The Navy commissioned the fast-attack 377'x34' Virginia-class submarine USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795) on Oct. 14.
The Hyman G. Rickover is able to dive to depths greater than 800' and operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots. The submarine displaces 7,800 tons and is armed with 12 VPT tubes for BGM-109 Tomahawk, including four 21" torpedo tubes for Mk-48 torpedoes. Rickover has a crew of nearly 135 Navy personnel.
The ceremony culminated a years-long process for commissioning the USS Rickover, the second submarine to commemorate Adm. Hyman G. Rickover, who was often referred to as the father of the nuclear Navy. The first Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709) was commissioned in 1984, and deployed 12 times until its decommissioning in 2007.
“The commissioning of [this] ship is dedicated to a leader who reshaped our sea service through an unrelenting 63 years of service,” the Rickover’s commanding officer Cmdr. Matthew Beach said. “In front of you today on board this ship, the proud sailors of the next generation — Hyman G. Rickover — stand ready to continue this legacy of excellence guiding our ship into harm’s way and defending the values that we hold dear.”
Adm. Frank Caldwell, director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, highlighted Adm. Rickover’s “enduring impact” on the submarine force as “we celebrate 75 years of the nuclear propulsion program.”
“Admiral Rickover challenged what’s possible beginning with our first nuclear powered submarine — USS Nautilus,” Caldwell said. “In doing so, he changed our submarine force, he changed the nature of naval warfare, and he changed U.S. industry and shipbuilding forever.”
Fast-attack submarines are multimission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities — sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence. They are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare.
Fast-attack submarines project power ashore with special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or preparation of regional crises.
