Posted on 04/03/2016 3:56:20 PM PDT by Incorrigible
How a $2.7 Billion Submarine Was Crippled by Defective Parts
A $2.7 billion attack submarine, the USS Minnesota, has been out of commission for more than a year because of a defective pipe joint near the ship’s nuclear-powered engine.
The defective part, which is worth about $10,000, was installed near the ship’s nuclear power plant. Engineers discovered the poorly welded steam pipe in early 2015, and ongoing repairs have led to the ship being stuck in overhaul ever since, according to Navy Times.
The submarine was considered a great success just a few years ago. It was delivered to the Navy 11 months ahead of schedule and commissioned in September 2013. But the ship has spent only a few days at sea, and its crew has been waiting for more than two years to get underway. Repairs are supposed to be completed this summer, but the process has taken so long that some of the current crew, who typically serve in three-year rotations, may never sail on it.
The Minnesota isn’t alone, either: Navy officials say two other subs have been affected by the same shoddy pipe joints, and engineers are now scouring aircraft carriers and other ships for similar problems. Justice Department investigators are gathering evidence for possible criminal charges against the contractors responsible for the work.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
I tend to agree...Multiple screw ups...
I know nothing about inspection procedures for nuclear submarines, but was a certified welder and did a fair amount of pipefitting using both arc and TIG welding of steel and stainless pipe...
Piping engineered to carry high psi and or corrosive loads is usually inspected multiple times visually, using x-ray, ultrasonic, mag particle, and even occasionally subjected to destructive testing...Lots of people need to sign off, welder, inspectors and their respective supervisors all included...
It’s conceivable one defect may have slipped past multiple quality control inspectors using a combination of inspection techniques, but there appears to be a pattern, which suggests incompetence and/or malfeasance...
Precise technical term for power plant failure near test/design depth would be BAD! The USS Thresher comes to mind...
The reason I axe this is because Nuflo, the maker of the defective pipe, partnered with a German company called KME, wihc doesn't run afoul of the Jones Act, apparently.
Whoever signed off on the inspection of the work done should be prosecuted as well.
Was there even any inspection done? Or was the guy in a hurry to start his weekend or something??
Why do I have a feeling these parts were made in China?
So much for the “Sub-Safe Program”...
No excuses, though, when it comes to the described weld failures in this story.
It was defective and/or failed joints that led to the loss of the USS Thresher in April 1963. That disaster is what spawned the birth of what was known as ‘SUBSAFE’, an internal Navy program to guarantee that such a loss could not happen again.
The Thresher (SSN-593) and the Scorpion (SSN-589) are the only nuke subs we’ve ever lost at sea, hopefully there will never be any more.
“Oh my. I would have expected this to have been tested eight ways from Sunday before it was ever fired up with radioactive fuel.”
It is, or should have been. This is the kind of mistake that can only happen if somebody was on the take. But hey, Hillary shows that everybody needs to get theirs.
K 19 the widow maker
Great film!!! Harrison Ford.
That is Affirmative Action for you.
Affirmative Action, My FRiend, Affirmative Action.
I don’t believe an experienced inspector was NOT assigned to inspect the welds before nuclear fueling of the vessel. I don’t believe it.
Somebody had to know, and somebody dodged their responsibility for some reason that must be found out.
I bet that you are correct.
They were made here in Jacksonville, Florida, a proud Navy town.
I seem to recall that Thresher was ultimately doomed by ice on the air manifold in the ballast tank which prevented an emergency blow.
The problem that caused the cascade effect was a leaky welded joint and powerplant shut down.
The outcome was SUBSAFE.
I would opine that Affirmative Action was the weldor’s certifications.
I traveled a lot around Russia and a great deal of Georgia.
Worst thing was finding the courage to cross streets in Tbilisi.
Planes in Rostov on don were shakier than you can imagine in the late 90’s.
barking up the wrong tree.
a good ol’ american worker is almost certainly at fault.
it is likely not a part but a welder at fault and defective or faked x rays
You have seen The Widow maker too? I love that movie.
Thermal sleeve?
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