USS Colorado (SSN 788) Commissioning Committee Presentation to Pueblo City Council March 28, 2016 John J. Mackin, CAPT USN (Ret.) Chairman
USS Colorado (SSN 788) On June 25, 2012 Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced naming of 15 th Virginia Class submarine, USS Colorado (SSN 788) at ceremonies at the State Capitol Construction started March 2012 Being built at Electric Boat Facility in Groton, CT Scheduled to be commissioned early 2017 4 th ship named Colorado
USS Colorado A Proud History USS Colorado (BB-45) Active service: 1923 1947 Lead ship of class Earned 7 battle stars during WW II USS Colorado (ACR-7)=>(CA-7) Active service: 1905-1927 Pennsylvania Class Armored Cruiser Renamed Pueblo in 1916 to make way for BB-45 Service in WW I USS Colorado Active service 1858-1876 Three-masted steam screw frigate Action during Civil War
Virginia Class Submarines Length: 377 ft. Beam: 34 ft. Displacement: 7800 tons Speed: > 25 knots Max operating depth: > 800 ft. Propulsion: S9G Rx, 40,000 SHP 33 Year service life Cost: ~ $2.6B Crew: 120 enlisted, 14 officers Armament: 4 Torpedo Tubes 12 Vertical Launch (VLS) Missile tubes for Tomahawks New Technology Photonics mast Reactor core - life of ship Pump Jet propulsor Large Aperture Bow (LAB) sonar array 2 large diameter tubes hold 12 Tomahawk missiles
Virginia Class Improvements Have "photonics masts" instead of traditional periscopes allows more flexibility in design of ship. Masts contains high-resolution cameras with light-intensification and infrared sensors, an infrared laser rangefinder, and an integrated Electronic Support Measures (ESM) array. Reactor core (fuel) is Life of Ship, no refueling required Refueling requires extensive shipyard time to cut hole in pressure hull to remove & replace core. New Pump-jet propulsor for quieting instead of traditional propeller. Reconfigurable Torpedo Room to support SEAL Ops Lock-in/Lock-out chamber Fly-by-wire ship control system for improved shallow water depth control Block III Improvements: New Sonar Array Large Aperture Bow (LAB) Array (Block IV) Two large diameter Virginia Payload Tubes (VPT) each canister capable of holding six Tomahawk cruise missiles
Submarine Construction It takes about 5 years to build a submarine Teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Newport New Shipbuilding Modules are fabricated at Newport News, VA and Quonset Point, RI. Modules are then shipped by barge to final construction yard, for Colorado is Electric Boat, Groton, CT
USS Colorado Milestones Initial Crew Manning: July 2014 Keel Laying: March 7, 2015 Christening: Late Summer 2016 Commissioning: Early 2017
Keel Laying Keel Laying Ceremony: March 7, 2015 Small ceremony that celebrates the start of construction of a ship. Although there is no true keel on an SSN, the sponsor initials a steel plate, and her initials are then welded in place and the plate is mounted permanently in the ship. Ship s Sponsor is Annie Mabus, daughter of Secretary of the Navy
Keel Laying EB manufacturing facility, Kingston, RI Annie Mabus chalks her initials on steel plate Sec y. of State Wayne Williams presenting Colorado State Flag to CO, CDR Franklin Initials being welded
Stern Section Stern Section Arrives in Groton, April 2015 Stern Section at manufacturing facility Kingston, RI
Bow Section Bow Section arrives in Groton, July 2015 Bow Section in East River being transported from Newport News, VA
Christening Launch/Christening: Late Summer 2016 Christening is a shipyard ceremony designed to celebrate the floatoff or wetting of the ship. Unlike in days past, submarines no longer slide down the ways. Ceremony culminates in the bottle break (typically 3,000 or more people in attendance) and concludes with a reception attended by about 800 people. Much work still needs to be done at this point, completing internal systems and testing before they are accepted. Nuclear systems testing is very extensive.
Commissioning Early 2017 Commissioning The naval commissioning ceremony has been a tradition of all navies for centuries. It is the Navy ceremony designed to celebrate the formal induction of the ship into the fleet. It s essence is the ship s acceptance by the Navy, entitling her thereafter to fly the commission pennant and to be designated a U.S. Navy ship. When the order is given to man our ship and bring her to life the crew will run on board to music from the Navy band. Normally takes place over two days in Groton, CT for EB boats. While not required, it is traditional for the commissioning community to host activities incident to the commissioning ceremony.
About the Crew USS Colorado will be manned by a crew of 134 officers and sailors Crew will come from all states All are volunteers for submarine service Submariners require extensive training. Some attend a year or more of Navy schools prior to reporting. To qualify in Submarines and earn the privilege of wearing dolphins, crewmembers must qualify on all major systems throughout the boat.
Commissioning Committee Purpose of Commissioning Committee: Raise awareness within the state about the construction and commissioning. Create enthusiasm and support. Promote relations between the state and the ship's crew. Initiate a long-term relationship. Coordinate activities surrounding the commissioning. Raise funds and finance traditional events and activities associated with these objectives.
Activities USS Colorado License Plate Bill signed 6/14, went on sale in January Keel Laying Ceremony March 7, 2015 at Electric Boat Facility in Rhode Island Ship s Crest Design Contest Winner announced April 29, 2015 Crew Visit April 27-30, 2015 History Colorado Event July 29, 2015 Crew Visit December 12-15, 2015 Merchandise for Sale Online at www.coloradocommittee.org
Crew Visit April 2015 Crew Displaying Ship s Crest at Governor s Mansion Crew honored in Colorado Legislature Visit to University Memorial Center at CU Boulder Broncos Training Camp
History Colorado July 29, 2015 An Evening with Historians, Scholars and Veterans Andy Palenchar, WWII Submarine Veteran. Helped rescue LTJG G. H. W. Bush. Retired Lt. Col., US Army Panel moderated by Steffan Tubbs Ken Jones, served on Battleship Colorado during WWII. Present in Tokyo Bay at signing of Japanese surrender 85 guests attended
Crew Visit December 2015 SN Kane being awarded his Dolphins Crew members at Broncos Stadium Crew members being interviewed at Channel 9
Other Activities/Future Plans Community Outreach Civic, Veterans organizations Social Media Website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn Presenting Sponsor Richmond American Homes Foundation USS Colorado beer (Left Hand) & wine (Balistreri) Future events Reception April 8 - Balistreri Vineyards VADM (Ret.) Donnelly Early May Left Hand Brewery Brew Day Bolder Boulder Gala and Auction July 30 Other sports teams recognition
Fundraising Goal $400,000 Money raised will be used to: Fund traditional activities during Commissioning Week Fund visits by crewmembers to Colorado during the construction period Provide for habitability upgrades to improve shipboard conditions for the crew Funds raised in excess of requirements will be donated to benefit the crew and families and to promote continued relationship with state
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