USS Nevada (SSBN-733)


USS Nevada (SSBN-733) off the United States East Coast on her commissioning day, 16 August 1986.
Career (US)
Name: USS Nevada
Namesake: The U.S. state of Nevada
Ordered: 7 January 1981
Builder: General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down: 8 August 1983
Launched: 14 September 1985
Sponsored by: Mrs. Carol Laxalt
Commissioned: 16 August 1986
Homeport: Bangor, Washington
Motto: Silent Sentry
Honors and
awards:

Both Crews: Battle Efficiency Award (Battle "E") 2006
Blue Crew: Battle "E" 2007

Gold Crew Engineering "E", Supply "S", Tactical "T", Medical "M", Deck "D", 2006 and 2007
Status: in active service, as of 2012
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type: Ohio class ballistic missile submarine
Displacement: 16,764 metric tons (16,499 long tons) surfaced[1][2]
18,750 metric tons (18,450 long tons) submerged[1]
Length: 560 feet (170 m)
Beam: 42 ft (13 m)[1]
Draft: 38 feet (12 m)
Propulsion: 1xS8G PWR nuclear reactor[1]
2x geared turbines[1]
1x325 hp (242 kW) auxiliary motor
1 shaft @ 60,000 shp (45 MW)[1]
Speed: Greater than 25 knots (29 mph; 46 km/h)[3]
Test depth: Greater than 800 feet (240 m)[3]
Complement: 15 officers[1][2]
140 enlisted[1][2]
Armament:

MK-48 torpedoes

24 × Trident II D-5 ballistic missiles

USS Nevada (SSBN-733) is a United States Navy Ohio class ballistic missile submarine that has been in commission since 1986. She is the fourth ship of the U.S. Navy to be named for Nevada, the 36th state.

Contents

Construction and commissioning

The contract to build Nevada was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 7 January 1981 and her keel was laid down there on 8 August 1983. She was launched on 14 September 1985 sponsored by Mrs. Carol Laxalt, the wife of United States Senator Paul Laxalt of Nevada, and commissioned on 16 August 1986, with Captain F.W. Rohm in command of the Blue Crew and Captain William Stone in command of the Gold Crew.

Service history

During the night of 1–2 August 2006, Nevada was operating at periscope depth in the Strait of Juan de Fuca when she snagged and broke the 500-foot (150 metre) towline between the tug Phyllis Dunlap and one of two barges carrying empty containers that Phyllis Dunlap was towing from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Seattle, Washington.[4] Fiberglass portions of Nevada's sail were damaged, and a second tug had to recover the drifting barge.[4]

In both 2006 and 2007, Nevada's Crew was awarded with the Battle Efficiency Award (Battle "E"). This award is given to the best submarine in its respective submarine squadron and is determined based on performance in inspections for tactical readiness and nuclear reactor safety, among other factors.

In February 2008, Nevada entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Bremerton Site for a regularly scheduled Engineering Refueling Overhaul. The 'Green' crew worked for nearly 30 months on the refit and refuel until they were separated back to the 'Gold' and 'Blue' crews on July 21, 2010 in preparation for workups and sea trials.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Ohio-class SSGN-726, Federation of American Scientists, http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/man/uswpns/navy/submarines/ssgn726_ohio.html, retrieved 2011 September 27 
  2. ^ a b c Frost, Peter, Newport News contract awarded, Daily Press, http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_subs_0424apr24,0,5810806.story, retrieved 2011 September 27 
  3. ^ a b Submarine Frequently Asked Questions, Chief of Naval Operations Submarine Warfare Division, http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/faq.html, retrieved 2011 September 27 
  4. ^ a b "Navy Sub Damaged After Snagging Tow Line". Associated Press. 2006-08-04. http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4193351.html. Retrieved 2011-12-17. 

External links