USS Ohio (SSGN-726)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Ohio.
USS Ohio (SSGN-726)
USS Ohio SSGN conversion
History
United States
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: Ohio class SSGN
Displacement:
  • 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:
  • 1 × S8G PWR nuclear reactor[1]
  • 2 × geared turbines[1]
  • 1 × 325 hp (242 kW) auxiliary motor
  • 1 shaft @ 60,000 shp (45 MW)[1]
Speed:
  • 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:
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • BQQ-6 Bow mounted sonar[1]
  • BQR-19 Navigation[1]
  • BQS-13 Active sonar[1]
  • TB-16 towed array[1]
Armament:
  • 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.

Conversion to SSGN

Main article: Ohio-class submarine

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). 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.[3]

Service history

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 A. 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.

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 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.

Following her conversion to a SSGN, Ohio rejoined the fleet on 7 February 2006. 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] 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] Ohio left for her first mission as an SSGN on 15 October 2007. The Blue crew underwent several tests and inspections before completing a mission some time in December. Ohio was also the first one of the class to complete a mission.

On 28 June 2010, Ohio was one of three Ohio-class submarines involved in a US response to Chinese missile testing in the contested East China Sea. Ohio, Michigan, and Florida all surfaced simultaneously in the waters of the Philippines, South Korea, and the British Indian Ocean Territory respectively.[5][6]

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.[7]

Awards

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.

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Ohio-class SSGN-726, Federation of American Scientists, retrieved 27 September 2011
  2. 1 2 3 Frost, Peter, Newport News contract awarded, Daily Press, retrieved 27 September 2011
  3. 1 2 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
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "In 2010, the U.S. Navy Surfaced Three Missiles Subs as a Warning to China". War is Boring. Medium. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  6. ↑ Torode, Greg. "US submarines emerge in show of military might". Viet-Studies. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  7. ↑ "USS Ohio Gold Crew Member Becomes First Female Supply Officer to Qualify in Submarines". Navy Currents. Sea Technology. August 2012.
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