WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) completed its most expansive Major Maintenance Period (MMP) July 11, with USS Ohio's (SSGN 726) certification for unrestricted operations.
Major Maintenance Periods are part of a guided missile/special operation forces boat's (SSGN) normal operating cycle and occur after the submarine has been forward deployed for 12 months.
Ohio's fourth MMP since being converted from a ballistic missile submarine included more than 56,400 man-days of work across 110 calendar days, 65 of which were in dry dock.
"Even with the extensive and complex work package, the teamwork between Ohio's crew and the project team to get the job done well was unbeatable," said Jerry Piotrowski, SSGN program superintendent. "This is a testament to the quality craftsmanship of the boat and the skill of the mechanics who accomplished the work.
Additionally, more than 8,000 man-days of contractor work were completed. These efforts included significant upgrades to the navigation, communication, radar, and sonar systems. The shipyard conducted work on the diver air system, superstructure, depth control tanks, air conditioning units, fairwater planes, and a number of seawater and ventilation valves.
Team members from PSNS & IMF's Bangor site made significant contributions in repairing a number of valves, allowing the Machine Shop to complete other work. The team also conducted troubleshooting and repaired several indication issues that had prevented the crew from monitoring water levels and movement remotely from the Ballast Control Panel. Ohio's Blue and Gold crews demonstrated teamwork as they augmented one another to help complete all testing.
PSNSY & IMF is one of four NAVSEA public shipyards that play a major role in maintaining America's fleet and providing wartime surge capability to keep the nation's ships ready for combat.
Showing posts with label USS Ohio SSGN-726. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USS Ohio SSGN-726. Show all posts
Friday, July 20, 2012
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
USS Ohio Crew Readies for Multimission Deployment
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chantel M. Clayton, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West Det. Northwest
SILVERDALE, Wash. (NNS) -- With a major maintenance period completed, the men of the guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726) (Blue) crew are ready to take their boat, June 9, and head back out to sea later this month.
Ohio class guided-missile submarines (SSGN) provide the Navy with an unprecedented combination of strike and special operation mission capability within a stealthy, clandestine platform. Armed with tactical missiles and equipped with superior communications capabilities, SSGNs are capable of directly supporting dozens of special operations forces (SOF).
According to Capt. Murray Gero, Ohio Blue crew commanding officer, the crew is ready to get the boat out to sea and complete missions that she is capable of doing.
"They're excited," said Gero, of the 160-man crew. "The missions that we do are very exciting and challenging. They are very complex, and they involve very close coordination with several outside agencies, including SEALS. They've been home from deployment for almost ten months now, and I think most of us have sea legs that have been screaming to get back to sea."
Ohio has the capability of performing multiple missions, making it a valuable asset to the Navy.
"The ship is capable of as many as five different submarine war missions simultaneously, including surveillance and reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship undersea warfare, and we also do strike missions and special operations," said Gero.
"We carry the capability of carrying two dry deck shelters, which house the SEAL delivery vehicles, and they enable us to deploy and retrieve special ops forces from off-shore."
The boat's capability to carry a heavy load of missiles also makes them a go-to asset for fleet commanders.
"We typically go to sea with over 100 tomahawk missiles, and that basically replaces a tomahawk missile inventory of three surface warships," added Gero.
"This increases the flexibility of the surface fleet, because we basically allow them to reassign those three ships as soon as we get into our operating theater."
Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, said in a recent podcast that the silent service is a method of leveraging the undersea domain.
"We pride ourselves in having the quietest, most efficient, most technologically advanced submarines anywhere; they're expensive, and we never have enough of them," said Willard. "So we in the Pacific Fleet strategically emplace our submarine forces in order to maintain a continuum of operations and give us the capability to surge those submarine forces forward whenever we need them."
Ohio recently completed a major maintenance period (MMP), one month ahead of schedule. Ohio's Gold crew, commanded by Capt. Dennis Carpenter, leveraged the early completion to conduct training out at sea, which was welcomed by the crew.
"The ship has been out of the yards for over a month. Working closely with Captain Carpenter and the Gold crew, we were able to complete the MMP, and that enabled the Gold crew to have the ship and conduct training and midshipmen operations in San Diego for about three weeks," said Gero.
Both the Gold and Blue Ohio crews worked together to ensure the ship successfully completed the MMP, while ensuring the work being done to the ship was completed successfully and correctly.
"We (the Blue crew) took the boat out for about six days in late December so we could get some proficiency and make sure we were able to operate the boat safely," explained Gero. "We started the MMP and spent about seven or eight weeks there, taking apart some of the systems, making some of the repairs and generally trying to oversee the shipyard's repair and installation processes.
"Once we identified that all of the equipment was operating normally, the Gold crew was able to take about two and a half weeks of additional operational time, which is a great training opportunity for them, as well as a great show and tell opportunity for us during the midshipmen training period."
While the Gold crew utilized underway training time, the Blue crew also took advantage of the time available to ensure they were trained by honing in on the skills they need.
"While the Gold crew was working hard to get the ship ready for sea again at the end of MMP, and during midshipmen operations in San Diego the last three weeks, my crew was hard at work here," said Gero. "We just finished a very comprehensive and very challenging command training exercise, or CTE, which is overseen by Submarine Squadron 19 and [Trident Training Facility], where they observed us go through our paces, and our crew came out with flying colors."
SILVERDALE, Wash. (NNS) -- With a major maintenance period completed, the men of the guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726) (Blue) crew are ready to take their boat, June 9, and head back out to sea later this month.
Ohio class guided-missile submarines (SSGN) provide the Navy with an unprecedented combination of strike and special operation mission capability within a stealthy, clandestine platform. Armed with tactical missiles and equipped with superior communications capabilities, SSGNs are capable of directly supporting dozens of special operations forces (SOF).
According to Capt. Murray Gero, Ohio Blue crew commanding officer, the crew is ready to get the boat out to sea and complete missions that she is capable of doing.
"They're excited," said Gero, of the 160-man crew. "The missions that we do are very exciting and challenging. They are very complex, and they involve very close coordination with several outside agencies, including SEALS. They've been home from deployment for almost ten months now, and I think most of us have sea legs that have been screaming to get back to sea."
Ohio has the capability of performing multiple missions, making it a valuable asset to the Navy.
"The ship is capable of as many as five different submarine war missions simultaneously, including surveillance and reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship undersea warfare, and we also do strike missions and special operations," said Gero.
"We carry the capability of carrying two dry deck shelters, which house the SEAL delivery vehicles, and they enable us to deploy and retrieve special ops forces from off-shore."
The boat's capability to carry a heavy load of missiles also makes them a go-to asset for fleet commanders.
"We typically go to sea with over 100 tomahawk missiles, and that basically replaces a tomahawk missile inventory of three surface warships," added Gero.
"This increases the flexibility of the surface fleet, because we basically allow them to reassign those three ships as soon as we get into our operating theater."
Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, said in a recent podcast that the silent service is a method of leveraging the undersea domain.
"We pride ourselves in having the quietest, most efficient, most technologically advanced submarines anywhere; they're expensive, and we never have enough of them," said Willard. "So we in the Pacific Fleet strategically emplace our submarine forces in order to maintain a continuum of operations and give us the capability to surge those submarine forces forward whenever we need them."
Ohio recently completed a major maintenance period (MMP), one month ahead of schedule. Ohio's Gold crew, commanded by Capt. Dennis Carpenter, leveraged the early completion to conduct training out at sea, which was welcomed by the crew.
"The ship has been out of the yards for over a month. Working closely with Captain Carpenter and the Gold crew, we were able to complete the MMP, and that enabled the Gold crew to have the ship and conduct training and midshipmen operations in San Diego for about three weeks," said Gero.
Both the Gold and Blue Ohio crews worked together to ensure the ship successfully completed the MMP, while ensuring the work being done to the ship was completed successfully and correctly.
"We (the Blue crew) took the boat out for about six days in late December so we could get some proficiency and make sure we were able to operate the boat safely," explained Gero. "We started the MMP and spent about seven or eight weeks there, taking apart some of the systems, making some of the repairs and generally trying to oversee the shipyard's repair and installation processes.
"Once we identified that all of the equipment was operating normally, the Gold crew was able to take about two and a half weeks of additional operational time, which is a great training opportunity for them, as well as a great show and tell opportunity for us during the midshipmen training period."
While the Gold crew utilized underway training time, the Blue crew also took advantage of the time available to ensure they were trained by honing in on the skills they need.
"While the Gold crew was working hard to get the ship ready for sea again at the end of MMP, and during midshipmen operations in San Diego the last three weeks, my crew was hard at work here," said Gero. "We just finished a very comprehensive and very challenging command training exercise, or CTE, which is overseen by Submarine Squadron 19 and [Trident Training Facility], where they observed us go through our paces, and our crew came out with flying colors."
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Submarine Wraps up 15-Month Deployment, Celebrates Milestones
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Cynthia Clark, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs
PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- USS Ohio (SSGN 726), the first operational Trident guided-missile submarine, pulled into Naval Station Pearl Harbor Dec. 8, before returning to its homeport of Bangor, Wash., from its maiden deployment.
"It's a great opportunity to be in Hawaii," said USS Ohio Commanding Officer Capt. Dennis Carpenter. "Our ship has been deployed for 15 months, and for a lot of our guys it's their first time here. We're also excited some of the families were able to come out and welcome their guys home in paradise before we actually have to go home to winter."
The submarine departed Naval Base Kitsap, Oct. 14, 2007, for its maiden deployment, which began a month ahead of schedule. Claiming many firsts, Ohio was the first Trident guided-missile submarine to complete an equator and prime meridian crossing, the first to achieve SEAL/diver dry deck shelter certification, the first to complete three highly-successful national tasking missions and the first to earn two Navy Expeditionary Medals.
"It's unprecedented," Carpenter continued. "To get out there and conduct mission after mission and demonstrate to our allies our capabilities; it's extraordinary."
Ohio visited Busan, Republic of Korea; Subic Bay, Philippines; Yokosuka, Japan and Guam, where the submarine conducted crew exchanges between the Blue and Gold crews, which allowed the submarine to remain on station in support of national tasking. During her visit to Busan, Ohio accomplished another submarine first: the ship hosted a joint special operations task force during Exercise Key Resolve/Foal Eagle to demonstrate the joint command and control capability of the new SSGN platform.
"That's the great thing about USS Ohio; we can go anywhere in the world in a relatively short period of time," Carpenter said. "We've put a lot of miles on our submarine."
Another memorable event during Ohio's maiden deployment was the burial at sea of a veteran of World War II. Ohio crew member Machinist's Mate 1st Class (SS) Jason Witty spread the ashes of his grandfather, Eugene Stanley Morgan, in the Philippine Sea, honoring Morgan's request to be buried with his shipmates of the World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35). Morgan was one of 316 survivors of the sinking of the cruiser on July 30, 1945.
Ohio, the first Trident submarine ever built, returned to the fleet February 2006 after a $250 million, year-long refueling and a $750 million, two-year conversion from a ballistic missile submarine. With this conversion, Ohio and the subsequent convert submarines provide the fleet with the ability to quickly embark and deploy to provide command and control functions for special operations forces and a large volume strike platform in its operating theater.
PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- USS Ohio (SSGN 726), the first operational Trident guided-missile submarine, pulled into Naval Station Pearl Harbor Dec. 8, before returning to its homeport of Bangor, Wash., from its maiden deployment.
"It's a great opportunity to be in Hawaii," said USS Ohio Commanding Officer Capt. Dennis Carpenter. "Our ship has been deployed for 15 months, and for a lot of our guys it's their first time here. We're also excited some of the families were able to come out and welcome their guys home in paradise before we actually have to go home to winter."
The submarine departed Naval Base Kitsap, Oct. 14, 2007, for its maiden deployment, which began a month ahead of schedule. Claiming many firsts, Ohio was the first Trident guided-missile submarine to complete an equator and prime meridian crossing, the first to achieve SEAL/diver dry deck shelter certification, the first to complete three highly-successful national tasking missions and the first to earn two Navy Expeditionary Medals.
"It's unprecedented," Carpenter continued. "To get out there and conduct mission after mission and demonstrate to our allies our capabilities; it's extraordinary."
Ohio visited Busan, Republic of Korea; Subic Bay, Philippines; Yokosuka, Japan and Guam, where the submarine conducted crew exchanges between the Blue and Gold crews, which allowed the submarine to remain on station in support of national tasking. During her visit to Busan, Ohio accomplished another submarine first: the ship hosted a joint special operations task force during Exercise Key Resolve/Foal Eagle to demonstrate the joint command and control capability of the new SSGN platform.
"That's the great thing about USS Ohio; we can go anywhere in the world in a relatively short period of time," Carpenter said. "We've put a lot of miles on our submarine."
Another memorable event during Ohio's maiden deployment was the burial at sea of a veteran of World War II. Ohio crew member Machinist's Mate 1st Class (SS) Jason Witty spread the ashes of his grandfather, Eugene Stanley Morgan, in the Philippine Sea, honoring Morgan's request to be buried with his shipmates of the World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35). Morgan was one of 316 survivors of the sinking of the cruiser on July 30, 1945.
Ohio, the first Trident submarine ever built, returned to the fleet February 2006 after a $250 million, year-long refueling and a $750 million, two-year conversion from a ballistic missile submarine. With this conversion, Ohio and the subsequent convert submarines provide the fleet with the ability to quickly embark and deploy to provide command and control functions for special operations forces and a large volume strike platform in its operating theater.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
USS Ohio Departs for Maiden Deployment
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Maebel Tinoko, Fleet Public Affairs Center Det. Northwest
USS Ohio (SSGN 726) departed from Naval Base (NB) Kitsap, Bremerton delta pier for her maiden deployment as a guided-missile submarine, Oct. 14.
Ohio was recently converted from a ballistic missile submarine to a guided-missile submarine and was the first of four in its class to undergo the conversion.
"Today is a very special day for the Sailors on board the USS Ohio and this marks a major installment for the nation," said Rear Adm. Frank M. Drennan, commander Submarine Group TRIDENT. "We took a covert platform with immense volume and created a base at sea for special operations forces."
In December, Ohio completed its conversion to a guided-missile submarine and is now capable of hauling more than 150 Tomahawk cruise missiles and more than 60 special operations force members for extended periods of time. This conversion is a colossal step forward in the Navy's ability to continue to provide a forward deployed presence.
"We made a pledge to the nation five years ago and today, we proved our promise to revolutionize an old platform and transform it to something that's more relevant with more capabilities and additional striking power," said Drennan.
"I feel great to be part of the newest and greatest submarine in the fleet," said Fire Control Technician 3rd Class (SS) Nathanial Couch. "This is an amazing submarine and a very valuable tool for the Navy."
The new and improved submarine platform provides national decision makers with robust conventional missile strike capabilities and the ability to embark, deploy and provide command and control functions for special operations forces.
Ohio was the first Trident submarine ever built. The ship entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Nov. 15, 2002.
USS Michigan (SSGN 727) and USS Florida (SSGN 728) have also completed their conversion process and are in the testing and certification phase. USS Georgia (SSGN 729) is scheduled to complete its conversion later this year.
"This submarine was the first SSBN submarine in our fleet years ago and she's always been number one," said Drennan. "Today, once again, she is back to being number one."
USS Ohio (SSGN 726) departed from Naval Base (NB) Kitsap, Bremerton delta pier for her maiden deployment as a guided-missile submarine, Oct. 14.
Ohio was recently converted from a ballistic missile submarine to a guided-missile submarine and was the first of four in its class to undergo the conversion.
"Today is a very special day for the Sailors on board the USS Ohio and this marks a major installment for the nation," said Rear Adm. Frank M. Drennan, commander Submarine Group TRIDENT. "We took a covert platform with immense volume and created a base at sea for special operations forces."
In December, Ohio completed its conversion to a guided-missile submarine and is now capable of hauling more than 150 Tomahawk cruise missiles and more than 60 special operations force members for extended periods of time. This conversion is a colossal step forward in the Navy's ability to continue to provide a forward deployed presence.
"We made a pledge to the nation five years ago and today, we proved our promise to revolutionize an old platform and transform it to something that's more relevant with more capabilities and additional striking power," said Drennan.
"I feel great to be part of the newest and greatest submarine in the fleet," said Fire Control Technician 3rd Class (SS) Nathanial Couch. "This is an amazing submarine and a very valuable tool for the Navy."
The new and improved submarine platform provides national decision makers with robust conventional missile strike capabilities and the ability to embark, deploy and provide command and control functions for special operations forces.
Ohio was the first Trident submarine ever built. The ship entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Nov. 15, 2002.
USS Michigan (SSGN 727) and USS Florida (SSGN 728) have also completed their conversion process and are in the testing and certification phase. USS Georgia (SSGN 729) is scheduled to complete its conversion later this year.
"This submarine was the first SSBN submarine in our fleet years ago and she's always been number one," said Drennan. "Today, once again, she is back to being number one."
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