Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, one of four public US Navy yards, delivered Virginia-class attack submarine USS California (SSN 781) back to the fleet on June 15 as the fastest availability of its kind since the Navy adjusted the Virginia-class maintenance cycle.
Virginia-class submarines currently undergo an extended docking selected restricted availability (EDSRA) at the six year mark. Prior to 2015, the maintenance cycle was just four years.
According to the Naval Air Systems Command, the completion of California’s maintenance availability displayed schedule acceleration following the initial impact of the pandemic, resulting in a record setting delivery.
California and her crew of 15 officers and more than 115 enlisted personnel arrived at PNS in May 2019. California Project Superintendent Dave Simoneau applauded his team and the ship’s crew for their accomplishment.
“The workforce at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the crew of California have proven what teamwork, respect, and ownership can accomplish,” said Simoneau. “The success achieved in maintaining the EDSRA schedule is the direct result of these men and women leaning in and owning it every day! They are the reason we are able to win the ‘Race to Combat Readiness’ and return California to the Fleet in record time to help protect our nation.”
California is the seventh Navy ship, and first submarine, to be named after the Golden State. It is the eighth Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarine built to excel in anti-submarine warfare; anti-ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. California was commissioned Oct. 29, 2011. California’s motto is Silentium Est Aureum (“Silence is Golden”), which pays tribute to both the submarine force’s motto, The Silent Service, and California’s state motto, The Golden State.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is the Navy’s center of excellence for fast attack submarine maintenance, modernization, and repair.
