Damaged USS Connecticut Arrives at San Diego After Long Surface Journey
Both USNI News and TheWarzone reported that the damaged U.S. Navy’s nuclear- powered attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22) arrived at San Diego, California, on Sunday, December 12, 2021, after a surface transit of 6,182 miles (9,950 kilometers or 5,372 nautical miles) from Guam. Based on pictures by famous ship spotter Twitter account WarshipCam, the […]
Both USNI News and TheWarzone reported that the damaged U.S. Navy’s nuclear- powered attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22) arrived at San Diego, California, on Sunday, December 12, 2021, after a surface transit of 6,182 miles (9,950 kilometers or 5,372 nautical miles) from Guam.
Based on pictures by famous ship spotter Twitter account WarshipCam, the streamlined sonar bow of the Seawolf-class submarine appears heavily damaged, perhaps even sheared off, preventing the submarine from diving and sailing underwater. Naval News reported on the USS Connecticut being inspected for preliminary repairs in Guam.
BREAKING: USS Connecticut (SSN 22) Seawolf-class nuclear attack submarine coming into San Diego – note obvious damage to bow – December 12, 2021 #ussconnecticut #ssn22 pic.twitter.com/vNT7sTPzod
— WarshipCam (@WarshipCam) December 12, 2021
At the time, the U.S. Navy Public Affairs of the 7th Fleet and Submarine Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet would not comment to Naval News on where SSN 22 would transit to, citing security reasons for submarine operations, but the USS Connecticut will definitely need additional extensive repairs back in the United States since Guam lacked the facilities and the manufacturing industry to repair such extensive bow damage.
According to France-Metallurgie the three Seawolf submarines use HY-100 steel on hulls two inches thick that is 20% stronger than HY-80 steel on the Los Angeles-class attack submarines. Also unknown is if and how the U.S. Navy would repair the USS Connecticut as a new sonar dome would be a custom repair job if the U.S. Navy deems the submarine worthy and cost-effective of repairs.