By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class(SW) James Kimber, Commander, Submarine Group 10 Public Affairs
KINGS BAY, Ga. (NNS) -- USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) returned to its homeport at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., July 29, following a 30-month refueling and overhaul (ROH) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
The ROH period required more than 400,000 workdays to ensure the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine can perform its critical global nuclear deterrent missions.
The reactor found in Navy nuclear-powered ships typically uses up its nuclear fuel about halfway through the desired 50-year lifespan. At the same time a ship is refueled, an overhaul is performed to provide extensive maintenance and renovation to extend the ship's service life. This can include removing systems and equipment onboard and replacing them with contemporary equivalents, as Tennessee had with some analog gear being upgraded to digital electronics.
According to the submarine's project supervisor Dennis Bevington, a project manager at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., Tennessee received a thorough cleaning and modernization during the ROH.
"We performed a complete overhaul of its steering and diving systems," said Bevington. "We also overhauled numerous hull valves and components based on the planned maintenance schedule. We then installed the reverse osmosis, a new battery and installed the first alteration on its engineering plant control systems, upgrading it from analog to microprocessor controls."
"This was the first major availability performed on a Trident that had an upgraded missile fire control system," said Bevington. "This made the testing program and follow on operational checks very challenging. The dedication and skill of the mechanics involved was always at the highest level though. We also implemented numerous improvements in our project management strategy."
The improvements included the employment of updated programs like Lean Release 3.0. The streamlined Navy project management program assists planners to better prioritize evolutions during maintenance periods. This maximized efficiency at the executive level leads to increased production in the project team and ship's work force efforts.
"Projects like this cannot be accomplished without the highest level of cooperation and teamwork between the ship and the yard," said Bevington. "Our focus and attention to safety and cleanliness led to the best safety record of any refueling to date. The crew of the Tennessee was the best, most highly motivated group of professionals I have ever seen. Our shipyard team also put in long, hard hours and overcame numerous obstacles along the way. In the end, the Tennessee was a perfect integration of not only the project and the ship, but every single shop and department in the yard. We all got there together as a shipyard team."
The submarine's move from the shipyard in Virginia to the submarine base in Kings Bay may offer battle commanders an additional asset in the protection of national security, but it also created an unavoidable matter for family members living in the Old Dominion: a mass permanent change of station, or PCS.
Tennessee command ombudsman, Michelle King, said the boat's command helped provide as much assistance as needed for families feeling the inevitable stresses of relocation.
"[The command] arranged a Smart Move meeting for the Sailors and their families last February," said King. "The meeting covered change-of-homeport letters, who would be affected and what to know when planning a move back down to Kings Bay. Representatives from personal property, the Camden County Chamber of Commerce, MWR, TRICARE and base housing attended the meeting and provided information to make the transition to Kings Bay a smooth one."
The meeting's name was borrowed from the Naval Supply Systems Command's online portal Smart Web Move, a program developed to help active duty personnel and their families plan and arrange household goods moves from their home computer. Tennessee Family Readiness Group (FRG) president Sarah Suarez said the command's initiative to push this web-based program and in inviting the experts to talk to the soon-to-be travelling families was appreciated.
"Happy families make happy Sailors," Suarez said. "Family readiness practices good moral values for families and because of that it makes a huge impact directly relating to the morale of the Sailor. Our husbands' mission is to go underway, get the job done right and return home safely to their families."
In addition to the command's proactive efforts, the FRG provided support and advice to other families who may have been transferring for the first time, or facing other strains.
"Our purpose is to help our families by building social bonds," Suarez said of the importance of the FRG. "Positive attitudes are more likely to grow along with a better understanding of deployments, and FRG meetings are a great way for the commands to hear the voice of family members."
No meeting was necessary to hear the voice of family members at the homecoming held at the Clubs of Kings Bay on base; this group was glad the Tennessee family was back at homeport.
"[Kings Bay] has such a small town feel to it," said Amy Murray, a Tennessee family member from Saratoga Springs, N.Y. "I have no family in the area, but if I'm ever sick or need help taking care of my son for a few hours, somebody will be at my door probably before I can even get out of my bed. I really like this area."
Jennifer Lanclos, another Tennessee spouse who recently separated from the Navy, said despite the heat and gnats in the southern Georgia summer, she feels the community is very supportive.
"The submarine community is a tight-knit community," said Lanclos, an Afghanistan veteran. "There's good communication and everyone here is friendly and trustworthy."
USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) is the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be named for the Volunteer State.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment