USS Colorado Submarine to be Commissioned

By Commander, Submarine Forces Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. – The newest Virginia-class attack submarine, USS Colorado (SSN 788), will be commissioned at Naval Submarine Base New London, Mar. 17, 2018. It will be the 15th Virginia-class attack submarine to join the fleet.

As the most modern and sophisticated attack submarine in the world, the submarine can operate in both littoral and deep ocean environments and presents combatant commanders with a broad and unique range of operational capabilities. Colorado is a flexible, multi-mission platform designed to carry out the seven core competencies of the submarine force: anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, delivery of Special Operations Forces (SOF), strike warfare, irregular warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and mine warfare.

Colorado is a part of the Virginia-class’ third, or Block III, contract, in which the Navy redesigned approximately 20 percent of the ship to reduce acquisition costs. Colorado features a redesigned bow, which replaces 12 individual Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes with two large-diameter Virginia Payload Tubes (VPTs) each capable of launching six Tomahawk cruise missiles, among other design changes that reduced the submarines’ acquisition cost while maintaining their outstanding warfighting capabilities.

Colorado also has special features to support Special Forces, including a reconfigurable torpedo room which can accommodate a large number of personnel and all their equipment for prolonged deployments and future off-board payloads. Also, in Virginia-class SSNs, traditional periscopes have been replaced by two photonics masts that host visible and infrared digital cameras atop telescoping arms, which are maneuvered by a video game controller. Through the extensive use of modular construction, open architecture, and commercial off-the-shelf components, the Virginia class is designed to remain at the cutting edge for its entire operational life through the rapid introduction of new systems and payloads.

SSN 788 was built at Electric Boat in Groton, Conn and is 7,800 tons and 377 feet in length, has a beam of 34 feet and operates at more than 25 knots submerged. It is designed with a nuclear reactor plant that does not require refueling during the planned life of the ship, reducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time.

Annie Mabus, daughter of former Secretary of the Navy, Honorable Ray Mabus, is the ship’s sponsor.

The submarine Colorado will be the fourth U.S. Navy vessel to bear the Colorado name. The first USS Colorado (Screw Frigate) was named after the Colorado River, the second USS Colorado (AC 7) was an armored cruiser commissioned in 1905, and the third USS Colorado (BB 45) was the lead ship of its class and was commissioned in 1923.

For more information on the USS Colorado, visit navy.mil/coloradocommissioning.

If interested in attending the ceremony, please visit usscoloradocommittee.org/ to request tickets no later than Mar. 2.

For media interested in attending the Media Day (March 15) and/or Commissioning Ceremony (March 17), contact the Submarine Force Atlantic Public Affairs office at

(757) 836-1650, or via email at COMSUBLANT_NFLT_PAO@navy.mil by noon, Tuesday, March 8. No live trucks or vans will be authorized.

Media who are not able to attend the Media Day or Ceremony may request remote interviews with Colorado leadership and crew. These interviews will be scheduled on March 15 and 16.

For more on the U.S. Navy, visit navy.mil, .facebook.com/usnavy, .twitter.com/usnavy, or @USNavy on Instagram. For more news from Commander, Submarine Forces, visit .navy.mil/local/sublant/

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