Key Points and Summary – The USS Connecticut (SSN-22), one of only three elite Seawolf-class submarines, remains in dry dock five years after its 2021 collision with an uncharted seamount in the South China Sea.
-A Navy investigation blamed the incident, which severely damaged the bow, on “poor seamanship” and a “lax” command environment, leading to the firing of the sub’s command triad.
The nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23) sits moored in the magnetic silencing facility at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor in Silverdale, Wash., on Aug. 16, 2006. The Jimmy Carter is the third and final submarine of the Sea Wolf-class.
(DoD photo by Master Chief Jerry McLain, U.S. Navy. (Released))
-The extensive five-year repair, now scheduled for completion in late 2026, has been severely delayed because the Seawolf class is out of production and the Navy had no spare bow domes in its inventory, forcing one to be manufactured from scratch with a 3+ year lead time.
-BONUS – This also includes a massive photo collection of the Seawolf-class submarines at the end of this article. We hope to give you a good sense of how important these submarines are to the U.S. Navy.
Seawolf-Class Submarine Problems: USS Connecticut, Laid Up Five Years, Due To “Poor Seamanship”
The USS Connecticut (SSN-22), one of three Seawolf-class attack submarines, was severely damaged on October 2, 2021, after a collision with an uncharted seamount, which caused significant damage to its bow.
The impact on the seamount in the South China Sea, located off the coast of Japan, resulted in damage to the sonar dome, making travel underwater unsafe, several Navy officials said at the time.
Command Element Relieved
The submarine’s Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Cameron Aljilani, Executive Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Cashin, and Chief of the Boat Master Chief Sonar Technician Cory Rodgers were relieved from command following the completion of an investigation by U.S. 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Karl Thomas in early November 2021.
“We have very rigorous navigation safety procedures, and they fell short of what our standard was,” Naval Submarine Forces commander Vice Adm. William Houston said.
The Navy conducted an investigation and found that the accident was the result of a “command environment” and “lax attitudes toward the performance of key tasks,” leading to the relief of the commanding officer, executive officer, and chief of the boat from their duties.
The command investigation led by the chief of the US Pacific Fleet’s Maritime Headquarters, Rear Admiral Christopher Cavanaugh, said the sub was sailing rapidly in an area of the ocean that was not appropriately charted. Cavanaugh’s report noted that Commander Cameron Aljilani contributed to a “poor command climate” and his actions “set the conditions of the boat’s performance.”
After a month’s trip back to the West Coast of the US, the Connecticut entered into extensive repairs at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.
Repairs to the USS Connecticut Have Taken Five Years
The submarine required extensive and complex repairs at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, which have taken years to complete, as it was a rare Seawolf-class vessel, and a specialized sonar dome needed to be s.
The collision caused significant damage, primarily to the submarine’s bow sonar dome and ballast tanks.
The Seawolf-class submarine was one of only three such vessels, and the specific sonar dome and associated systems required complex and unique repairs that could not be easily salvaged from other vessels.
Extensive Shipyard Work And Upgrades:
The submarine was moved to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for extensive repairs, which included replacing the damaged sonar dome and other hull components.
“USS Connecticut (SSN 22) is in Dry Dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) in Bremerton, Washington, undergoing an Extended Docking Selected Restricted Availability (EDSRA), which is a major maintenance availability that all submarines undergo during their maintenance life cycle,” a Navy spokesperson told TWZ in July.
“The damage USS Connecticut sustained in October 2021 is also being repaired during this EDSRA. Connecticut is expected to return to service in late 2026. PSNS & IMF and Naval Sea Systems Command are continuing to prioritize investments in materiel, infrastructure, and personnel to meet the needs of the fleet.”
Why Are The Repairs Taking So Long?
Repairs are expected to be completed in late 2026, with the process taking several years due to the severity of the damage and the specialized nature of the repairs.
The Seawolf class was cut short by the Navy at the end of the Cold War, as only three boats were ever built, and those were constructed in the 1980s. By cutting production short, the Seawolf class was the most expensive attack submarine ever built, each costing $3 billion, which translates to over $10 billion today.
Those production lines were long closed, and spare parts are no longer available.
New Sonar Dome Requested In Navy’s FY 2025 Budget Request
“The Seawolf Class submarines’ sustainment strategy did not include the provisioning of replacement bow domes; therefore, no replacement bow domes for these in-service submarines are within the Navy’s inventory,” the budget requested.
“This program would procure one Seawolf-class bow dome for use in the event replacement is required. Funds in FY25 are to purchase a bow dome, which has a three-plus-year lead time.”
The USS Connecticut is scheduled to finish its repairs late next year and return to the fleet. The USS Seawolf is then expected to enter its own lengthy EDRSA, which will keep it in dry dock until 2029.
The only other Seawolf-class submarine is the highly modified USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23), which was designed and built for underwater espionage missions and features a 100-foot-long Multi-Mission Platform (MMP) hull extension.
Seawolf-Class Submarine Photo Collection
The U.S. Navy attack submarine, USS Seawolf (SSN 21), conducts Bravo sea trials off the coast of Connecticut in preparation for its scheduled commissioning in July 1997. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
(Nov. 17, 2009) USS Connecticut (SSN 22) steams through the Pacific Ocean after participating in a 26 ship formation photo exercise. George Washington, the Navyís only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier participated in a photo exercise which was the culmination of ANNUALEX 21G, the largest annual bilateral exercise with the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Adam K. Thomas/RELEASED)
(June 22, 2021) Seawolf-class fast attack submarine USS Seawolf (SSN 21) transits the Pacific Ocean, June 22, 2021. Seawolf is currently underway conducting routine maritime operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Olympia O. McCoy)
USS Connecticut (SSN 22) is docked for its Extended Docking Selected Restricted Availability July 12, 2023 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard; Intermediate Maintenance Facility.
USS Connecticut Seawolf-Class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Seawolf-Class. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
About the Author:
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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