| USS Seawolf (SSN-21) | |
|---|---|
 The USS Seawolf conducting sea trials. | |
| Career (US) |  |
| Namesake: | Seawolf |
| Awarded: | 9 January 1989 |
| Builder: | General Dynamics Electric Boat |
| Laid down: | 25 October 1989 |
| Launched: | 24 June 1995 |
| Commissioned: | 19 July 1997 |
| Homeport: | Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton, Washington |
| Motto: | Cave Lupum ("Beware the Wolf") |
| Status: | in active service |
| Badge: |
 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Seawolf-class submarine |
| Length: | 353 ft (108 m) |
| Beam: | 40 ft (12 m) |
| Draft: | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Propulsion: | One S6W reactor |
| Speed: | 25+ knots submerged, 18+ knots surfaced |
| Test depth: | Greater than 800ft |
| Complement: | 15 officers and 101 men |
| Armament: | eight 26-inch torpedo tubes, 40 torpedoes and missiles, or 100 mines |
USS Seawolf (SSN-21), the lead ship of her class, is the fourth submarine of the United States Navy named for the seawolf, a solitary fish with strong, prominent teeth and projecting tusks that give it a savage look. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics and Newport News Shipbuilding on 9 January 1989 and her keel was laid down on 25 October 1989. She was launched on 24 June 1995, sponsored by Mrs. Margaret Dalton, and commissioned on 19 July 1997 with Commander David M. McCall in command.
History[]
The USS Seawolf was a product of the Cold War, designed as a replacement for the Los Angeles-class submarines and as a response to the Soviet Akula class. According to the Navy's "Undersea Warfare" magazine, Seawolf is quieter at high speed than a Los Angeles submarine is pierside.[1] Originally 29 were planned for production, but with the end of the Cold War, the cost was judged to be prohibitively high and only 3 were built in favor of the smaller Virginia-class submarines, which were expected to be about 10% cheaper.
Between 25–27 March 2006, a series of anti-submarine warfare exercises were held in Hawaiian waters that included the Seawolf; Carrier Strike Group Nine; the nuclear-powered attack submarines Cheyenne, Greeneville, Tucson, and Pasadena, as well as land-based P-3 Orion aircraft from patrol squadrons VP-4, VP-9, and VP-47.[2][3]
On 22 July 2007, the submarine transferred from her previous homeport of Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, to permanently reside at SubBase Bangor in Silverdale, Washington]].[4]
Adding support personnel as well as ship's crew, there are 140 personnel attached to the Seawolf.[4]
Awards[]
1997[]
- Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation (1995–1997)
2001[]
2002[]
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (2002 – ?)
2004[]
2007[]
- Tactical White "T"
- Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbon
- Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award
- Meritorious Unit Commendation
2009[]
References[]
- ↑ Foutch, Michael. "SEAWOLF at SEA". http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/usw/issue_15/seawolf.html. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
- ↑ Photographer’s Mate Airman Tim Roache and Journalist 2nd Class Michael Cook (17 March 2006). "Lincoln Carrier Strike Group Conducts Undersea Warfare Training". NNS060317-06. USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs. http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=22758. Retrieved 2010-12-24.
- ↑ "Carrier Strike Group 9 Enters 7th Fleet AOR". NNS060320-11. USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs. 20 March 2006. http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=22794. Retrieved 2010-12-24.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 U.S. Navy News Service. 24 July 2007. NNS070724-15. USS Seawolf Makes New Home In Pacific Northwest. http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=30735
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