that the conversion had been completed. Ohio rejoined the fleet on 7 February 2006. Ballistic submarines of Ohio's class employ two crews, Blue and Gold, in order to facilitate continuous operation at sea, called "forward-presence" in USN parlance.[3] On 21 January 2007, the Gold Crew departed Naval Base Kitsap for Hawaii to conduct a forward-deployed crew exchange, the first such forward-deployed swap in approximately 20 years.[4]
Ohio left for her first mission on 15 October 2007. The Blue crew underwent several tests and inspections before completing a mission some time in December. Ohio is also the first one of the class to complete a mission.[clarification needed]
Miscellaneous
In November 2011, Lt. Britta Christianson became the first woman (supply officer) to qualify for service on a US Navy submarine being assigned to Ohio's Gold Crew.[5]
Awards
- Acting Navy Secretary Robert B. Pirie, Jr. announced the 2001 winners of the Navy Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Awards and the Marine Corps Major General W.P.T. Hill Memorial Awards for outstanding food service in the Navy and Marine Corps. The formal presentation of the awards was made during the International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA) conference on Saturday, 3 March 2001, in Anaheim, California. The afloat galley first place winner in the Pacific fleet was Ohio(Blue). This award was before her conversion from SSBN to SSGN.
References
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entries can be found here and here.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Ohio-class SSGN-726, Federation of American Scientists, retrieved 27 September 2011
- ^ a b c Frost, Peter, Newport News contract awarded, Daily Press, retrieved 27 September 2011[failed verification]
- ^ Congressional Budget Office (1 October 2007), "Crew Rotation in the Navy: The Long-Term Effect on Forward Presence" (pdf), U.S. Government Publication, retrieved 27 September 2011
- ^
MCS2 (AW/NAC) Eric J. Rowley, Fleet Public Affairs Center Detachment Northwest (22 January 2007). "USS Ohio Sailors Depart NBK for Historic Forward Deployed Crew Swap". Navy News Service. NNS070122-09. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "USS Ohio Gold Crew Member Becomes First Female Supply Officer to Qualify in Submarines". Navy Currents. Sea Technology. August 2012.
External links
- Photo gallery of USS Ohio (SSGN-726) Keel Laying - Commissioning at NavSource Naval History no nationality or prefix;
- Photo gallery of USS Ohio (SSGN-726) Life as a SSBN / 1982 - 2002 at NavSource Naval History no nationality or prefix;
- Photo gallery of USS Ohio (SSGN-726) Conversion to SSGN at NavSource Naval History no nationality or prefix;
- "FAS: SSBN-726 Ohio-Class FBM Submarines". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
- Cole, William (23 October 2007). "Tricked-out sub stops at Pearl Harbor". Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved 25 October 2007.[failed verification]