USS Columbus (SSN-762)

Last updated

980604-N-7726D-002 Submarine Emergency Surfacing Drill.jpg
Columbus performing an Emergency main ballast tank blow in 1998
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NameUSS Columbus
NamesakeThe City of Columbus, Ohio
Awarded21 March 1986
Builder General Dynamics Electric Boat
Laid down9 January 1991
Launched1 August 1992
Sponsored byMargaret DeMars [1]
Commissioned24 July 1993
Homeport Naval Station Pearl Harbor (Currently Newport News Shipbuilding for overhaul. [2] )
MottoAll Seas Are Navigable [3]
StatusIn active service
Badge 762insig.png
General characteristics
Class and type Los Angeles-class submarine
Displacement
  • 6,000 long tons (6,096 t) light
  • 6,927 long tons (7,038 t) full
  • 927 long tons (942 t) dead
Length110.3 m (361 ft 11 in)
Beam10 m (32 ft 10 in)
Draft9.4 m (30 ft 10 in)
Propulsion
  • 1 × S6G PWR nuclear reactor with D2W core (165 MW), HEU 93.5% [4] [5]
  • 2 × steam turbines (33,500) shp
  • 1 × shaft
  • 1 × secondary propulsion motor 325 hp (242 kW)
Speed
  • Surfaced:20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h)
  • Submerged: +20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h) (official)
Complement12 officers, 98 men
Sensors and
processing systems		BQQ-5 passive sonar, BQS-15 detecting and ranging sonar, WLR-8 fire control radar receiver, WLR-9 acoustic receiver for detection of active search sonar and acoustic homing torpedoes, BRD-7 radio direction finder
Armament4 × 21 in (533 mm) bow tubes, 10 Mk48 ADCAP torpedo reloads, Tomahawk land attack missile block 3 SLCM range 1,700 nautical miles (3,100 km), Harpoon anti–surface ship missile range 70 nautical miles (130 km), mine laying Mk67 mobile Mk60 captor mines

USS Columbus (SSN-762) is a Los Angeles-class nuclear powered fast attack submarine and the second vessel of the United States Navy to be named for Columbus, Ohio. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 21 March 1986 and her keel was laid down on 9 January 1991. She was launched on 1 August 1992 sponsored by Mrs. Margaret DeMars, wife of Admiral Bruce DeMars and commissioned on 24 July 1993.

Contents

Operational history

Columbus completed a Post Shipyard Availability in June 1994 in Groton, Connecticut after initial construction and shakedown operations. In September 1994, the submarine conducted an interfleet transfer to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and joined the U.S. Pacific Fleet Submarine Force. Columbus deployed to the Western Pacific in late 1995 through early 1996 and conducted a variety of operations as a unit of the Seventh Fleet along the way making port visits in Hong Kong, Subic Bay, Guam, and Yokosuka, Japan. [6]

Columbus was the first submarine equipped with the BYG-1 Fire Control System in December 2002. [7] Two successful test launches of Tactical Tomahawk (Block IV) cruise missiles were conducted in late May 2003 from Columbus, while underway in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California. [8] Columbus departed Pearl Harbor for another western Pacific deployment in late 2003, [9] and visited Jinhae-gu, South Korea, Singapore, and Japan while taking part in Annual-Ex 2003, an exercise with various units of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. [10]

In mid-April 2006 seven Columbus crewmen were charged with a variety of offenses, including assault, dereliction of duty, and hazing, for alleged attacks on two of their shipmates. The accused range from a petty officer third class (E-4) to a senior chief (E-8). [11] A complete report on the situation was completed on 30 May. On 13 June, the Navy announced the dismissal of Columbus's commanding officer, Commander Charles Marquez because of concerns about his "ability to establish and maintain appropriate standards of professional conduct, provide the crew a safe, positive, professional environment in which to work, and maintain good order and discipline". [12] [13] Captain Brian McIlvaine, former commanding officer of USS Ohio (SSGN-726), replaced Marquez temporarily. After a few months in command CAPT McIlvaine was replaced with CDR James Doody. At the end of a DMP (depot modernization period) In Bremerton, Washington, Columbus relocated back to Pearl Harbor on 22 December 2006.

Following a modernization refit at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard from 2004 to 2006 in Bremerton, Washington, Columbus returned to Submarine Squadron Seven in Pearl Harbor. She departed in March 2008 for a regularly scheduled six-month deployment with the Seventh Fleet. Columbus supported national taskings and theater security cooperation efforts while making port visits in Saipan, Guam, Okinawa, Sasebo, and Yokosuka, Japan. [14] In January 2009 Columbus was awarded the Submarine Squadron Seven Battle Efficiency (Battle "E") award, given to the submarine crew that best demonstrates technical proficiency and continual mission readiness throughout the previous year. [15]

In July 2009 Admiral Gary Roughead, the Chief of Naval Operations, announced that Columbus was the Pacific Fleet winner of the 2008 Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy. [16]

Columbus returned to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in August 2012 after completing a six-month deployment that included Seventh Fleet and national mission tasking along with port visits to Japan, South Korea, and Guam. [17] Columbus arrived in the South Korean southern port city of Busan on 3 March 2014 as a part of a scheduled deployment in the Western Pacific. [18] In September 2017, Columbus returned to Pearl Harbor from a six-month deployment having performing three national tasking periods, two theater operation periods, and a multinational exercise. Columbus also enjoyed four port visits, including Singapore and Guam. [19]

Columbus is currently in drydock in Newport News Shipbuilding for overhaul.

General Dynamics Electric Boat employees on the day of USS Columbus's Launch Columbus launch day.jpg
General Dynamics Electric Boat employees on the day of USS Columbus's Launch

Awards

1995
Pacific Fleet Golden Anchor Award
Red Engineering "E"
Yellow Medical "M"
1996
Meritorious Unit Commendation [20]
1997
Supply Blue "E"
1998
Pacific Fleet Silver Anchor Award
Engineering "E"
Deck Seamanship [21]
2002
Red Green Navigational "N"
2003
Navy Unit Commendation
Tactical "T"
Communications "C"
2004
Medical "M" [22]
2008
Department of the Navy Safety Excellence Award [23]
Damage Control 'DC', Navigation 'N', Communications 'C', and Supply Blue 'E' [24]
Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy [16]
Squadron 7 Battle "E" Efficiency Award [25]
Meritorious Unit Commendation
2012
Squadron 7 Battle "E" Efficiency Award [26]
2014
Communications 'C', Information Dominance 'I', and Weapons 'W'

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Omaha</i> (SSN-692) Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy

USS Omaha (SSN-692), a Los Angeles-class submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Omaha, Nebraska. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 31 January 1971 and her keel was laid down on 27 January 1973. She was launched on 21 February 1976 sponsored by Mrs. Victoria Kuncl Hruska, wife of Senator Roman L. Hruska, and commissioned on 11 March 1978.

USS <i>Los Angeles</i> (SSN-688) Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy

USS Los Angeles (SSN-688), lead ship of her class of submarines, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for Los Angeles, California. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 8 January 1971 and her keel was laid down on 8 January 1972. She was launched on 6 April 1974 sponsored by Anne Armstrong, and commissioned on 13 November 1976. She hosted President Jimmy Carter and the First Lady on 27 May 1977 for an at-sea demonstration of her capabilities. In 2007 she was the oldest submarine in active service with the United States Navy. The Navy decommissioned Los Angeles on 23 January 2010, in the Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, her namesake city.

USS <i>Hawkbill</i> (SSN-666) Sturgeon-class attack submarine of the United States Navy

USS Hawkbill (SSN-666), a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the hawksbill, a large sea turtle. The name perpetuated the inadvertent misspelling of "hawksbill" in the naming of the first ship of that name, USS Hawkbill (SS-366), a Balao-class submarine launched in 1944. USS Hawkbill (SSN-666) was the eighteenth of 39 Sturgeon-class nuclear-powered submarines that were built.

USS <i>Plunger</i> (SSN-595) Submarine of the United States Photograph of Plunger is of the PORT bow.

USS Plunger (SSN-595), a Permit-class submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named "plunger", meaning a diver or a daring gambler.

USS <i>Flasher</i> (SSN-613) Submarine of the United States

USS Flasher (SSN-613), a Permit-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the flasher, a member of the fish family Lobotidae, which have an unusual placement of the second dorsal and anal fins, posteriorly located on the body, close to the tail.

USS <i>San Francisco</i> (SSN-711) Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy

USS San Francisco (SSN-711) is a Los Angeles-class nuclear submarine, the third ship or boat of the United States Navy to be named for San Francisco, California.

USS <i>Tautog</i> (SSN-639) Submarine of the United States

USS Tautog (SSN-639), a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the tautog, a wrasse commonly found along the Northern Atlantic coast. The submarine was in service from 17 August 1968 to 31 March 1997.

USS <i>Drum</i> (SSN-677) Submarine of the United States

USS Drum (SSN-677), a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the drum, also known as the croaker or hardhead, any of various fishes of the Sciaenidae family, capable of making a drumming noise and best known on the Atlantic coast of North America.

USS <i>Springfield</i> (SSN-761) Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy

USS Springfield (SSN-761), a Los Angeles-class submarine, is the fourth ship of the United States Navy to bear the name. The boat was named in honor of both the cities of Springfield, Illinois and Springfield, Massachusetts.

USS <i>Topeka</i> (SSN-754) Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy

USS Topeka (SSN-754) is a Los Angeles-class submarine and the third United States Navy vessel to be named for Topeka, Kansas. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 28 November 1983 and her keel was laid down on 13 May 1986. She was launched on 23 January 1988, sponsored by Elizabeth Dole, and commissioned on 21 October 1989.

USS <i>Columbia</i> (SSN-771) Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy

USS Columbia (SSN-771) is the 21st flight III, or Improved (688i) Los Angeles-class attack submarine of the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1995, the submarine is assigned to Submarine Squadron 7 and homeported in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

USS <i>Hampton</i> (SSN-767) Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy

USS Hampton (SSN-767), a Los Angeles-class submarine, is the fourth ship of the United States Navy to bear this name. The earlier Hamptons were given their names for varying reasons, but SSN-767 was specifically named for four cities: Hampton, Virginia; Hampton, Iowa; Hampton, South Carolina; and Hampton, New Hampshire. There are 14 more "Hampton" towns in the United States.

USS <i>Buffalo</i> (SSN-715) Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy

USS Buffalo (SSN-715) was a Los Angeles-class submarine, the second vessel that actively served the United States Navy to be named for Buffalo, New York. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 23 February 1976, and her keel was laid down on 25 January 1980. She was launched on 8 May 1982 sponsored by Mrs. Joanne Kemp, wife of former Buffalo Bills quarterback and New York's 31st congressional district representative Jack Kemp, who was credited with winning approval to name the ship after the city in his district. Buffalo was commissioned on 5 November 1983, with Commander G. Michael Hewitt in command. Buffalo was decommissioned on 30 January 2019 after 35 years of service.

USS <i>Chicago</i> (SSN-721) Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy

USS Chicago (SSN-721) is a Los Angeles-class submarine, the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the city of Chicago, Illinois. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 13 August 1981 and her keel was laid down on 5 January 1983. She was launched on 13 October 1984 sponsored by Mrs. Vicki Ann Paisley, wife of Melvyn R. Paisley assistant Secretary of the Navy, and commissioned on 27 September 1986. The Chicago was retired in 2023.

USS <i>Key West</i> (SSN-722) Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy

USS Key West (SSN-722), a Los Angeles-class submarine, is the third ship of the United States Navy to be named after Key West, Florida.

USS <i>Santa Fe</i> (SSN-763) Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy

USS Santa Fe (SSN-763), a Los Angeles-class submarine, is the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Santa Fe, New Mexico. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 21 March 1986 and her keel was laid down on 9 July 1991. She was launched on 12 December 1992 sponsored by Mrs. Joy Johnson, and commissioned on 8 January 1994, with Commander Rodger P. Krull in command.

USS <i>Emory S. Land</i> Tender of the United States Navy

USS Emory S. Land (AS-39) is a United States Navy submarine tender and the lead ship of her class. She was named for Admiral Emory S. Land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Submarine Squadron 3</span> Military unit

Submarine Squadron 3 was a squadron of submarines of the United States Navy based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Pearl Harbor, HI which was disestablished in 2012.

Submarine Squadron 7 is a squadron of submarines of the United States Navy based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Pearl Harbor, HI under the command of Captain Dave Cox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Submarine Squadron 15</span> Military unit

Submarine Squadron 15 is a squadron of submarines of the United States Navy based at Naval Base Guam.

References

  1. ↑ "Columbus (SSN-762)". history.navy.mil. 8 September 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  2. ↑ "Huntington Ingalls Industries wins $115m contract for USS Columbus overhaul". 25 April 2023.
  3. ↑ "USS Columbus SSN-762 Los Angeles class attack submarine US Navy". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  4. ↑ "International Panel on Fissile Materials". fissilematerials.org. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  5. ↑ "Validation of the Use of Low Enriched Uranium as a Replacement for Highly Enriched Uranium in US Submarine Reactors" (PDF). dspace.mit.edu. June 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  6. ↑ "USS 'Columbus' command history 1996" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 7 March 1997. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  7. ↑ "USS 'Columbus' command history 2002" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 12 September 2003. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  8. ↑ Schroeder, Sandra (27 May 2003). "Submarine USS Columbus Launches Tomahawks in West Coast Tests". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  9. ↑ Rush, David (29 October 2003). "USS Columbus Deploys to Western Pacific". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  10. ↑ "USS 'Columbus' command history 2004" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 1 April 2005. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  11. ↑ Navy Times [ permanent dead link ]
  12. ↑ Seattle Post-Intelligencer [ permanent dead link ]
  13. ↑ Seattle Post-Intelligencer
  14. ↑ Clark, Cynthia (13 September 2008). "USS Columbus Returns to Pearl Harbor". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  15. ↑ Marano, Luciano (8 January 2009). "USS Columbus receives Battle Efficiency award". Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  16. 1 2 Roughead, Gary (9 July 2009). "Calendar Year 2008 Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy Award Recipients". Chief of Naval Operations. Archived from the original on 18 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019– via NAVADMIN Library.
  17. ↑ "Columbus Completes Deployment". Ho'okele Pearl Harbor Hickam News. 31 August 2012. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  18. ↑ "Nuclear-powered U.S. submarine arrives in S. Korea". Xinhua News Agency. 3 March 2014. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017.
  19. ↑ "USS Columbus Returns Home From Deployment". DVIDS . 1 September 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  20. ↑ "USS 'Columbus' Command history 1997" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 1 March 1998. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  21. ↑ "USS 'Columbus' command history 1998" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 31 March 1999. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  22. ↑ "USS Columbus gets a new boss". The Northwest Navigator. 1 October 2004. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  23. ↑ "2008 DON Safety Excellence Award Recipients Announced". U.S. Navy Task Force 74. 22 August 2008. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  24. ↑ "The Battle 'E' Winners!". Anything But Dependent Blog. 10 January 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  25. ↑ Lohmeyer, Dean. "Submarine Force Announces Battle "E" Winners". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  26. ↑ "Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet announces 2012 Battle Efficiency award winners". COMSUBPAC . 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.

This article includes information collected from the public domain sources Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships and Naval Vessel Register .

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.