US’ 7,800-ton nuclear-powered submarine hits 95% completion milestone ahead of time

Norfolk Naval Shipyard has completed the hot operations test program for the USS John Warner ahead of schedule, marking another key step toward returning the Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine to the U.S. Navy fleet. The program finished more than two weeks early after teams from the shipyard’s nuclear and test engineering divisions worked around the clock, seven days a week. The tests formed part of the submarine’s Extended Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (EDSRA), an overhaul intended to keep the vessel operational throughout its planned service life. Teams conduct round-the-clock testing Personnel from the Nuclear Engineering and Planning Department’s Nuclear Test Engineering Division and the Engineering and Planning Department’s Test Engineering Division coordinated the work. The two teams maintained continuous communication and provided extensive training to the submarine’s crew to ensure hot operations were completed safely and on time. Before a nuclear-powered warship resumes plant operations during an availability, teams inspect and check its nuclear and non-nuclear propulsion systems. Completing this phase early moves USS John Warner closer to the remaining tests, crew readiness work and eventual sea trials required before its return to service. Virginia-class submarines are nuclear-powered fast-attack vessels designed to perform a range of missions. Norfolk Naval Shipyard described the class as the backbone of the country’s “silent service” and said returning John Warner to the fleet on time remains a priority. USS John Warner reaches first-of-its-kind milestone The latest development follows the submarine’s successful undocking, another major milestone in the EDSRA. During this type of availability, a submarine is placed in dry dock for hull and propulsion-system work as well as modernization upgrades. John Warner is the first Block III Virginia-class submarine to undergo drydocking at one of the U.S. Navy’s four public shipyards. Block III covers submarines procured under the third Virginia-class acquisition contract and incorporates a redesigned configuration. Norfolk Naval Shipyard worked with Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, drawing on their experience with previous Virginia-class availabilities. “NNSY’s commitment to learn and reach out for knowledge from the other shipyards for critical work evolutions has been a major key to the success of the project,” said Charles Brock, NNSY Submarine Program Manager. Submarine moves closer to sea trials John Warner undocked with more than 95 percent of its production work complete. Its crew was able to move back aboard, while mast and periscope installation had been finished and command-and-control system testing had begun. According to the shipyard, achieving all three conditions at undocking had not occurred during a submarine availability at Norfolk since 2001. “The powerful collaboration between our crew and the shipyard delivered the most materially ready submarine I’ve undocked,” said Cmdr. Nicholas Tuuk, John Warner commanding officer. “This achievement allows us to now fully focus on forging a crew of master submariners, ready to execute any mission when we return to the fleet,” he added. Commissioned in 2015, USS John Warner is the 12th Virginia-class attack submarine. The remaining availability work will concentrate on testing and crew preparation for critical operations and sea trials.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Atharva is a full-time content writer with a post-graduate degree in media & amp; entertainment and a graduate degree in electronics & telecommunications. He has written in the sports and technology domains respectively. In his leisure time, Atharva loves learning about digital marketing and watching soccer matches. His main goal behind joining Interesting Engineering is to learn more about how the recent technological advancements are helping human beings on both societal and individual levels in their daily lives.