Posted on 11/17/2004 5:37:17 PM PST by SmithL
Groton — Jimmy Carter, the third and final Seawolf-class submarine that has been heavily modified for special operations, departed Electric Boat on Tuesday for the first phase of its sea trials.
Under Navy policy the departure was not publicly announced, but Navy and EB sources said the Carter finished its most intensive in-port test last week without any major problems and was deemed ready for Alpha trials, as they are known.
Last week the crew had conducted a “fast cruise,” in which they simulate submarine operations, including running the reactor up to full power, while tied alongside the pier.
It had been slated to leave just after dawn, but a slew of last-minute issues delayed its departure for a few hours and it was seen pulling out of the shipyard just before noon.
Alpha trials will include taking the ship to its maximum speed and depth and testing its electronics, radar, sonar and other systems, as well as conducting emergency maneuvers such as going from all ahead full to backing up quickly and forcing air into the ballast tanks to rise rapidly to the surface.
Navy spokesman Lt. Philip R. Rosi said the service does not, as a matter of policy, discuss submarine operations, so he could not comment on when the Carter might return.
But Alpha trials typically take about three days, which would put the Carter back into port by Friday. Navy and EB sources said barring any unforeseen problems, Carter would likely head back to sea again within days for Bravo trials, which typically last about three weeks and can involve thousands of hours of additional equipment checks.
The Carter was supposed to be delivered to the Navy by the end of the year, and although in recent months it looked like that schedule might slip, it now appears that the turnover could happen in late December.
“It's expected the Jimmy Carter will be delivered in late December '04 and commissioned in February '05,” said Lt. Jon D. Spiers, a spokesman for the Navy News Desk at the Pentagon.
Rosi said he could not confirm a specific date, but added, “we're obviously very close, and I think it would be fair to say (the commissioning will take place) in early 2005.”
The ship originally was slated to be delivered in 2001, but shortly before the pressure hull was finished the Navy decided to heavily modify it for special operations, and the delivery date slipped by three years because of the complexity of the task.
EB designed an $887 million, 104-foot section that was inserted into the middle of the boat that gives it a “bomb bay” — a free-flooding area, and a large-diameter access hatch that will allow materials to be moved in and out of the boat without surfacing.
It also got special maneuvering devices at the bow and stern that, coupled with the Seawolf-class hovering system, will allow it to maintain a fixed position in the ocean, as well as an upgraded radio room and communications suite, improved combat systems and better sonar processing.
The special section will also have room for up to 50 commandos, including a Special Forces command center and exercise space.
In addition to special operations, Carter will likely be a test ship for a variety of new capabilities, such as underwater, surface and aerial drones, that could be incorporated into other submarines eventually.
Here's to hoping that this boat blows up a few of Jimmah's friends sometime in the near future.
What a poor choice of names...ESPECIALLY for a boat that will deal with special ops.
A warship named "Jimmy Carter"? Was "USS Pansy" already taken? What's next, nerf torpedoes?
Pity anyone who gets in the way of the USS Jimmy Carter when the next real war starts. Navy sub crews are real, brave, decent men, and that crew will be out to wipe off the shame of their ship's awful horrible pathetic name for good, and they will do it by wiping out whatever is unfortunate enough to find itself up in front of them.
Ummmmm.
Didn't the quisling forget to say something rather important, here?
...it shot outa there backwards.
I would hope Nixon would get a boat before clinton.
With the USS George H Bush under construction at Newport News, the next carrier will be named for Bill Clinton. I have no inside information on the subject but I expect with that CV they may change the carrier naming convention back to the old system ( Langley, Wasp, Ranger, etc) or state names as the Ohios fall off the navy lists.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.