Name USS Jimmy Carter Ordered 29 June 1996 Christened 5 June 2004 Construction started 5 December 1998 Length 138 m | Namesake Jimmy Carter Laid down 5 December 1998 Commissioned 19 February 2005 Launched 13 May 2004 Beam 12 m | |
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Builder General Dynamics Electric Boat | ||
USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23) is the third and last Seawolf-class submarine in the United States Navy. She is named for Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States; Carter is the only President who had qualified in submarines, having served as a Communications Officer, Sonar Officer, Electronics Officer, Weapons Officer, and Supply Officer while on board USS Pomfret (SS-391). Jimmy Carter is one of the few ships of the United States Navy (and only the third submarine) to have been named for a person who was alive at the time of the ship's naming, and the only submarine to be named for a living former president.
Ship history
The contract to build Jimmy Carter was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 29 June 1996, and her keel was laid on 5 December 1998. Original schedules called for Jimmy Carter to be commissioned in late 2001 or early 2002, but on 10 December 1999, Electric Boat was awarded a US $887 million extension to the Carter contract to modify the boat for highly classified missions and testing of new submarine systems, missions previously carried out by USS Parche (SSN-683). During modification, her hull was extended 100 more feet to accommodate a 2,500-ton supplementary middle section with an ocean interface for divers, remotely operated vehicles, and special operation equipment; ROV handling system, storage and deployment space for mission systems; and a pressure-resistant passage between the fore and aft parts of the submarine to accommodate the boat's crew
Jimmy Carter was christened on 5 June 2004. The ship sponsor was former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. One result of the changes was that Jimmy Carter was commissioned more than six years after the USS Connecticut (SSN-22) and almost 4 months after the commissioning of the first of the Virginia-class submarine subs, the USS Virginia. Her six year and two month construction time is probably the longest in the history of the U.S. Navy for any ship other than an aircraft carrier. (The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is expected to take over seven years to complete.)
Jimmy Carter is roughly 100 feet (30 m) longer than the other two ships of her class, USS Seawolf (SSN-21) and USS Connecticut (SSN-22). This is due to the insertion of a plug (additional section) known as the Multi-Mission Platform (MMP), which allows launch and recovery of ROVs and Navy SEAL forces. The plug features a fairing over a wasp-waist shaped passageway allowing crew to pass between the fore and aft sections of the hull while providing a space to store ROVs and special equipment that may need to launch and recover from the submarine.
Jimmy Carter has additional maneuvering devices fitted fore and aft that will allow her to keep station over selected targets in odd currents. Past submarines outfitted this way were used to tap undersea cables, to intercept communications of foreign countries. Intelligence experts speculate that the MMP may find use in similar missions as an underwater splicing chamber for optical fiber cables.
On 24 January 2004 Commander David Bartholomew Jr., commanding officer of PCU (Pre-Commissioning Unit) Jimmy Carter was relieved of command because of a "loss of confidence" in his ability "pending further administrative or disciplinary action as appropriate." Captain Robert D. Kelso, deputy chief of staff of Submarine Development Squadron 12 at Naval Submarine Base New London, took temporary command of the PCU until a new commanding officer could be named.
On 19 November 2004 Jimmy Carter completed alpha sea trials, her first voyage in the open seas. On 22 December, Electric Boat delivered Jimmy Carter to the US Navy, and she was commissioned 19 February 2005 at NSB New London.
Jimmy Carter began a transit from NSB New London to its new homeport at the Bangor Annex of Naval Base Kitsap, Washington on 14 October 2005 but was forced to return when an unusually high wave caused damage while the submarine was running on the surface. The damage was repaired and Jimmy Carter left New London the following day, arriving at Bangor the afternoon of 9 November 2005.
On 16 June 2006 Commander David Honabach took command from Captain Kelso.
On 17 January 2008 Jimmy Carter was awarded the 2007 Battle Efficiency Award, commonly known as a "Battle E".
In June 2009 Commander Brian Davies took command from Captain David Honabach.
In November 2010 Jimmy Carter was revealed as the first US asset to provide intelligence after the North Korean bombardment of Yeonpyeong. Reports indicated that a UAV from the boat was used shortly after the incident.
In March 2012 Commander Brian Elkowitz relieved Commander Brian Davies as the Commanding Officer of Jimmy Carter.
Jimmy Carter was awarded the 2012 Battle Efficiency Award, commonly known as a "Battle E".
In May 2015 Commander Mel Smith relieved Commander Brian Elkowitz as the Commanding Officer of Jimmy Carter.