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USS Connecticut (SSN-22)
Encyclopedia
USS Connecticut (SSN-22), a Seawolf-class submarine
, is the fifth ship of the United States Navy
to be named for the fifth state
.
The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat
Division of General Dynamics
Corporation in Groton, Connecticut
on 3 May 1991 and her keel was laid down on 14 September 1992. She was launched
on 1 September 1997 sponsored by Patricia L. Rowland, wife of the Governor of Connecticut, John G. Rowland
, and commissioned
on 11 December 1998 with Captain Larry Davis in command.
1999 was spent conducting shakedown operations that evaluated Connecticuts weapons systems, sensors, stealth and engineering proficiency. She participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 2-99 as an opposing force asset, and completed acoustic trials, a shallow water exercise, and an anti-submarine warfare exercise.
In September 1999 Connecticut began a Post-Shakedown Availability (PSA) at the Electric Boat shipyard. Despite 100 percent growth in the amount of PSA work, making this the submarine force's most demanding PSA, Connecticut completed all work ahead of schedule. Additionally, this PSA concluded as the safest in the 100-year history of Electric Boat.
In April 2003, Connecticut surfaced through the Arctic ice at the University of Washington
's Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station
(APLIS). While there, she came under attack by a polar bear
, which gnawed on her rudder for a while before disengaging. Connecticut was able to complete her mission and return to base under her own power.
On 31 March 2004 Connecticut put to sea in support of the War on Terrorism
as part of the Wasp
Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), returning to NSB New London
on 2 September with a pierside band blasting Thin Lizzy
's "The Boys Are Back in Town
". For the next three years, the Connecticut was largely confined to port as she underwent a prolonged maintenance cycle.
In early 2007, it was announced that the Connecticut would be transferred to Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton
, in Washington's Puget Sound
, following a six-month deployment commencing on 25 July 2007. She would be the last of the Navy's three Seawolf-class submarines to be transferred from New London to Kitsap as part of a larger U.S. Navy realignment shifting 60 percent of the fleet's submarines to the Pacific. Upon arrival at Kitsap on 30 January 2008, the Connecticut joined her Seawolf sisters in Submarine Development Squadron Five.
In early 2011 the USS Connecticut participated in ICEX 2011 in order to "train today’s submarines in the challenging Arctic environment,” as well as "refine and validate procedures and required equipment."
Seawolf class submarine
The Seawolf class is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines in service with the United States Navy. The class was the intended successor to the , ordered at the end of the Cold War in 1989. At one time, an intended fleet of 29 submarines was to be built over a ten-year period, later...
, is the fifth ship of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
to be named for the fifth state
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat
Electric boat
While a significant majority of water vessels are powered by diesel engines, with sail power and gasoline engines also remaining popular, boats powered by electricity have been used for over 120 years. Electric boats were very popular from the 1880s until the 1920s, when the internal combustion...
Division of General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
Corporation in Groton, Connecticut
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
on 3 May 1991 and her keel was laid down on 14 September 1992. She was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 1 September 1997 sponsored by Patricia L. Rowland, wife of the Governor of Connecticut, John G. Rowland
John G. Rowland
John Grosvenor Rowland was the 86th Governor of Connecticut from 1995 to 2004; he is a member of the Republican Party. He is married to Patty Rowland, his second wife, and the couple have five children between them...
, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 11 December 1998 with Captain Larry Davis in command.
1999 was spent conducting shakedown operations that evaluated Connecticuts weapons systems, sensors, stealth and engineering proficiency. She participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 2-99 as an opposing force asset, and completed acoustic trials, a shallow water exercise, and an anti-submarine warfare exercise.
In September 1999 Connecticut began a Post-Shakedown Availability (PSA) at the Electric Boat shipyard. Despite 100 percent growth in the amount of PSA work, making this the submarine force's most demanding PSA, Connecticut completed all work ahead of schedule. Additionally, this PSA concluded as the safest in the 100-year history of Electric Boat.
In April 2003, Connecticut surfaced through the Arctic ice at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
's Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station
Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station
The Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station 2007 is an U.S.A. and Japanese laboratory dedicated to the study of global climate change, located about 300km south of the Arctic Circle, Alaska on the West Ridge of the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus.- Background and purpose :Citing the home...
(APLIS). While there, she came under attack by a polar bear
Polar Bear
The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size...
, which gnawed on her rudder for a while before disengaging. Connecticut was able to complete her mission and return to base under her own power.
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
as part of the Wasp
USS Wasp (LHD-1)
USS Wasp is a U.S. Navy multipurpose amphibious assault ship, the tenth to bear the name, the flagship of the Second Fleet and the lead ship of her class. She was built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding division of Litton in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Navy-Marine Corps team's newest amphibious warship...
Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), returning to NSB New London
Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London is the United States Navy's primary submarine base, the "Home of the Submarine Force", and "the Submarine Capital of the World".-History:...
on 2 September with a pierside band blasting Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
's "The Boys Are Back in Town
The Boys Are Back in Town
"The Boys Are Back in Town" is a single from Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy. The song came out in 1976 on their album Jailbreak. It was honoured with the 499th position among the 2004 Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, though it was not included in the 2010 update...
". For the next three years, the Connecticut was largely confined to port as she underwent a prolonged maintenance cycle.
In early 2007, it was announced that the Connecticut would be transferred to Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton
Naval Base Kitsap
Naval Base Kitsap is a U.S. Navy base located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state. It was created in 2004 by merging the former Naval Station Bremerton with Naval Submarine Base Bangor...
, in Washington's Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
, following a six-month deployment commencing on 25 July 2007. She would be the last of the Navy's three Seawolf-class submarines to be transferred from New London to Kitsap as part of a larger U.S. Navy realignment shifting 60 percent of the fleet's submarines to the Pacific. Upon arrival at Kitsap on 30 January 2008, the Connecticut joined her Seawolf sisters in Submarine Development Squadron Five.
In early 2011 the USS Connecticut participated in ICEX 2011 in order to "train today’s submarines in the challenging Arctic environment,” as well as "refine and validate procedures and required equipment."