Name Alaska Ordered 27 February 1978 Sponsored by Mrs. Catherine Stevens Construction started 9 March 1983 | Namesake State of Alaska Laid down 9 March 1983 Commissioned 25 January 1986 Launched 12 January 1985 | |
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Builder General Dynamics Electric Boat | ||
USS Alaska (SSBN-732), is a United States Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine which has been in commission since 1986. She is the fourth US Navy ship to be named for the Territory or State of Alaska, also known as "The Last Frontier".
Contents
Construction and commissioning
The contract to build Alaska was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 27 February 1978 and her keel was laid down there on 9 March 1983. She was launched on 12 January 1985, sponsored by Mrs. Catherine Stevens, wife of US Senator Theodore F. Stevens of Alaska; and commissioned on 25 January 1986, with Captain Paul L. Callahan in command of the Blue Crew and Captain Charles J. Chotvacs in command of the Gold Crew.
Service history
Alaska spent much of 1986 engaged in shakedown training for her two crews and in clearing up the many details that attend a new fleet ballistic missile submarine’s addition to the Fleet. She operated initially from New London, Connecticut, and Port Canaveral, Florida, but shifted homeports to the Pacific Northwest later in the year, 4 September-1 October 1986. Alaska sailed through the Panama Canal, and visited San Francisco, California, 21–29 September, while en route. She then served with Submarine Squadron 17, Submarine Group 9, at Naval Submarine Base Bangor, Washington. Alaska sailed on her first missile deterrent patrol, manned by her Blue Crew, in the Pacific, 7 December 1986–19 February 1987. Her Gold Crew carried out Patrol 2, 16 March–28 May 1987.
She completed an engineered overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, 1 May 2000–9 December 2001. The work included a Trident II D5 “backfit” that enabled Alaska to fire the improved version of the submarine launched ballistic missile. In addition, the overhaul upgraded her to shoot the Mk 48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP) torpedo. Alaska had carried out 47 Trident I C4 and 12 Trident II D5 deterrent missile patrols when she sailed from Kitsap for the final time on 8 July 2006. The submarine subsequently completed a 27.5-month engineered refueling and overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia, on 8 March 2009. Alaska shifted to Submarine Squadron 20, Submarine Group 10, at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, on 1 May 2009 - she arrived at Kings Bay on 1 April. On 28 April 2010, the Navy announced plans to convert living spaces on board Alaska to accommodate female crewmembers.
Awards
Alaska was awarded the 2004, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016 Navy Battle Efficiency "E" ("Battle E") award for being the most valuable asset in her squadron. She also received the 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016 Commander, United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) Omaha Trophy. The Omaha Trophy reflects the ability of an SSBN to execute its primary mission, emphasizing strategic deterrence and its evolving role in global operations.
Additionally, she was awarded the 2014 Battenberg Cup, an award given to the best ship or submarine in the Atlantic fleet. She is the first ballistic missile submarine in history to win the award.