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USS Nevada (SSBN-733)

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USS Nevada (SSBN-733)
USS Nevada (SSBN-733) underway
USS Nevada (SSBN-733) off the United States East Coast on her commissioning day, 16 August 1986.
History
United States
NamesakeThe U.S. state of Nevada
Ordered7 January 1981
BuilderGeneral Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down8 August 1983
Launched14 September 1985
Sponsored byMrs. Carol Laxalt
Commissioned16 August 1986
HomeportBangor, Washington
MottoSilent Sentry
Honors and
awards
  • Both Crews: Battle Efficiency Award (Battle "E") 2005
  • Blue Crew: Battle "E" 2006
  • Gold Crew Engineering "E", Supply "S", Tactical "T", Medical "M", Deck "D", 2006 and 2007
  • Both Crews: Omaha Trophy 2018
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeOhio-class ballistic missile submarine
Displacement
  • 16,764 long tons (17,033 t) surfaced[1][2]
  • 18,750 long tons (19,050 t) submerged[1]
Length560 ft (170 m)
Beam42 ft (13 m)[1]
Draft38 ft (12 m)
Propulsion
SpeedGreater than 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)[5]
Test depthGreater than 800 feet (240 m)[5]
Complement
Armament

USS Nevada (SSBN-733) is a United States Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine that has been in commission since 1986. She is the fourth ship of the U.S. Navy to be named for Nevada, the 36th state.

Construction and commissioning

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The contract to build Nevada was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 7 January 1981 and her keel was laid down there on 8 August 1983. She was launched on 14 September 1985 sponsored by Mrs. Carol Laxalt, the wife of United States Senator Paul Laxalt of Nevada, and commissioned on 16 August 1986, with Captain F.W. Rohm in command of the Blue Crew and Captain William Stone in command of the Gold Crew.

Service history

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Nevada in drydock

During the night of 1–2 August 2006, Nevada was operating in the Strait of Juan de Fuca when she snagged and broke the 500-foot (150-metre) towline between the tug Phyllis Dunlap and one of two barges carrying empty containers that Phyllis Dunlap was towing from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Seattle, Washington.[6] Fiberglass portions of Nevada's sail were damaged, and a second tug had to recover the drifting barge.[6]

In both 2005 and 2006 and again in 2018, Nevada's crew was awarded with the Battle Efficiency Award (Battle "E").[citation needed] This award is given to the best submarine in its respective submarine squadron and is determined based on performance in inspections for tactical readiness and nuclear reactor safety, among other factors.

Nevada with Seattle in Background

In February 2008, Nevada entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Bremerton Site for a regularly scheduled Engineering Refueling Overhaul. The 'Green' crew worked for nearly 30 months on the refit and refuel until they were separated back to the 'Gold' and 'Blue' crews on 21 July 2010 in preparation for workups and sea trials.

Nevada was awarded the 2018 Omaha Trophy[7] on 21 August 2019. The Blue and Gold crews received the trophy to recognize their high standards of performance in the command's mission areas.[8] The ballistic missile submarine has been regarded as "one of the US Navy's most powerful weapons" in 2022.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "SSBN-726 Ohio-Class FBM Submarines". Federation of American Scientists. 9 February 2000. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Frost, Peter. "Newport News contract awarded". Daily Press. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  3. ^ "US study of reactor and fuel types to enable naval reactors to shift from HEU fuel". Fissile Materials. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  4. ^ Brendan Patrick Hanlon (July 2015). Validation of the Use of Low Enriched Uranium as a Replacement for Highly Enriched Uranium in US Submarine Reactors (PDF) (Master thesis). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Submarine Frequently Asked Questions". Chief of Naval Operations Submarine Warfare Division. Archived from the original on 13 July 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Navy Sub Damaged After Snagging Tow Line". Associated Press. 4 August 2006. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  7. ^ "USSTRATCOM Commander Announces 2018 Omaha Trophy Winners". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  8. ^ "USS Nevada Awarded Omaha Trophy". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  9. ^ Brad Lendon (17 January 2022). "One of US Navy's most powerful weapons makes rare appearance". CNN. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
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