Moored training ship explained

A moored training ship (MTS) is a United States Navy nuclear powered submarine that has been converted to a training ship for the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command's Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) at Naval Support Activity Charleston in South Carolina. The NPTU is part of the Navy's Nuclear Power School at Goose Creek, S.C. The Navy uses decommissioned nuclear submarines and converts them to MTSs to train personnel in the operation and maintenance of submarines and their nuclear reactors. The first moored training ship was a fleet ballistic missile submarine, redesignated as (MTS-635) in 1989, followed a year later by, a ballistic missile submarine, redesignated as (MTS-626). Conversion of these two boats took place at the Charleston Naval Shipyard and modifications included special mooring arrangements with a mechanism to absorb power generated by the main propulsion shaft.[1]

The Navy added two more moored training ships to this facility, [2] and,[3] a pair of attack submarines. The conversions for these two took place at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard[4] and they will then be taken to NSA Charleston. La Jolla became inactive in early 2015 and began the 32 month conversion to a training ship. Changes include having the hull cut into three sections, with the center section being recycled and the other two joined with three new sections, manufactured by Electric Boat, extending the overall length by 23 m (76 ft). The project was expected to be completed by the end of 2018.[5] San Francisco arrived at Norfolk to begin her conversion in January 2018.

With the addition of La Jolla and San Francisco, the Navy will retire Sam Rayburn and Daniel Webster.[6] Sam Rayburn will be relocated to Norfolk Naval Shipyard in 2021, to remain there until the inactivation process begins, and Daniel Webster will also be inactivated at Norfolk, sometime later.[7]

Moored training ships

Name Hull numberBuilderShip classLaid downLaunched CommissionedReclassified as MTSInactivated as MTS
SSBN-635Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.3 December 196220 December 19632 December 196431 July 19891 April 2021
SSBN-626General Dynamics Electric Boat28 December 196127 April 19639 April 196430 August 1990December 2023
SSN-701General Dynamics Electric Boat16 October 197611 August 197924 October 198115 November 2019Active
SSN-711Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.26 May 197727 October 197924 April 198116 August 2021Active

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MTS. globalsecurity.org. 6 January 2018.
  2. Web site: SSN-701. nvr.navy.mil. 6 January 2018.
  3. Web site: SSN-711. nvr.navy.mil. 6 January 2018.
  4. Web site: US Navy's Norfolk shipyard undocks USS La Jolla submarine. naval-technology.com. 6 December 2017. 6 January 2018.
  5. Web site: USS La Jolla reaches moored training ship conversion milestone. navaltoday.com. 1 December 2017. 6 January 2018.
  6. Web site: NNSY welcomes MTS Sam Rayburn for inactivation . 2024-05-25 . Naval Sea Systems Command . en-US.
  7. Web site: NNSY welcomes MTS Sam Rayburn for inactivation . 2024-05-25 . Naval Sea Systems Command . en-US.