Summary and Key Points: After colliding with an uncharted seamount on October 2, 2021, USS Connecticut (SSN-22) suffered major bow damage that sidelined one of the Navy’s three Seawolf-class attack submarines.
-The command team was relieved after investigations found the incident preventable and tied to poor command climate and lax execution of key tasks.
Damaged USS Connecticut limping back to San Diego. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-Since then, Connecticut has been in extended dry-dock repairs and modernization at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, including the replacement of a specialized bow sonar dome with long lead times and limited spares.
-The submarine is expected back in service in late 2026, though some estimate 2027.
USS Connecticut Returns: The Seawolf-Class Sub Damaged In 2021 Is Finally Coming Back
The USS Connecticut (SSN-22), one of three Seawolf-class attack submarines, was severely damaged on October 2, 2021, after a collision with an uncharted seamount, which caused significant damage to its bow.
The impact on the seamount in the South China Sea, located off the coast of Japan, damaged the sonar dome, making underwater travel unsafe, several Navy officials said at the time.
The USS Connecticut (SSN-22) is expected to return to sea and resume service later this year. The nuclear-powered submarine has been undergoing extensive repairs at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington following the underwater mountain collision.
The Submarine’s Command Element Was Quickly Relieved
The submarine’s Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Cameron Aljilani, Executive Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Cashin, and Chief of the Boat Master Chief Sonar Technician Cory Rodgers were relieved from command following the completion of an investigation by U.S. 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Karl Thomas in early November 2021.
“We have very rigorous navigation safety procedures, and they fell short of what our standard was,” Naval Submarine Forces commander Vice Adm. William Houston said.
The Navy conducted an investigation and determined that the accident was preventable and resulted from a “command environment” and “lax attitudes toward the performance of key tasks,” leading to the relief of the commanding officer, executive officer, and chief of the boat from their duties.
Seawolf-Class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
PUGET SOUND, Wash. (Sept. 11, 2017) The Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23) transits the Hood Canal as the boat returns home to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor. Jimmy Carter is the last and most advanced of the Seawolf-class attack submarines, which are all homeported at Naval Base Kitsap. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Michael Smith/Released)
The command investigation led by the chief of U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Maritime Headquarters, Rear Admiral Christopher Cavanaugh, said the sub was sailing rapidly in an area of the ocean that was not charted properly.
Cavanaugh’s report noted that Commander Cameron Aljilani contributed to a “poor command climate” and his actions “set the conditions of the boat’s performance.”
After a month’s trip back to the West Coast of the US, the Connecticut entered into extensive repairs at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.
Repairs to the USS Connecticut Have Taken Five Years
The submarine required extensive and complex repairs at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, which have taken years to complete, as it was a rare Seawolf-class vessel, and a specialized sonar dome needed to be replaced.
The collision caused significant damage, primarily to the submarine’s bow sonar dome and ballast tanks.
BREMERTON, Wash. (Dec. 15, 2016) – The Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22) departs Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for sea trials following a maintenance availability. (U.S. Navy photo by Thiep Van Nguyen II/released)
Seawolf-class. Image: U.S. Navy.
The Seawolf-class submarine was one of only three such vessels, and its specific sonar dome and associated systems required complex, unique repairs that could not be readily salvaged from other vessels.
The Seawolf submarines are used for highly sensitive undersea surveillance and infiltration missions, and the loss of one of these three boats for more than five years has significantly degraded overall fleet readiness.
Extensive Shipyard Work And Upgrades
The submarine was moved to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for extensive repairs, including replacement of the damaged sonar dome and other hull components.
“USS Connecticut (SSN 22) is in Dry Dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) in Bremerton, Washington, undergoing an Extended Docking Selected Restricted Availability (EDSRA), which is a major maintenance availability that all submarines undergo during their maintenance life cycle,” a Navy spokesperson told TWZ in July of last year.
“The damage USS Connecticut sustained in October 2021 is also being repaired during this EDSRA. Connecticut is expected to return to service in late 2026. PSNS & IMF and Naval Sea Systems Command are continuing to prioritize investments in materiel, infrastructure, and personnel to meet the needs of the fleet.”
Long Repairs Due To The Shutdown Of The Production Line
Repairs are expected to be completed in late 2026, with the process taking several years due to the severity of the damage and the specialized nature of the repairs.
The Seawolf class production was cut short by the Navy at the end of the Cold War, as only three boats were ever built, all constructed in the 1980s. By cutting production short, the Seawolf class was the most expensive attack submarine ever built, each costing $3 billion, which translates to over $10 billion today.
Those production lines have been closed for a long time, and spare parts are no longer available.
The Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut transits the Pacific Ocean during Annual Exercise. ANNUALEX is a yearly bilateral exercise with the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The Navy is not just repairing the damage but also increasing the boat’s lethality during its time in dry dock.
“As one of the most advanced and stealth-capable submarines in the fleet, the vessel is seen as critical to future U.S. naval strategy in the Indo-Pacific. Its capabilities include speeds exceeding 35 knots, under-ice operations, and the ability to carry up to 50 weapons. That includes weapons like Mk 48 torpedoes, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.”
New Sonar Dome Requested In Navy’s FY 2025 Budget Request
“The Seawolf Class submarines’ sustainment strategy did not include the provisioning of replacement bow domes; therefore, no replacement bow domes for these in-service submarines are within the Navy’s inventory,” the budget requested.
“This program would procure one Seawolf-class bow dome for use in the event replacement is required. Funds in FY25 are to purchase a bow dome, which has a lead time of 3+ years.
“Congress approved an initial trench of $40 million for’ emergency repairs’ and an additional $10 million for a new bow dome in 2021.” However, that’s not believed to include the total cost of the boat’s repairs.
The USS Connecticut is scheduled to finish its repairs late this year and return to the fleet. However, some analysts estimate that the boat won’t be ready until 2027. The USS Seawolf is then expected to enter its own lengthy EDRSA, which will keep it in dry dock until 2029, leaving the Navy with only one Seawolf-class submarine on active duty.
The only other Seawolf-class submarine is the highly modified USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23), which was designed and built for underwater espionage missions and features a 100-foot-long Multi-Mission Platform (MMP) hull extension.
The prolonged repair work on the USS Connecticut highlights the precarious position of the US shipbuilding industry, where new construction, maintenance, and repairs are consistently over budget and behind schedule.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
