According to information published by the US DoD on December 16, 2022, the Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Seawolf (SSN 21) arrived at its new homeport of Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, after more than seven months deployed.
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US Navy's Seawolf-class nuclear submarine USS Seawolf. (Picture source: US DoD)
Seawolf departed its old homeport at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton on May 12, 2022 for a regularly scheduled deployment, during which the submarine and its crew performed a full spectrum of complex operations to include anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.
Steaming more than 55,000 nautical miles, Seawolf was deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations and made port calls to Apra Harbor, Guam and Yokosuka, Japan. While in Yokosuka, Seawolf hosted senior submarine officers from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Seawolf-class submarines
The Seawolf class is a class of nuclear-powered, fast attack submarines (SSN) in service with the United States Navy. The class was the intended successor to the Los Angeles class, and design work began in 1983.
A fleet of 29 submarines was to be built over a ten-year period, but that was reduced to 12 submarines. The end of the Cold War and budget constraints led to the cancellation of any further additions to the fleet in 1995, leaving the Seawolf class limited to just three boats.
The Seawolf class cost about $3 billion per unit ($3.5 billion for USS Jimmy Carter), making it the most expensive United States Navy fast attack submarine and second most expensive submarine ever, after the French Triomphant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.
The class of submarines has a length of 353 ft (108 m), a beam of 40 ft (12 m), and a displacement of 8,600 tons (surfaced) and 9,138 tons (submerged). They can reach a top speed of 35 knots (40 mph; 65 km/h).
The SeaWolf class also has extensive equipment for shallow water operations, including a floodable silo capable of simultaneously deploying eight combat swimmers and their equipment. The boats carry up to 50 UGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles for attacking land and sea surface targets.
Naval Base Kitsap
Naval Base Kitsap is a U.S. Navy base located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state, created in 2004 by merging the former Naval Station Bremerton with Naval Submarine Base Bangor.
