Portsmouth Naval Shipyard safely undocked USS Santa Fe Los Angeles-class submarine of US Navy


According to information released by the U.S. Navy on December 18, 2020, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard safely undocked USS Santa Fe (SSN 763) Los Angeles-class submarine of U.S. Navy, from the shipyard’s Dry Dock #1 on schedule December 14.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 U.S. Navy USS SANTA FE (SSN 763) successfully exits dry dock #1 at the shipyard. (Picture source U.S. Navy)


Completion of this key event continues the critical path to deliver Santa Fe but also maintains the vital construction timeline for the Dry Dock #1 super flood basin at the shipyard. The facility construction projects around Dry Dock #1 directly support the Navy's Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program designed to improve the efficiency of the naval shipyards to better execute maintenance and modernization of ships and submarines to provide the Navy the nation needs.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is America’s leader for attack submarine maintenance, repair, and modernization. The on-time completion of submarine availabilities is critical to maintaining the U.S. Navy’s maritime superiority. As a NAVSEA operated field activity, PNSY is committed to expanding our undersea advantage and maximizing the material readiness of the fleet by safely delivering first-time quality, on time, and on budget.

Santa Fe and her crew of 16 officers and 127 enlisted personnel arrived at the shipyard on Aug. 15, 2019. Project Superintendent Gabe Griego, along with the project team and Ship’s Force, recognized they had an aggressive schedule to keep but knew they were equal to the task.

The USS Santa Fe (SSN-763) is a Los Angeles-class submarine in service with the U.S. Navy. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 21 March 1986 and her keel was laid down on 9 July 1991. She was launched on 12 December 1992 sponsored by Mrs. Joy Johnson, and commissioned on 8 January 1994, with Commander Rodger P. Krull in command.

The Los Angeles is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSN) in service with the United States Navy. The submarine is powered by the General Electric S6G pressurized water reactor and can reach a  surfaced speed of 20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h) and a submerged speed of 20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h). It has an endurance of 90 days. 

The Los Angeles submarine is fitted with 12 vertical launching system tubes able to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The submarine has also four 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes as well as Mark 67 and Mark 60 CAPTOR mines.