Utopia Talk / Politics / Virginia class, the Navy’s Quiet Sub

Hot Rod Revved Up	Mon Dec 11 02:21:19 You guys probably know all about this, but it is the first I hears of it. Sounds impressive. the Virginia class, the U.S. Navy’s next generation of subs. US Navy Accepts Delivery of New Nuclear Attack Submarine The USS Colorado (SSN-788), the 15th boat of the Virginia-class By Franz-Stefan Gady September 26, 2017 The U.S. Navy has accepted delivery of the Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine USS Colorado (SSN-788), the 15th boat of the Virginia-class, on September 21, the service announced in a statement. “This next-generation attack submarine provides the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation’s undersea superiority,” the press releases states. It is the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be commissioned with the name Colorado. Construction of the boat began in 2012. Virginia-class SSNs are built in block increments, with Block I and Block II already delivered to the U.S. Navy. The USS Colorado is the fifth Virginia-class Block III submarine featuring a redesigned bow with increased payload capabilities. As I explained elsewhere (See: “US Subs Getting Fire Power Boost”), Block III subs are fitted with the so-called Virginia Payload Modules (VPM): Enjoying this article? Click here to subscribe for full access. Just $5 a month. While the first 10 Block I and Block II Virginia-class submarines feature 12 individual 21-inch diameter vertical launch tubes able to fire Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMS), “the Block III submarines are built with two-larger 87-inch diameter tubes able to house six TLAMS each,” according to the U.S. Navy website. The new 87-inch tubes have been designed to accommodate future missile systems in addition to the Tomahawk. In addition, Virginia-class Block III boats are equipped with four torpedo tubes for MK48 torpedoes. Furthermore, next to a redesigned bow, Block III Virginia-class boats also contain “a water-backed Large Aperture Bow (LAB) sonar array that replaces the air-backed sonar sphere found in the first 10 Virginias.” This, in combination with the its so-called fly-by-wire capability, enables the boat to perform important intelligence and surveillance missions. “Colorado’s delivery brings another Block III Virginia-class submarine to the fleet within budget. The submarine’s outstanding quality continues the Program’s tradition of delivering combat ready submarines to the fleet,” said Captain Mike Stevens, Virginia-class submarine program manager. “The Colorado is the most capable Virginia-class submarine bringing advanced capabilities and technology to the Navy fleet.” Virginia-class subs are multipurpose platforms designed “to fulfill the seven core competencies of the U.S. Navy’s submarine force: anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; delivery of special operations forces; strike warfare; irregular warfare; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and mine warfare,” as I explained elsewhere. In May, the U.S. Navy took delivery of the USS Washington, the 14th boat of the Virginia-class following the successful completion of sea trials off the coast of Virginia in early April. The U.S. Navy plans to induct up to 51 boats of the class in years ahead. http://the...-new-nuclear-attack-submarine/
Aeros Member	Mon Dec 11 08:23:09 They are impressive ships, though relatively untested in actual combat scenarios. The Navy has kept their full capalities a closely guarded secret.
Hot Rod Revved Up	Mon Dec 11 08:32:34 I saw one article that said they are ***VERY*** quiet.
LazyCommunist Member	Mon Dec 11 08:53:28 I wait for the news reports about collisions with fishing boats.
State Department Member	Mon Dec 11 09:39:50 It's so quiet that it's doubtful their sonar would even pick it up. And if it did, it would sound like whales humping or a seismic anomaly. Anything but a submarine.
Hot Rod Revved Up	Mon Dec 11 11:03:34 You've been watching Hunt for Red October too much.
Paramount Member	Mon Dec 11 11:21:55 Well, how fast is it? Can it sail to China in a day?
Hot Rod Revved Up	Mon Dec 11 12:35:07 Probably not, but I would bet it could lurk off the coast of China for long periods and the Chinese would never know they were there. There are probably two or three at least off the coast of North Korea right now.
State Department Member	Mon Dec 11 12:46:15 http://i.imgflip.com/20vxs7.jpg
Hot Rod Revved Up	Mon Dec 11 13:02:16 I would say you better get to the store and buy some. Company will be here in an hour and they can't eat off paper plates.
jergul large member	Mon Dec 11 13:38:47 State Department Fishing vessels don't use passive sonar. HR You may want to do a recount. 1/3rd of submarines are typically in position (on patrol) at any given time. 1/3rd in transit. 1/3rd in port. The US has more task appropriate submarines for hanging around off North Korea in any event.
jergul large member	Mon Dec 11 15:04:53 16 in service 2 (6) in Persian Gulf or Red Sea or Indian Ocean 1 (3) in Barents, North Atlantic, North Sea. 1 (3) in Med and Bay of Biscay 1 (3) off Taiwan Something like that. They are in relatively constrained waters with strategic importance. The Navy would undoubtably want more of them watching for boomers. Tasked to older vessels. It can actually only move 1 (3) from the PG to elsewhere. Lots of ocean. Not very many Virginian class subs. Thats global posture for you.
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