Chris Oxley/Newport News Shipbuilding via US Navy
US Navy sidelines three newest submarines pending steam plant inspections
WASHINGTON — The US Navy has restricted the operations of its three newest submarines — including one placed in commission just last Saturday — pending inspections and repairs to a key steam plant component.
At issue are problems found with elbows in 10-inch pipes that funnel steam from the reactor plant to the propulsion turbines. Elbows are installed in piping to get around corners and other obstructions.
The problems, said a senior Navy official, were detected earlier this year, prompting a civil investigative demand leading to an investigation begun in April. A fleet message restricting operations of the three submarines was sent Aug. 5, and congressional authorities were notified the same day.
Update: Unauthorized repairs found on Navy's three newest subs (CNN).
WNU editor: At $2 billion a sub .... this is a costly "sideline".
1 comment:
WNU Editor,
More "concurrent" development successes.
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