Not long ago, the Huntington Ingles Industrial Company (HII) Newport News Shipyard (NNS) released an aerial video after the snow, showing 5 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers:
The Ford (CVN-78), which is undergoing PIA maintenance and upgrades, the Kennedy (CVN-79), which is 80% complete, washington (CVN-73), which is nearing completion of overhaul, the Stanis (CVN-74), which has just been overhauled for half a year, and the Enterprise (CVN-65), which is being dismantled.
In addition, the Joint Manufacturing Assembly Plant (JMAF) was built with the Enterprise (CVN-80) and miller (CVN-81). That is, the shipyard operates seven nuclear-powered aircraft carriers at the same time. But in fact, its capabilities are far more than that.
This is a summary of the 2021 annual work released by Newport News Shipyard (NNS), which operates 25 nuclear-powered ships at the same time:
14 Virginia-class nuclear submarines
2 Colombia-class ballistic missile submarines
3 Los Angeles-class nuclear submarines
4 Ford-class aircraft carriers
2 Nimitz-class aircraft carriers
There is no mention of the Enterprise (CVN-65) being dismantled, but if you count, there are 26 ships in operation at the same time.
The most surprising is the Virginia class, where it is generally believed that both Newport News Shipyard (NNS) and Electric Ship Company (EB) have 10-12 attack submarines built at the same time. In this way, the two companies can ensure the delivery of 2 "Virginia" class ships per year in the total cycle of 4-5 years, which is not expected to be 14.
Is the above data "exaggerated"? So let's take stock of whether it is true based on scattered public information, first look at the 14 "Virginia" class:
1. USS Montana (SSN-794)
The shipyard held a baptismal ceremony for the MONTANA (SSN-794) in September 2020.
After launch, the MONTANA (SSN-794) has been at the terminal for installation and commissioning throughout 2021. The first round of sea trials has recently been completed and will soon be delivered.
2. USS Rickover (SSN-795)
In early 2021, Newport News Shipyard delivered the propulsion system unit for the stern section of the USS Heyman Rickover (SSN-795) to electric vessel Company (EB). On July 31, the boat was launched at the Electric Boat Company (EB). It is the 22nd virginia-class nuclear submarine and is named after Admiral Heyman Rickover, the "father of the U.S. nuclear Navy," the first director of the Navy's Nuclear Propulsion Bureau, known as the "Old Thief."
3. USS New Jersey (SSN-796)
In October 2020, the 1st (bow sonar, weapons room) and 2nd (command tower, central control room) of the USS New Jersey (SSN-796) were transferred to the final assembly plant.
On November 13, 2021, the USS New Jersey (SSN-796) was launched at the Newport News Shipyard.
4. USS Iowa (SSN-797)
In August 2021, the 1st and 2nd modules of the Iowa (SSN-797) were shipped to General Dynamics (GD) Electric Marine Company (EB).
The IOS (SSN-797) is the 24th ship of the Virginia class. Next to it is the aircraft carrier "Stannis" (CVN-74) that is undergoing major repairs.
Newport News Shipyard (NNS) and Electric Marine Company (EB) manufacture different sections, and then exchange modules to complete the final assembly of each. They have worked together for more than five decades, building 62 Los Angeles-class and more than 20 Virginia-class nuclear submarines.
The barge sails on the East River in Manhattan, New York. The destination was Electric Ship's Quonset Point plant in Rhode Island, where it was completed and shipped to the Groton final assembly plant in Connecticut.
USS Massachusetts (SSN-798)
In July 2021, the 8th module (stern module) of the USS Massachusetts (SSN-798) is under construction.
On December 11, 2020, the USS Massachusetts (SSN-798) laid the keel. Affected by the epidemic, it became the least attended keel laying ceremony in the history of the shipyard: only the shipyard president, naval representatives, welders and several staff members were present.
Sheryl Sandberg, the sponsor of the USS Massachusetts (SSN-798) and Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, attended the ceremony via video.
6. USS Idaho (SSN-799)
On August 24, 2020, General Dynamics (GD) Electric Marine Company (EB) held a keel laying ceremony for the Idaho (SSN-799).
Newport News Shipyard (NNS) delivered the 8th (stern) and 9th (propulsion system) sections of the Idaho (SSN-799) to electric ship company's Quonset Point plant.
Built in 1973, the Kunxidian plant is the main branch of the electric ship company to produce nuclear submarine modules, and the main nacelles of the Ohio class, Seawolf class, Virginia class, and Columbia class are all manufactured here.
7. USS Arkansas (SSN-800)
In August 2021, the stern module of the USS Arkansas (SSN-800).
The 6th bay (engine room) of the USS Arkansas (SSN-800) was transported from Electric Shipping Company (EB) to Newport News Shipyard (NNS).
8. USS Utah (SSN-801)
The command tower of the USS Utah (SSN-801), the last of the Virginia-class Block IV.
The stern of the USS Utah (SSN-801) and the bow of the USS Massachusetts (SSN-798).
USS Oklahoma (SSN-802)
Personnel access unit of the OKLAHOMA (SSN-802) command tower. The boat is the first of the Virginia-class Block V.
USS Arizona (SSN-803)
Stern module of the USS Arizona (SSN-803).
Quality craftsman Angela Goodhart inspects the welds of the SSN-803 bow sonar system unit.
Ships 11-14: Different segments of the Longtail Shark (SSN-804), The Thorntail (SSN-805), Wahu (SSN-806), and Silver hanyu (SSN-807).
Through the above inventory of scattered information, it is proved that the plant built 14 "Virginia" class data at the same time, it seems that the construction speed of the class is accelerating, and the US Navy's "annual delivery of 2+" requirements is being implemented.
2 Columbia class ships:
Currently under construction are the Columbia (SSBN-826) and Wisconsin (SSBN-827) strategic missile submarines.
3 Los Angeles class ships:
USS Columbus (SSN-762) maintained in dry docks.
The Boise (SSN-764), which was completed maintenance in December 2021.
At the pier was the SSN-725, at the far end of the Virginia-class Montana (SSN-794). As of December 2021, 33 Los Angeles-class attack submarines have been decommissioned, and 29 are still in stock (including 2 modified training boats).
In Dry Dock 12, the old Enterprise (CVN-65) deck is painted with cutting lines and numbers. On the far ground are the structural modules of the new Enterprise (CVN-80) that have been built. The new Enterprise (CVN-80) has been under construction for four and a half years and will be laid in a few months.
The 4 Ford class and 2 Nimitz class have been introduced earlier.
The above is the details of the 26 nuclear-powered ships operated by the Newport News Shipyard in 2021. The shipyard employs a total of 25,000 people, including 5,000 designers and engineers.
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