The U.S. Navy commissioned its newest fast attack submarine, the future USS Colorado (SSN-788), during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, March 17, at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut.

The principal speaker was U.S. Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado. Annie Mabus, daughter of 75th Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, served as the ship’s sponsor. In a time-honored Navy tradition, she gave the order to «man our ship and bring her to life»!

«USS Colorado is a true marvel of technology and innovation, and it shows the capability that our industrial partners bring to the fight», said Secretary of the U.S. Navy Richard V. Spencer. «Today’s world requires undersea platforms designed for dominance across a broad spectrum of regional and littoral missions, and I am confident Colorado will proudly serve in defense of our nation’s interests for decades to come».

The future Colorado, which began construction in 2012, is the 15th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the fifth Virginia-class Block III submarine. Colorado will be the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be commissioned with a name honoring the state of Colorado. The first Colorado was a three-masted steam screw frigate that participated in the Union Navy’s Gulf Blockading Squadron and fought in the Second Battle of Fort Fisher with then-Lt. George Dewey serving as her executive officer. In the early years of the 20th century, the second Colorado (ACR-7) was a Pennsylvania-class armored cruiser that escorted convoys of men and supplies to England during World War I. The third ship of her name, the lead ship of the Colorado class of battleships (BB-45), supported operations in the Pacific theater throughout World War II, surviving two kamikaze attacks and earning seven battle stars.

This next-generation attack submarine provides the U.S. Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation’s undersea superiority well into the 21st century. Block III Virginia-class submarines feature a redesigned bow, which replaces 12 individual launch tubes with two large-diameter Virginia Payload Tubes, each capable of launching six Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Virginia-class submarines are built to operate in the world’s littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operation forces support; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. Their inherent stealth, endurance, mobility and firepower directly enable them to support five of the six maritime strategy core capabilities-sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.

General Characteristics

Block III

The nation’s newest and most advanced nuclear-powered attack submarine, USS Colorado (SSN-788), returned to the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard Monday, August 21, following the successful completion of its first voyage in open seas, called alpha sea trials. Colorado is the 15th ship of the Virginia Class, the most capable class of attack submarines ever built. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (GD).

Colorado’s alpha sea trials included a range of submarine and propulsion-plant operations, submerging for the first time, and high-speed runs on and below the surface to demonstrate that the ship’s propulsion plant is fully mission-capable.

The sea trials were directed by U.S. Navy Admiral James F. Caldwell Jr., director – Naval Nuclear Propulsion. Also participating in the sea trials were Captain Jeffrey Heydon, supervisor of shipbuilding in Groton; and Jeffrey S. Geiger, president of Electric Boat. Colorado is commanded by Commander Ken Franklin.

«The crew and shipbuilders worked as one unit to take Colorado to sea and put it through its paces», said Electric Boat President Geiger. «This required an outstanding effort by everyone involved, and demonstrates the commitment of the U.S. Navy and industry team to sustain the success of the Virginia-class submarine program. I appreciate the contributions made by the U.S. Navy personnel, shipbuilders and suppliers who made it happen».

Electric Boat and its construction teammate, Newport News Shipbuilding, already have delivered 14 Virginia-class submarines to the U.S. Navy: USS Virginia (SSN-774), USS Texas (SSN-775), USS Hawaii (SSN-776), USS North Carolina (SSN-777), USS New Hampshire (SSN-778), USS New Mexico (SSN-779), USS Missouri (SSN-780), USS California (SSN-781), USS Mississippi (SSN-782), USS Minnesota (SSN-783), USS North Dakota (SSN-784), USS John Warner (SSN-785), USS Illinois (SSN-786) and Washington (SSN-787). Fourteen more submarines of the class are under contract.

Virginia-class submarines displace 7,835 long tons/7,961 metric tons submerged, with a hull length of 377 feet/114.9 m and a diameter of 34 feet/10.4 m. They are capable of speeds in excess of 25+ knots/29+ mph/46+ km/h and can dive to a depth greater than 800+ feet/244+ m, while carrying Mark 48 advanced capability torpedoes and Tomahawk land-attack missiles.

General Characteristics

* – Knolls Atomic Power Laboratories

Nuclear Submarine Lineup

Block III