Posted at 4:54 a.m., Friday, December 8, 2006
USS Hawaii passes first test with flying colors
Advertiser Staff
The USS Hawaii, which will be based at Pearl Harbor in 2007, has successfully completed its initial sea trials, The Daily Press of Virginia reported today.The Hawaii is the third Virginia-class submarine and the successful tests clear another milestone toward delivery, the Press reported.
Tests focused on hull tightness and integrity, propulsion plant tests, dives, high-speed surfaced and submerged runs, and system and component checks, according to the article.
"Hawaii's performance during her Alpha Sea Trials was superb," Navy Capt. Dave Johnson, program manager of the Virginia class, told the Daily Press. Sea trials evaluate the seaworthiness and readiness before the sub is turned over to the Navy.
The sub was built jointly by Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Newport News, with Electric Boat conducting final outfitting and delivery.
The USS Hawaii, which was christened in June, is one of 30 planned Virginia-Class nuclear-powered attack submarines.
The 377-foot-long sub joins the USS Virginia and USS Texas in the new line of Virginia-Class submarines. The sub will carry a crew of 132 officers and men.
