USS Nebraska (SSBN-739)

USS Nebraska (SSBN-739) is the 14th Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, and the second United States Navy vessel to be named in honor of Nebraska, the 37th state. She carries Trident ballistic missiles.

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

USS Nebraska (SSBN-739)
USS Nebraska (SSBN-739)
USS Nebraska (SSBN-739) at Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor, Washington
History
United States
NamesakeThe U.S. state of Nebraska
Ordered26 May 1987
BuilderGeneral Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down6 July 1987
Launched15 August 1992
Sponsored byPatricia Exon
Commissioned10 July 1993
HomeportBangor, Washington
Motto
Nickname(s)"Big Red"
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeOhio-class ballistic missile submarine
Displacement
  • 16,764 long tons (17,033 t) surfaced[1][2]
  • 18,750 long tons (19,050 t) submerged[1]
Length560 ft (170 m)
Beam42 ft (13 m)[1]
Draft38 ft (12 m)
Propulsion
SpeedGreater than 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)[5]
Test depthGreater than 800 feet (240 m)[5]
Complement
Armament

Nebraska shares her nickname, "Big Red", with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's athletic teams.

Construction and commissioning

The contract to build Nebraska was awarded on 26 May 1987 to the Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics Corporation at Groton, Connecticut. Her keel was laid there on 6 July 1987 and she was launched on 15 August 1992, sponsored by Patricia Exon, the wife of United States Senator J. James Exon (1921–2005) of Nebraska. Nebraska was delivered to the U.S. Navy on 18 June 1993 and commissioned on 10 July 1993.

Service history

Nebraska was originally assigned to Submarine Group 10 at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia. On 1 October 2004, Nebraska was transferred to Submarine Squadron 17 in Submarine Group 9 at Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor, Washington. In 2013 Nebraska transferred to Submarine Squadron 19 to conduct an Engineering Refueling Overhaul.[6]

The sub has successfully launched Trident missiles for testing six times, once in 1993, in 2004, in 2008, in 2011[7] in 2018,[8] and in 2019.

As of November 2013, the submarine had completed 62 deterrent patrols during her 20 years of service. Each patrol is usually 77 days in duration followed by 35 days in port for maintenance.[7]

Following Patrol 54, Nebraska was awarded the "Battle E" for Submarine Squadron 17. Additionally, following Patrol 56, the submarine was awarded the "Battle E" for Submarine Squadron 17 for its second consecutive year. After completing an unprecedented 116-day patrol in late 2013, Nebraska was again awarded the "Battle E," her third in four years.

In the military hard science fiction Looking Glass series by John Ringo and Travis S. Taylor, Nebraska is converted into the first human interstellar spaceship and renamed Vorpal Blade.[9] The boat is the main setting for the majority of the second, third, and fourth books in the series, Vorpal Blade, Manxome Foe, and Claws That Catch.

  • Waller, Douglas C. Big Red: The Three-Month Voyage of a Trident Nuclear Submarine. April 2002

References
  1. "SSBN-726 Ohio-Class FBM Submarines". Federation of American Scientists. 9 February 2000. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  2. Frost, Peter. "Newport News contract awarded". Daily Press. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  3. "US study of reactor and fuel types to enable naval reactors to shift from HEU fuel". Fissile Materials. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  4. Brendan Patrick Hanlon (July 2015). Validation of the Use of Low Enriched Uranium as a Replacement for Highly Enriched Uranium in US Submarine Reactors (PDF) (Master thesis). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  5. "Submarine Frequently Asked Questions". Chief of Naval Operations Submarine Warfare Division. Archived from the original on 13 July 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  6. "USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) Returns from First Strategic Deterrent Patrol". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  7. Hendee, David (7 September 2010), Far From Nebraska, A Namesake Keeps Watch, Omaha World-Herald, p. 1
  8. Gutridge, This story was written by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Ronald. "USS Nebraska Successfully Tests Trident II D5 Missile". Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  9. Arnold, Dale (15 June 2008). "Claws That Catch (Review of Advance Reader Copy)". Baltimore Science Fiction Society. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
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