USS Hawaii (SSN-776)

USS Hawaii (SSN-776), a Virginia-class submarine, is the first commissioned warship of the United States Navy to be named for the 50th state. (A previous large cruiser, or battlecruiser, USS Hawaii (CB-3) was launched, but never commissioned, and was named after the Territory of Hawaii.) The building contract was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 30 September 1998 and her keel was laid down on 27 August 2004. She was christened on 17 June 2006 by her sponsor, Governor Linda Lingle of Hawaii. Electric Boat delivered Hawaii to the US Navy on 22 December 2006, ahead of schedule.[7] She was commissioned on 5 May 2007.[8] In July 2009, she changed home port from Groton, CT (Submarine Group Two, Submarine Squadron Two) to Pearl Harbor, HI (Submarine Squadron One).[9]

For other ships with the same name, see USS Hawaii.

USS Hawaii entering Pearl Harbor during a homeport change.
History
United States
NameUSS Hawaii
NamesakeUS state of Hawaii
Ordered30 September 1998
BuilderGeneral Dynamics Electric Boat
Laid down27 August 2004
Launched17 June 2006
Commissioned5 May 2007
HomeportPearl Harbor, Hawaii
Motto
  • Kūpale 'Āina
  • ("Defending the Land")[1]
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeVirginia-class submarine
TypeFast attack
Displacement7800 tons light, 7800 tons full
Length114.9 meters (377 feet)
Beam10.3 meters (34 feet)
Propulsion
  • 1 × S9G PWR nuclear reactor[2] 280,000 shp (210 MW), HEU 93%[3][4]
  • 2 × steam turbines 40,000 shp (30 MW)
  • 1 × single shaft pump-jet propulsor[2]
  • 1 × secondary propulsion motor[2]
Speed25 knots (46 km/h)[5]
RangeEssentially unlimited distance; 33 years
Test depthgreater than 800 feet (240 meters)[6]
Complement134 officers and men[5]
Armament12 VLS tubes, four 21 inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes for Mk-48 torpedoes

History
  • January 2008 – maiden deployment.
  • May 2008 – post-shakedown availability.[10]
  • 4 December 2008 – US Navy announces USS Hawaii will be home ported at Pearl Harbor in 2009.[11]
  • 8 May 2009 – US Navy announces the ship has earned the U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation for their work in disrupting drug trafficking from 20 February to 17 April 2008.[12]
  • 10 July 2009 – The sub transits the Panama Canal en route to new homeport at Pearl Harbor.[13]
  • 23 July 2009 – The sub reaches Pearl Harbor.[14]
  • 30 March to 5 May 2010 – The sub receives a $2.5 million refit in a drydock in Pearl Harbor.[15]
  • August 2010 – The boat leaves for her first Western Pacific cruise, under temporarily assignment to Seventh Fleet,[16] making her the first Virginia-class submarine to enter the Western Pacific.[17]
  • February 2011 – The boat returns from her first Western Pacific cruise.[18]

See also

References
  1. Commissioning book USS HAWAII (SSN 776), US Navy, 5 May 2007
  2. Ragheb, Magdi (9 September 2011), Tsvetkov, Pavel (ed.), "Nuclear Naval Propulsion", Nuclear Power - Deployment, Operation and Sustainability, ISBN 978-953-307-474-0
  3. "Validation of the Use of Low Enriched Uranium as a Replacement for Highly Enriched Uranium in US Submarine Reactors" (PDF). dspace.mit.edu. June 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  4. "US study of reactor and fuel types to enable naval reactors to shift from HEU fuel". fissilematerials.org. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  5. "The US Navy – Fact File". Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  6. GlobalSecurity.org
  7. Electric Boat Corporation's News Archived 14 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Ira J. Elinson (5 May 2007). "Navy Commissions USS Hawaii". United States Navy. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
  9. USS Hawaii (SSN 776) Arrival Ceremony Archived 28 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine, 16 July 2009
  10. The USS Hawaii Archived 20 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  11. US Navy press release, Virginia-Class Sub Bound for Pearl Harbor, 5 December 2008. Retrieved on 13 Dec 2008
  12. Lt. Patrick Evans (8 May 2009). "USS Hawaii Earns Commendation for Disrupting Drug Traffic". United States Navy. Retrieved 9 May 2009.
  13. Kakesako, Gregg K., "USS Hawaii Nearing New Pearl Harbor Home", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 11 July 2009.
  14. Associated Press, "Sub Hawaii arrives at Pearl Harbor homeport", Military Times, 23 July 2009.
  15. Kakesako, Gregg K., "Navy Completes Challenging Retrofit of Sub", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 6 May 2010.
  16. COMSUBPAC Public Affairs, "USS Hawaii Departs for Western Pacific Deployment", 25 Aug, 2010.
  17. Submarine USS Hawaii first of its class to enter Western Pacific
  18. COMSUBPAC Public Affairs, "USS Hawaii Returns from Western Pacific Deployment Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine", 24 February 2011.

Fast Facts This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register and various press releases.

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