USS Cheyenne (SSN-773)

Summary

USS Cheyenne (SSN-773), the final Los Angeles-class submarine, is the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Cheyenne, Wyoming. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 28 November 1989 and her keel was laid down on 6 July 1992. She was launched on 16 April 1995 sponsored by Mrs. Ann Simpson, wife of Wyoming Senator Alan K. Simpson, and commissioned on 13 September 1996, with Commander Peter H. Ozimik in command. Cheyenne transferred to her homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in 1998.

USS Cheyenne (SSN-773)
USS Cheyenne (SSN-773)
USS Cheyenne pulling into port at Hawaii's Pearl Harbor in April 2003.
History
United States
NameUSS Cheyenne
NamesakeCity of Cheyenne
Awarded28 November 1989
BuilderNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
Laid down6 July 1992
Launched16 April 1995
Sponsored byMrs. Ann Simpson, wife of Wyoming Senator Alan K. Simpson
Christened1 April 1995
Commissioned13 September 1996
HomeportPNSY
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeLos Angeles-class submarine
Displacement
  • 6,000 long tons (6,096 t) light
  • 6,927 long tons (7,038 t) full
  • 927 long tons (942 t) dead
Length110.3 m (361 ft 11 in)
Beam10 m (32 ft 10 in)
Draft9.4 m (30 ft 10 in)
Propulsion
  • 1 × S6G PWR nuclear reactor with D2W core (165 MW), HEU 93.5%[1][2]
  • 2 × steam turbines (33,500) shp
  • 1 × shaft
  • 1 × secondary propulsion motor 325 hp (242 kW)
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)+
Test depth800 ft (244 m)+
Complement12 officers, 98 men
Armament
  • 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • 12 × vertical launch Tomahawk missiles

Cheyenne has served as a trials platform for flat-screen, interoperative sonar displays based on commercially available equipment.

Cheyenne was the first ship to launch Tomahawk missiles in Operation Iraqi Freedom[3] under the command of CDR Charles Doty. Cheyenne would go on to successfully launch her entire complement of Tomahawks, earning a "clean sweep" for combat actions in the final three months of a nine-month deployment. This dubbed her "First To Strike". Her motto is "Ride the Legend".

USS Cheyenne was the final Los Angeles–class submarine built by Newport News Shipyards. Following the construction of USS Cheyenne, Newport News began preparation for construction of the Virginia-class submarine.

History edit

Between 25 and 27 March 2006, a series of anti-submarine warfare exercises were held in Hawaiian waters that included USS Cheyenne; Carrier Strike Group Nine, the nuclear-powered attack submarines Seawolf, Greeneville, Tucson, and Pasadena, as well as land-based P-3 Orion aircraft from patrol squadrons VP-4, VP-9, and VP-47.[4][5]

In popular culture edit

References edit

  1. ^ "International Panel on Fissile Materials". fissilematerials.org. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Validation of the Use of Low Enriched Uranium as a Replacement for Highly Enriched Uranium in US Submarine Reactors" (PDF). dspace.mit.edu. June 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  3. ^ Rush, David (28 April 2003). "One of Navy's First Tomahawk Shooters of Operation Iraqi Freedom Returns to Pearl Harbor". United States Navy. Archived from the original on 7 August 2009.
  4. ^ Roache, Tim; Cook, Michael (17 March 2006). "Lincoln Carrier Strike Group Conducts Undersea Warfare Training". USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
  5. ^ "Carrier Strike Group 9 Enters 7th Fleet AOR". USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs. 20 March 2006. Retrieved 24 December 2010.

External links edit

  • "USS Cheyenne SSN-773 photo gallery". Maritimequest.