Virginia class on TV

[bigdave]

Next Wednesday on Science CH at 9:00.
Impossible Engineering. Building a Virginia class sub. Looks good. BD

[bigdave]

Not a bad show.
Some good shots of Assy.
Question.
I know the parts are final assembled at Groton. But where is the other big plant located where they made the sub (pun) assemblies? Looked like a big plant.
Rolling that pressure hull steel must be quite a process. BD

[bharris]

Dave,
Those pressure hull sections are built at EB's Quonset Point R.I. facility.
Some hulls are completed at EB Groton and some at Newport News Shipyard in VA. in a teaming arrangement.
EB is builds the engine room and control room modules plus final construction on some of the boats and Newport news builds the remaining modules I believe plus final construction on some hulls also.
Bob.

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Newport News shipyard ring module shop

I am not sure but I think there is another contractor in Maine that builds sections that are barged down to EB.

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Newport News shipyard ring module shop



I am not sure but I think there is another contractor in Maine that builds sections that are barged down to EB.

[wlambing]

No. The hull modules shown were in RI. We, EB, build them in Quonset Point. RI and ship them either to Groton, or Newport News. By the way, that show sucked!!!!! B^(

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

You are saying the text that accompanied the photo on the NavSource page is wrong... ?
I can only go by the article.
I have no first hand knowledge.
==============text from page=========================
Virginia class submarines Texas (SSN-775), Hawaii (SSN-776) and North Carolina (SSN-777), are pictured in March 2002 under construction in Northrop Grumman Newport News' Ring Module Shop (RMS). The RMS is a 53,000 square foot building used to assemble the structural steel that forms hulls sections, tanks and modules that will later be outfitted with pipe, machinery and equipment.
=================================================
Using Google Earth to look at both shipyards, the RI shipyard appears to have circular fixtures setting out in the open that could be for making sub rings.
I do not find the same items at the Newport News yard.

I am not sure but I think I remember reading about hull sections arriving at Newport News on barges.
That to me would say they are not made locally.

I am getting old.
Remembering things is getting harder.
Needs a push at times.
Thanks.

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Another thing....the more I look at the photo, the more the sections being built look like something for surface ships.

I think I'll go work on something out side in the rain.
Cut down a lot of bushes I need to load in the truck for the dump on Monday.
Monday is free brush day.
Sorry, that was FREE brush day.

[bharris]

It did sort of draw a vacuum Bill, I recorded it and fell asleep both times I tried to watch it.

[bigdave]

Well for those of us that don't actually work on real subs it was watchable.
BD

[QuarterMaster]

I did some consulting work for a Defense company that supplied "certain" electronics for the VIRGINIA Class. They allowed me to place my signature that was etched in Cu on the Secondary Side of the Circuit board I designed. So basically every VIRGINIA boat has my name on it lol.

I enjoyed it...despite how many times the Narrator would repeat "The VIRGINIA Class, one of the most advanced submarines ever built....." Granted you need to draw it out with filler...but really??

[bigdave]

They do tend to repeat themselves when coming back from one of the many ads.
It's like the ad brakes are long but I did not forget what was said that quickly.
That's why I always DVR them so I can FFW.
Plus if I fall asleep I can start over. BD