Virginia class submarine
From Free net encyclopedia
| Virginia-class attack submarine | |
|---|---|
| Image:USS Virginia.jpg | |
| Class Overview | |
| Class Type | Attack Submarine (SSN) |
| Class Name | The State of Virginia |
| Preceded By | Seawolf-class |
| Succeeded By | N/A, latest attack submarine class authorized |
| Ships of the Class: | Virginia, Texas, Hawaii, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Mexico |
The Virginia class (or SSN-774 class) of attack submarines are the first U.S. subs to be designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions. They are slated to replace aging Los Angeles-class attack submarines, some of which have already been decommissioned.
The Virginias were intended as a cheaper alternative to the $2 billion Seawolf subs, whose production run was stopped after just three vessels. To reduce costs, the Virginias use many "off-the-shelf" components, especially in their computers and data networks. But they actually cost about $2.6 billion each, thanks in part to an industrial arrangement designed to keep Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Newport News in the sub-building business, according to the Congressional Research Service. The firms run the only U.S. shipyards that build nuclear vessels.
The Virginias incorporate several innovations. Instead of periscopes, the subs have a pair of two extendable "photonics masts" outside the pressure hull. Each contains several high-resolution cameras with light-intensification and infrared sensors, an infrared laser rangefinder, and an integrated Electronic Support Measures (ESM) array. Signals from the masts' sensors are transmitted through fiber optic data lines through signal processors to the control center. They also make use of pump-jet propulsors for quieter operations.
A preliminary Pentagon budget draft circulated in January 2005 indicated that the Virginia-class submarine program may be deeply cut due to the growing Federal budget deficit.
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable is mounting a national grassroots campaign to convince Congress and the Navy to name one of the submarines after the ironclad USS Monitor. The Monitor fought the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia to a standstill on March 9, 1862, in the first battle between ironclad warships (see Battle of Hampton Roads).
General characteristics
- Builders: GD Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Newport News
- Length: 377 ft (114.91 m)
- Beam: 34 ft (10.36 m)
- Displacement: 7,800 tons
- Payload: 40 weapons, special operations forces, unmanned undersea vehicles, Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS)
- Propulsion: S9G reactor
- Max. diving depth: greater than 800 ft (244 m)
- Speed: 25+ knots
- Planned cost: about US$1.65 billion each (based on FY95 dollars, 30-ship class & 2 ship/year build-rate, which has not yet been authorized)
- Actual cost: about $2.6 billion each (as of 2005)
- Crew: 120 Enlisted and 14 Officers
- Armament: Tomahawk missiles, VLS tubes, Mark 48 torpedoes, four torpedo tubes, advanced mobile mines, and unmanned undersea vehicles.
Ships
- USS Virginia (SSN-774), commissioned and in service
- USS Texas (SSN-775), under construction; delivery in 2006
- USS Hawaii (SSN-776), under construction; delivery in 2007
- USS North Carolina (SSN-777), named December 11, 2000; delivery in 2008; this is the last ship of the First Block or "Flight"
- USS New Hampshire (SSN-778) has been ordered for delivery in 2010
- USS New Mexico (SSN-779) has been ordered for delivery in 2011
- SSN-780 was ordered in 2005 and is expected to deliver in April, 2011
- SSN-781 was ordered in 2006 and is expected to deliver in 2013
- SSN-782 is expected to be ordered in 2007
- SSN-783 is expected to be ordered in 2008; this is the last ship of the Second Block or "Flight"
- SSN-784 through approximately SSN-791 are planned to make up the Third Block or "Flight" and should begin construction in 2009
| Virginia-class submarine |
|
Virginia | Texas | Hawaii | North Carolina | New Hampshire | New Mexico |
| List of submarines of the United States Navy List of submarine classes of the United States Navy |