According to new atlas report, with the keel laying ceremony of the "District of Columbia" (SSBN 826) being held at the electric boat company in Quonset point, Rhode Island, the construction of the next generation of U.S. strategic nuclear missile submarines has officially begun**
Although the first piece of steel of the "Columbia" class submarine was cut in 2019, the laying of keels by the subsidiary of general dynamics, that is, the laying of large sections of the bottom of the ship on the wooden blocks in the dock at the beginning of assembly, marks a milestone. For submarines, this is purely ceremonial, because submarines do not have real keels.
Instead of laying a real keel at the ceremony, the initials of Eleanor Holmes Norton (d-dc), the sponsor of the "District of Columbia" and a congressman, were welded on a steel plate, which will be permanently installed in the honor position of the submarine.
Although the formal assembly has only begun now, general dynamics said that the construction of the "District of Columbia" has been completed by 20%. This is because the design of the submarine is modular, and the main parts are built in different electric ships and subcontractor facilities. In 2023, the first batch of modules will arrive at the new electric boat factory in Groton, Massachusetts for full assembly.
The 21140 ton "District of Columbia" will be the first of the planned fleet of 12 "Columbia" class ballistic missile submarines. At first, the name of the first submarine was "Columbia", but the "Columbia" attack submarine is still in service and has been modified to extend its life. Therefore, when the "District of Columbia" is completed, it will still be in service. To prevent confusion, the US Navy decided to change the name.
The Columbia class will be the largest submarine ever built for the Navy and will replace 14 Ohio class cold war submarines, the first of which is scheduled to retire in 2027. Each new submarine will carry 16 missile launch tubes, eight less than the Ohio class. These missiles will carry multi warhead D-5 Trident II missiles and will account for 70% of the deployed nuclear arsenal of the United States.
The Columbia class will have an all electric pump propulsion system and will be powered by an advanced nuclear reactor. It will not need to be refuelled throughout the life of the submarine. In addition to missiles, it will also carry MK 48 torpedoes and will be equipped with an enlarged version of lab sonar used by Virginia class attack nuclear submarines. The hull will also be acoustically constructed to achieve minimum sound characteristics.
The District of Columbia will cost about $9.15 billion. It is planned to deploy in 2030 and will have 42 years of service. This will include about 124 ocean patrols and 155 sailors.
"Through the Columbia level project, the Navy commissioned the electric boat company to provide our country with nuclear deterrence for the next 60 years, continuing the company's tradition of providing the world's best and most technologically advanced submarines," said Kevin Graney, President of General Dynamics electric boat company. "These submarines are vital to our national defense and will reflect the outstanding commitment of our shipbuilders in their work every day."