USS Ohio (SSGN-726)
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 USS Ohio SSGN conversion |
|
| Career (US) |  |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | U.S. state of Ohio |
| Ordered: | 1 July 1974 |
| Laid down: | 10 April 1976 |
| Launched: | 7 April 1979 |
| Commissioned: | 11 November 1981 |
| Homeport: | Bangor, Washington |
| Motto: | Always first. |
| Nickname: | Ohydro |
| Fate: | Active in service as of 2008 |
| Badge: |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: |
Surfaced: approx. 16,765 tons |
| Length: | 170.69 meters (560 feet) |
| Beam: | 12.8 meters (42 feet) |
| Draft: | 11.5 meters (38 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 1 × S8G reactor |
| Speed: | 20+ knots (37+ km/h) |
| Complement: | 13 officers, 140 men |
| Armament: | 4 × 21-inch torpedo tubes 154 × BGM-109 Tomahawks in 22 groups of seven. |
USS Ohio (SSGN-726), the lead ship of her class of nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarines, was the fifth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 17th state. She was commissioned with the hull designation of SSBN-726, and with her conversion to a conventional missile submarine she was re-designated SSGN-726.
The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 1 July 1974 and her keel was laid down on 10 April 1976 by Mrs. Robert Taft, wife of Senator Taft. On 2 February 1978, the Precommissioning Unit was formed with Commander A. K. Thompson as its Commanding Officer. Ohio was launched on 7 April 1979 sponsored by Mrs. Annie Glenn, wife of Senator John H. Glenn.
In the summer of 1981, sea trials were held to test the equipment and systems, and the submarine was delivered to the US Navy on October 28, 1981. On November 11, 1981, Ohio was commissioned. The principal speaker, George H. W. Bush, Vice President of the United States, remarked to the 8000 assembled guests that the ship introduced a "new dimension in our nation's strategic deterrence," and Admiral Hyman G. Rickover noted that the Ohio should "strike fear in the hearts of our enemies." On that day, Captain A. K. Thompson assumed command of USS Ohio (SSBN 726)(BLUE) and Captain A. F. Campbell assumed command of USS Ohio (SSBN 726)(GOLD).
Following Post Shakedown Availability at Electric Boat Division, Ohio left the Atlantic and transited to her new home port, Bangor, Washington, by way of Cape Canaveral where she tested her missile launch systems and the Panama Canal, arriving on August 12, 1982. During August and September 1982, the first loadout of Trident C-4 missiles and a predeployment refit were conducted. Ohio and her Blue Crew departed on the first Trident Submarine Strategic Deterrent Patrol in October 1982.
From June 1993 to June 1994 Ohio underwent overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, receiving extensive upgrades to sonar, fire control, and navigation systems. Ohio resumed strategic deterrent patrols in January 1995 as part of Submarine Squadron Seventeen, Submarine Group Nine, Pacific Submarine Force.
Original plans called for Ohio to be retired in 2002. However, Ohio and three sister ships have been modified and remain in service as conventional missile submarines (SSGNs). (See the discussion of the entire Ohio class for details.) In November 2002 Ohio entered drydock, beginning a 36-month refueling and conversion overhaul. Electric Boat announced on 9 January 2006 that the conversion had been completed. Ohio rejoined the fleet on 7 February 2006. On 21 January 2007, the Gold Crew departed Naval Base Kitsap for Hawaii to conduct a forward-deployed crew exchange, the first such forward-deployed swap in approximately 20 years.[1]
The Ohio left for her first mission on October 15, 2007. The Blue crew underwent several tests and inspections before completing a mission sometime in December. The Ohio is also the first one of the class to complete a mission.
[edit] Awards
- Acting Navy Secretary Robert B. Pirie, Jr. announced the 2001 winners of the Navy Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Awards and the Marine Corps Major General W.P.T. Hill Memorial Awards for outstanding food service in the Navy and Marine Corps. The formal presentation of the awards was made during the International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA) conference on Saturday, March 3, 2001, in Anaheim, California. The afloat galley first place winner in the Pacific fleet was the USS Ohio (SSBN-726) (blue).[This award was prior to her conversion from SSBN to SSGN]
[edit] References
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register.
- ^ Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW/NAC) Eric J. Rowley, Fleet Public Affairs Center Detachment Northwest. "USS Ohio Sailors Depart NBK for Historic Forward Deployed Crew Swap", Navy Newsstand, 2007-01-22. NNS070122-09. Retrieved on 2007-01-22. "USS Ohio (SSGN 726) (Gold) Sailors departed (NBK), Bangor, January 21, for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to conduct a crew swap with USS Ohio (Blue) crew. The boat left with her Blue crew from Bremerton for duty in the Pacific Ocean October 14, 2007, ultimately destined for Guam."
- Cole, William (October 23, 2007). Tricked-out sub stops at Pearl Harbor. Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved on 2007-10-25.
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