America deploys "killers" in the ocean
Specially engineered materials, unique aerodynamic design combined with water jet engines make Virginia-class nuclear submarines killers in the ocean.
The US Navy officially received the nuclear submarine USS Colorado (SSN-788) at the shipyard in North Kingstown (Rhode Island). It is noteworthy that the US officially put this new submarine into service in the context of Russia also putting into service a new generation submarine equipped with super weapons.
The USS Colorado, a Virginia-class submarine, began construction in March 2012. This is the fifth of eight Block III submarines. The Block III nuclear submarines of the US have many differences compared to previous versions, specifically, this type of submarine is equipped with a new sonar system with a completely different antenna system than before.
 |
| Virginia-class nuclear submarine of the US Navy. |
In addition, this type of submarine does not have a system of 12 launch tubes but only two launch tube clusters with a size of about 2.2 m, each launch tube cluster can not only carry 6 Tomahawk BGM-109 cruise missiles but in the future can be used for other weapons. The ship is also equipped with 4 torpedo launchers.
The USS Colorado can sink submarines and surface ships from a distance of more than 32km or destroy land targets with cruise missiles from a distance of thousands of kilometers.
The USS Colorado's stealth, endurance, firepower, and sensor modules enable the nuclear-powered submarine to fulfill five of the six core strategic maritime capabilities: sea control, force projection, forward deployment, maritime security, and deterrence.
The USS Colorado, along with the rest of the Virginia-class, is the US Navy's most advanced and modern attack submarine. It was designed to replace its predecessor, the Los Angeles-class, and even the more advanced, but expensive and complex, Seawolf-class.
The US Navy plans to build a total of 48 of these submarines, with 14 already completed and operational, and four more under construction. This is also the first class of US Navy submarines designed to be able to receive or deploy nine Navy SEALs while the ship is still submerged.
 |
