USNI News | September 26, 2024

Shipuilder Newport News Shipbuilding, Va., informed the Department of Justice of faulty welds that may have been made intentionally on non-critical components on on new construction and in-service submarines and Ford-class aircraft carriers, USNI News has learned.

Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition Nickolas Guertin told Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti the workers did not follow proper techniques to weld the suspect joints with an early indication that some of the welding errors were intentional. Based on the Newport News assessment of the welds, the shipyard notified the Department of Justice over the issue.

Read more HERE.

Stars & Stripes | September 24, 2024

A U.S. fast-attack submarine and its crew of around 130 sailors arrived at South Korea’s largest port on Monday, the first stop in Busan by a U.S. sub that’s been closed since December.

The USS Vermont’s visit to the city, about 200 miles south of Seoul, is a scheduled port visit, Submarine Group 7 spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Samuel Boyle said in an emailed statement Monday.

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Stars & Stripes | September 22, 2024

The future Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine SSN 812 will be named USS Baltimore, secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced Friday during a ship naming ceremony in Baltimore.

“The city of Baltimore maintains a strong connection with our maritime services and is a critical enabler of our National Maritime Statecraft,” Del Toro. “It is my honor and privilege to announce the name of the next Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarine, SSN-812, USS Baltimore.”

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Military.com | September 20, 2024

The Navy’s new Virginia-class submarines are projected to run $17 billion over their planned budget through 2030, a problem emblematic of a crisis in the program, the House’s top lawmaker on defense spending disclosed.

“It’s clear that the Navy and shipbuilders have known about this shortfall for at least 18 months” but “Congress was notified just two weeks ago,” Representative Ken Calvert, chairman of the House defense appropriations subcommittee, said in remarks released Thursday before a classified hearing with Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro.

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Stars & Stripes | September 18, 2024

The crew of the USS Indiana, a Virginia-class, fast-attack submarine that spent three weeks in the seas near the North Pole during Operation Ice Camp 2024, were awarded the Navy’s Arctic Service Medal on Tuesday.

The Arctic Service Medal is awarded to Navy and Marine personnel who show “excellence and significant contributions to national security and maritime superiority in the Arctic region,” according to a Navy statement.

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Stars & Stripes | September 10, 2024

The submarine USS Georgia has arrived in the Middle East, joining two aircraft carrier strike groups in the region, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

The Georgia — an Ohio-class, ballistic-missile submarine — was ordered Aug. 11 to sail to the CENTCOM region by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as tensions between Israel and Iranian proxy forces reached a boiling point. The submarine carries up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles along with Mk48 torpedoes, according to the Navy.

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Stars & Stripes | September 5, 2024

The first submarine fully integrated for mixed gender crews will join the Navy fleet next week during a commissioning ceremony in its namesake state of New Jersey.

The USS New Jersey (SSN 796) is the 23rd Virginia-class submarine, but it is the first of its kind — designed from the keel up with specific modifications for gender integration.

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USNI News | September 4, 2024

The White House is asking Congress for $1.95 billion to make up for a price gap for two submarines already funded as part of the congressional Fiscal Year 2024 budget, USNI News has learned.
The request was included in a list of anomalies the White House asked Congress to support in the event the government is funded by a continuing resolution past the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

Read more HERE.

USNI News | August 23, 2024

USS Hawaii (SSN 776) and its U.S. and Australian crew pulled into Australia’s western naval base HMAS Stirling on Thursday August 22 for a maintenance period with submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS-39). It’s the first time a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine will undergo an overhaul on foreign soil. 

Read more HERE.