3 Virginia Attack Boats Sidelined

[tom dougherty]

3 Virginia Attack Boats Sidelined as Part of Investigation into Suspicious Welding

By: Sam LaGrone

Naval Sea Systems Command has restricted three of the newest Virginia-class submarines (SSN-774) due to questionable welding in piping instrumental in connecting the boats’ nuclear reactors to its propulsion system.

According to a statement provided to USNI News on Wednesday, NAVSEA confirmed USS Minnesota (SSN-783), USS North Dakota (SSN-784) and USS John Warner (SSN-785) are currently being inspected for faulty welding after contractor General Dynamics Electric Boat discovered three steam pipe elbows which required repair after “unauthorized and undocumented weld repairs” were performed on the questionable components.

The story was first reported by Defense News.
The inspections will result in restricted operations for the trio of attack boats — including Warner which was commissioned last week — until cleared.
A representative of Electric Boat reached by USNI News on Wednesday night referred all questions to NAVSEA.

According to the Defense News report, the issue pipe elbow issues was less the immediate safety of the boats but a concern of “long-term wear and tear.”
NAVSEA officials told USNI News the investigation was not related to one mounted last year over third party components found in the bow and the stern of North Dakota.

http://news.usni.org/2015/08/05/3-vi...icious-welding

[southern or]

I've been following the North Dakota off and on. I got the feeling that words such as "cheaper," and "improved redesign" were a good combination for disaster. Doesn't help that she FAILED SUBSAFE at the damn dock before trials leading to an acceptance refusal, so I guess this shouldn't be a huge surprise. At the present rate of things gone wrong with this flight of Virginia boats, I have to wonder if things aren't starting to slide backwards in terms of quality and oversight, but what do I know, I'm just paying for them against my will. I will raise hell though if MY tax money ends up at the bottom of the ocean.

[tom dougherty]

Just to be clear, this was a subcontractor issue and NOT a problem with General Dynamics Electric Boat. In fact the faulty welding was discovered by EB inspectors. This has resulted in some temporary restrictions until the weld issues are resolved.

The Virginia's cost has come down with increased experience of the work force, which has in turn reduced the delivery times on the boats, saving money. Also adding to savings was the switch from building the Block I subs in 10 sections (that were welded together) to four sections in the Block II & subsequent models, saving again on time (and money) in the construction process. The Virginia class program is viewed favorably by the Navy's procurement arm, as it has performed ahead of schedule and under budget. This was a key factor in allowing the Navy to up the construction rate and procure two hulls per year rather than the previous single hull per year.

Among the improvements were adopting the SSGN Tomahawk launcher system that has 6 missiles in a single larger tube. The newer Virginias only have two tubes (Virginia Payload Tubes) with six missiles apiece forward rather than multiple single shot tubes. Also a new bow sonar system is in the Block III subs.

[southern or]

I disagree. In the end, it is General Dynamics problem because they hold the contract for construction. I apprenticed for a friends dad who was a subcontractor for Lockheed Martin and everything we did got inspected 3-5 times during the construction process because LM's name was on the end product. As for the new assembly process, it is more efficient then the old process and Bath Iron Works is applying the same principles to the new Burkes.

It still comes down to oversight and construction quality. If Electric Boat Company brings onboard subcontractors, they need to monitor them and check for quality and compliance.

[JWLaRue]

But it *was* the GD/EB inspectors who caught the problem.....

-Jeff

[southern or]

Yeah, I get it guys. It just upsets me that after all the time, resources, and money put into these boats that now they're finding problems that should have been caught during construction. A lot of these aren't even from new designs or experimental equipment, just, I don't know, overlooked or missed. I just don't want anyone to have to die from a preventable problem. I know to many people in my age group who served and some who didn't make it back.

[sgtmac1]

Has anybody heard anything about the USS ILLINOIS? My latest info was that she was going to be commissioned Oct. 3rd...

[Covert Shores]

Among the improvements were adopting the SSGN Tomahawk launcher system that has 6 missiles in a single larger tube. The newer Virginias only have two tubes (Virginia Payload Tubes) with six missiles apiece forward rather than multiple single shot tubes. Also a new bow sonar system is in the Block III subs.

I thought the VPTs were seven round?

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

This is interesting because drawings show the VPTs to be 6 missiles but the text of this article says 7.
Virginia Payload Tubes



Here's a photo showing 7.

Clarification on the photo, it was take while the Ohio was in drydock.

[tom dougherty]

Interesting. This document says six missiles per Payload tube.

http://www.dote.osd.mil/pub/reports/FY2012/pdf/navy/2012ssn774.pdf

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

I think that these multi tubes are going through an evolution.
May have started with six and still in production with the newer seven being cycles in.

I think that both are in use.

[Covert Shores]

Are the VPTs going to be compatible with the verticals SDV hangar concept that's been tried in a test tank?

[ssn705]

Six per VPT. Center tube is for maintenance access. SSGN tube setup uses all 7.