US Navy Virginia Class Nuclear Attack Submarines

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
USS Illinois submarine sits in the main construction hall of General Dynamics Electric Boat to Groton, commissioned for 2016.
View attachment 11452

Isn't she a beauty, love the Nuke boats, I have no idea why, other than some of the kool submarine movies after WWII. I do need to inform the Dept of the Navy that they need to remember that Illinois is now Obamastan... as we have taken on the economics, and totalitarian regime of a Soviet Republic.... remember, we can be more flexible after the election?? LOL and the sad part is I'm only half joking???
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
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Naval Today said:
US Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus recently announced that SSN 795, a Virginia-class attack submarine, will bear the name USS Hyman G. Rickover.

Mabus named the submarine to honor U.S. Navy Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, the man credited for developing USS Nautilus (SSN 571), the world’s first operational nuclear-powered submarine.

Virginia-class submarines provide the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation’s undersea supremacy well into the 21st century. They have enhanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities, and special warfare enhancements that enable them to meet the Navy’s multi-mission requirements.

Virginia-class submarines have the capability to attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters or other sea-based forces.

Other missions include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare; mine delivery and minefield mapping. They are also designed for special-forces delivery and support.

Each Virginia-class submarine is 7,800 tons and 377 feet in length, has a beam of 34 feet, and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. It is designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship, reducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time.

To date, 12 Virginia class subs have been launched. Approximately two per year should be delivered for the foreseeable future...meaning this vessel will not be launched for another five years.
 

Brumby

Major
It has been reported that the Virginia's are just as quiet as the Seawolf i.e. 95 decibels. I suspect the Seawolf still has the advantage at tactical speed. Does anybody have any additional information on this? It has also been reported that the Seawolf is 70 times quieter than the original Los Angeles and 10 times quieter than the improved Los Angeles (105-110 decibels). I also read rumours that since 1998 the US has started using active signature cancellation which combined with the acoustic level achieved would likely make it almost impossible to detect given ocean background noise is at 90 decibels. In contrast, the type 093 has a decibel reading of 110.
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
It has been reported that the Virginia's are just as quiet as the Seawolf i.e. 95 decibels. I suspect the Seawolf still has the advantage at tactical speed. Does anybody have any additional information on this? It has also been reported that the Seawolf is 70 times quieter than the original Los Angeles and 10 times quieter than the improved Los Angeles (105-110 decibels). I also read rumours that since 1998 the US has started using active signature cancellation which combined with the acoustic level achieved would likely make it almost impossible to detect given ocean background noise is at 90 decibels. In contrast, the type 093 has a decibel reading of 110.

Mr. Brumby make your depth 600ft, bring her around to 090 degrees, and give me 24 knots, report any sonar contacts to me immediately!
 

Brumby

Major
I would like to make a qualification to my earlier post regarding the type 093 acoustic reading at 110 decibel. The source of that information came from an article which itself reference to a report "Chinese Evaluations of the U.S. Navy Submarine Force and China’s Future Nuclear Submarine Force". That report (which is truncated) that I have looked at does not actually mentioned the type 093 decibel reading. So the reading has to be read with suspicion but for consistency with the other readings in that article I have adopted it.

In contrast, the work by Tom Stefanick’s Strategic Antisubmarine Warfare and Naval Strategy, reported a reading of 130-150 decibels for the type 093/094. The difference between the two sources are very wide and the significance needs to be understood in the context of development against say the Los Angeles. The former places the Chinese submarine development growth as a major leap as oppose to the latter which still places it behind the original Los Angeles. Personally I think the latter is probably the case because the type 093 is a second generation development. I would suspect the type 095 is probably closer to that former reading when it is launched rather than the type 093. Sorry for this long winded non related spill which after all is a Virginia thread.
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
It has been reported that the Virginia's are just as quiet as the Seawolf i.e. 95 decibels. I suspect the Seawolf still has the advantage at tactical speed. Does anybody have any additional information on this? It has also been reported that the Seawolf is 70 times quieter than the original Los Angeles and 10 times quieter than the improved Los Angeles (105-110 decibels). I also read rumours that since 1998 the US has started using active signature cancellation which combined with the acoustic level achieved would likely make it almost impossible to detect given ocean background noise is at 90 decibels. In contrast, the type 093 has a decibel reading of 110.

Yes i have see this data for Seawolf and the Ocean.
Nevertheless, the underwater detection is a very confidential matter/secret almost like nuclear deterrence then impossible get exact data, in general comparison between submarines.
And also depends conditions temperature, salinity for the propagation of noise or waves sonar.
Seawolf and Virginia sems extremely close, the best with Astute maybe Seawolt a little little more quiet ? A question for Jeff ;)
 
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