USS District of Columbia

For other ships with the same name, see USS Columbia.
USS District of Columbia
Graphic artist concept (2012)
History
United States
NameDistrict of Columbia
NamesakeDistrict of Columbia
BuilderGeneral Dynamics Electric Boat
Laid down4 June 2022
Sponsored byEleanor Holmes Norton and Muriel Bowser[1]
StatusUnder construction
General characteristics
Class and typeColumbia-class submarine
Displacement20,810 long tons (21,140 t) (submerged)
Length171 metres (561 ft)
Beam13 metres (43 ft)
PropulsionTurbo-electric drive, pump-jet
RangeUnlimited
Complement155
Armament16 × Trident D5

USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826) will be the lead boat of the United States Navy's Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines and the Navy's first vessel to be named for the District of Columbia.

On 25 July 2016, U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced that the new submarine would be named USS Columbia.[2] The Navy already had a USS Columbia (SSN-771), an attack submarine commissioned in 1995, which was expected to retire before the missile submarine was commissioned. But after the Navy decided to prolong the attack sub's service, the new submarine's name was changed to avoid having two active vessels with the same name.[3] On 3 June 2022, the Navy announced that the new submarine would be named USS District of Columbia.[1]

In 2021, construction began on District of Columbia at General Dynamics' Electric Boat facility in Quonset Point, Rhode Island.[4] A keel laying ceremony was held at the shipyard on 4 June 2022.[1] Completion of District of Columbia is scheduled for 2030, followed by her entry into service in 2031.

The USS District of Columbia has been assigned to Submarine Squadron 16.[5]

  1. ^ a b c "SECNAV Names SSBN 826 USS District of Columbia". United States Navy. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Navy Ohio Replacement Sub Class to Be Named for D.C." usni.org. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  3. ^ Katz, Justin (5 June 2022). "Navy, General Dynamics lay the keel for newly renamed USS District of Columbia". Breakingdefense.com. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  4. ^ "First Columbia Ballistic Missile Submarine Begins to Take Shape". United States Naval Institute. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Commander, Submarine Squadron 16". US Navy. Retrieved 9 July 2024.