USS Wyoming (SSBN-742)

For other ships of the same name, see USS Wyoming.
USS Wyoming (SSBN-742)
USS Wyoming (SSBN-742) approaches Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga.; 9 January 2009.
Career (US)
Namesake: The U.S. state of Wyoming
Ordered: 18 October 1989
Builder: General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down: 8 August 1991
Launched: 15 July 1995
Sponsored by: Mrs. Monika B. Owens
Commissioned: 13 July 1996
Homeport: Kings Bay, Georgia
Motto: Cedant Arma Toga
("Force must yield to law")
Status: in active service, as of 2015
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 (46 km/h; 29 mph)[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 Wyoming (SSBN-742) is a United States Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine which has been in commission since 1996. She is the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be named USS Wyoming, although it was only the third named after the state of Wyoming.

Construction and commissioning

The contract to build Wyoming was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 18 October 1989 and her keel was laid down there on 8 August 1991. She was launched on 15 July 1995, sponsored by Mrs. Monika B. Owens, and commissioned on 13 July 1996, with Captain Randall D. Preston in command of the Blue Crew and Commander Seth F. Paradise in command of the Gold Crew.

Service history

USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) transits the Intracoastal Waterway; 11 February 2009

On 26 July 1996, Wyoming arrived at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base, Georgia, becoming the ninth submarine to be home-ported there.

In 2011, the Wyoming became one of the first four submarines to allow female officers.

On 6 June 2012, Wyoming participated in a historic medevac exercise with a Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey making a 12,000 nautical mile flight to collect a stretcher from the submarine.[4]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Ohio-class SSGN-726". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Frost, Peter. "Newport News contract awarded". Daily Press. Retrieved 2011-09-27.(subscription required)
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Submarine Frequently Asked Questions". Chief of Naval Operations Submarine Warfare Division. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
  4. Kington, Tom. "‘Handful’ of Foreign Countries Eyeing V-22 Purchases, Program Manager Says." Defense News, 9 July 2012.

External links

Eight hours of interviews and footage captured by C-SPAN cameras during 24 hours spent on Wyoming: