The U.S. Navy restricts the operation of three newest U.S. Submarines from operations due to a technical problem.
The three submarines, The USS Minnesota (SSN-783), USS North Dakota (SSN-784) and USS John Warner (SSN-785) are sidelined.
Highlights:
- General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), the Navy’s primary shipbuilder, determined the cause of the problem.
- Unauthorized and undocumented weld repairs were found on the elbows.
- Hence, the three steam pipe elbows has to undergo additional testing and repair.
- Steam pipe elbows connect a submarine’s nuclear reactors to its propulsion system.
The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) said that the additional inspections are being conducted by Hunting Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS) to rectify the issue.
