Virginia Passes First At-Sea Test

Since 08-11-04

From NSL UPDATE 08-05-04

Virginia Passes First At-Sea Test
By Chief Journalist Michael Foutch, Submarine Warfare Division Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Completing one of the first significant events in the Navy’s newest submarine class, PCU Virginia (SSN 774) returned to New London, Conn., July 30 after putting the ship’s propulsion plant through its most strenuous test yet.

Virginia’s initial (or Alpha) sea trials also gave the builders and crew a chance to test the watertight integrity of the ship and to examine major systems, such as the ship’s steering and diving, hydraulics and Emergency Main Ballast Tank Blow System. The three-day trip included evaluating the clearance and watertightness of external and internal hatches and hull fittings, while incrementally taking the ship to test depth. This also allowed the ship to discover any potential rattles or unwanted sounds caused by the compression of the submarine due to the ocean’s pressure on the hull.

This test, the first of many before Virginia’s initial scheduled deployment, was the chance to put to sea the Navy’s first post-Cold War submarine, one designed from blueprint to reality with long-term technological innovation in mind. The submarine boasts multimission capability and will include advanced heavyweight torpedoes, mines and Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs). In addition, Tomahawk missiles will be carried in vertical launch tubes, and it will feature an integral lock-out/lock-in chamber for Special Operations Forces and the ability to carry the Advanced Seal Delivery System (ASDS).

“We don’t know who the next conflict will be against, but the Virginia SSN has the versatility to deal with any foe, whether in a cave hundreds of miles inland, on a freighter smuggling WMDs [weapons of mass destruction], or a navy with a credible submarine or surface force,” said Capt. Dale Nees, the branch head for Submarine Acquisition, Refueling Overhauls, SSBN and SSGN Programs within the Submarine Warfare Division (N77) of the OPNAV staff. “The SSN, with its persistent, clandestine, non-provocative capabilities, provides the President and the joint forces commander with options to execute our national and military strategy.”

Nees said many tests on the propulsion plant and other ship’s systems on Virginia were already done while the ship was in New London. “But you’re talking about a big hunk of steel, welded up on dry land, and filled with complicated and sophisticated equipment,” Nees said. “You have to take it out to sea to find out if it all works as intended.”

With much of the design work on Virginia completed through a first-time use of state-of-the-art computer modeling, the Alpha sea trials also offered the first chance to test systems such as the real-world hydrodynamic effects of the rudder and planes against the design parameters.

In addition to testing the submarine’s equipment, the crew of Virginia has been looking forward to the first chance to take the lead ship of this class to sea. “For a few years now, this crew has been an integral part of the incremental process of completing assembly, testing, quality assurance and the paperwork leading up to the operation of the ship and its systems,” Nees said. “These guys are Sailors first, and like all Sailors, they are anxious to get back to sea.”

The efforts of the plankowners of Virginia have been an important part of the success in delivering the ship, Nees added. “This crew has one of the more demanding jobs in the submarine force. Not only do they have the responsibility of supporting the building of a new ship, but they’ve also been spending countless hours in trainers, classrooms, and many of them have been out on other ships to get or to stay qualified," Nees said. "So not only are they finishing up the transition from shore-based maintenance to a ship ready for sea, they’re also standing watches, performing all the routine maintenance, admin, housekeeping, etc., as well. I’m sure they’re very excited to put the ship to sea.”