Pennsylvania (SSBN-735): Saga of an Incredible One's (Part-II)

After "Part-I"....

A torpedoman is checking the fire control console in the torpedo room of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

A torpedoman is checking the number two torpedo tube on board the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

Sailors man the periscopes on board the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735). One is the spotting scope and the other is the shoot scope.

A sailor mans the main conole of the ships Ballast Control Panel on board the nuclear-powered ballistic submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735), November 1995.

A view looking aft from the fairweather sail of the nuclear-powered ballistic submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) as the ship cruises off the coast of Georgia. The American flag is shown flying from the bridge staff, November 1995.

Port side view of the fore section of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) underway off the coast of Georgia, November 1995.

An aerial starboard bow view of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) underway, November 1995.

Submarine Centennial Day Proclamation, 11 April 2000, signed by the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania in honoring the State's namesake, Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

The Ohio class ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) arrives at its new homeport, Naval Submarine Base, Bangor, Wash. on 17 October 2002, after transiting from the Navy's submarine base in Kings Bay, Ga. Strategic deterrence has been the sole mission of the fleet ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) since its inception in 1960. The SSBN provides the nation's most survivable and enduring nuclear strike capability.

Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) coal theme card / commemorative post mark on the occasion of Pennsylvania's 15th year on station, 9 September 2004.

The Naval Intermediate Maintenance Facility (IMF), Bangor completed its 500th TRIDENT refit on 4 June 2004, for the Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) at Naval Submarine Base, Bangor.
This important milestone consisted of more than 36,000 production man-hours and 600 jobs performed on the submarine to accomplish planned incremental overhaul and repairs. The four-week long TRIDENT submarine refits have been accomplished at Bangor ever since the arrival of the Ohio (SSBN-726) in July 1982. IMF (formerly the TRIDENT Refit Facility) was built specifically for the purpose of maintaining the fleet at Bangor and was the model used for TRIDENT Refit Facility, Kings Bay, Georgia.
IMF has expertise in hull, mechanical, electrical, electronics, and weapons systems repair and continually responds to meet the fleet's maintenance and repair needs with on-time, cost-effective and quality service.
"It's an honor to be here at IMF as we celebrate the 500th Trident refit at Bangor." said CAPT Thomas H. Barge II, commanding officer of IMF. "Even as we mark this special event, we should remember that we got here by more than twenty years of quiet excellence, IMF civilian employees and Fleet Sailors working day-in and day-out to keep the TRIDENT Fleet ready for operations at sea."

An american submarine (Trident) leaving Pearl Harbor for commencement in Exercise RIMPAC 2004. The naval assets for RIMPAC 2004 included four U.S. Pacific Fleet nuclear-powered attack submarines, Key West (SSN-722), Louisville (SSN-724), Charlotte (SSN-766), and Olympia (SSN-717).
There are forward 5-inch countermeasures and no rear 6-inch countermeasures. If my knowledge is correct, the west coast boats had been converted to 6-inch prior to 2004 (or at least for the most part) which means that this picture is most likely of a prior east coast boat.......being either the Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) or the Kentucky (SSN-737). Also, the location of the aft draft reading typical of the east coast boats, the west coast ones usually have theirs a little more forward.

Overhead view of the Ohio class ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735), with sailors spelling out the word "Fifty" as they return to Naval Base Kitsap, Navy Region Northwest on Whidbey Island, WA. 20 July 2005.
Pennsylvania has just completed its 50th Patrol at sea and a significant moment in history for the submarine.

Gen. James Cartwright, Commander, U.S. Strategic Command; Cmdr. Dave Knapp, Commanding Officer, Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) (Gold); John Whisler, Jr. - CEO of Leo Daly architectural firm located in Omaha, Neb.; Cmdr. Michael Dobbs, Commanding Officer, Pennsylvania (Blue); Rear Adm. Frank M. Drennan, Commander, Submarine Group 9 and Captain Scott B. Bawden, Commander, Submarine Squadron 17 stand with crewmembers of Pennsylvania and the Olympic mountains in the background during the presentation of the Omaha Trophy at Silverdale, WA, 25 July 2005. The trophy was given to Pennsylvania for being the "best of the best" Trident submarine in 2004.

Chief Culinary Specialist Bryan Syster, culinary specialist division leading chief petty officer of the ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) Gold crew, takes a 40-pound odor barrier bag of plastic saved during the most recent patrol to shore for disposal on 12 May 2008. Pennsylvania is the first ballistic missile submarine to go underway with the new zero plastic waste discharge instruction and successfully saved nearly 2000 pounds of plastic.

The Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) returns to its homeport of Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor following sea trials on 19 September 2012.

Pennsylvania (SSBN-735): Saga of an Incredible One's (Part-I)

Cut out of the Ohio Class submarine.

The Launching & Christening Ceremony of the Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) on 23 April 1988.

Pennsylvania (SSBN-735), under construction at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT. 1988.

Louisville (SSN-724) slides down the building ways at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics, Groton, CT., 14 December 1985. The nearly complete boomer in the background is the Tennessee (SSN-734). The other parts belong to the Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

The officers and crew of the Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) stand on her bow during her after her launching at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT., 23 April 1988. The partly completed West Virginia (SSBN-736) appears on the left.

Pennsylvania (SSBN-735), probably during her alpha sea trials off the Atlantic coast, 1988-89.

Capt. Norman Cram, chaplain, delivers the invocation during the commissioning ceremony of the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

Guests depart from the deck of the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) following the vessel's commissioning ceremony on 9 September 1989.

Acrylic on canvas painting by the artist William H RaVell III entitled 'Pennsylvania (SSBN-735)'. It is currently hanging in the boat's Ward Room.

A view of an enlisted berthing area aboard the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735), 9 September 1989, at New London, CT. The lower bunk at center has been propped up to show the gear storage space located beneath it.

Scaffolding surrounds the sail structure of the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) while the submarine undergoes maintenance at the Trident Refit Facility dry dock at Kings Bay, Georgia on Mar 1992.

Crewmen gather on the deck of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) as the ship prepares to depart for sea from the Naval Submarine Base.
Note the "Lower all masts and antennas" sign in the nearby facility, November 1995.

Low oblique stern view of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) departing the Kings Bay Submarine Base under escort of two commercial tugboats.

A view of the complexity of the Ballast Control Panel on board the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

A view taken through the spotting periscope of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) showing the ship's stern, November 1995.

A view looking forward from the top of the fairweather sail of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) as the ship steams off the United States coastline. A lookout uses binoculars to scan the horizon.

Members of the ship's security force of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) carry out a security drill. Note all personnel are wearing gas masks.

Quartermaster Second Class (QM2) Warrick checks the navigational chart at the plotting table in the ship's control center of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

Personnel are shown manning their post at the Fire Control Station of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

To be continued to the "Part-II"....

Pakistan likely to buy advanced S20 (Type 041 Yuan class) submarines from China

A senior Pakistani official recently told the UK's Jane's Defence Weekly that the country is likely to purchase six submarines from China. 

The official said the deal will be completed soon and an agreement is expected to be signed by both parties by the end of the year.

The Sina news web portal also cited a Pakistani official who said Islamabad and Beijing had settled the details for the arms sales and only the payment issue needed to be finalized.

The Pakistani source revealed that the S20 diesel-electric submarines, an improved model of the People's Liberation Army's Yuan-class submarines, may be the model that Pakistan will buy because China has actively promoted the model in the global market.

The S20 was developed based on the Type 039 submarine, which is referred to as Yuan class by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and which measures 66 meters in length, 8m in beam and 8.2m in draft.

The surface displacement of the submarine is 1,850 tonnes and its submerged displacement is 2,300 tonnes, with a maximum speed of 18 knots. It can reach 8,000 nautical miles at 16 knots and it can carry 38 crew members in total for 60 days.

It uses a double hulled structure and its maximum dive depth is 300m.

Selling diesel-electric submarines to Pakistan will further consolidate China's role as a supplier for the country’s weapons and military equipment and enhance the Pakistan Navy's combat capability.

At present, the Pakistan Navy has five aging submarines bought from France — three Agosta 90B-class submarines purchased in the 1990s and two Agosta 70-class submarines, bought in the late 1970s.

Pakistan Submarine Capabilities

The Pakistan Navy operates a fleet of five diesel-electric submarines and three MG110 miniature submarines (SSI). Although these vessels are currently based at Karachi, it is possible that in the future some may also be based at Port Ormara. The nucleus of the fleet is comprised of two Agosta-70 boats and three modern Agosta-90B submarines, all of French design. Pakistan's third Agosta-90B, the S 139 Hamza, was constructed indigenously and features the DCNS MESMA (Module d'EnergieSous-Marin Autonome) air-independent propulsion (AIP) system. Pakistan began retrofitting the two earlier Agosta-90B vessels with the MESMA AIP propulsion system when they underwent overhaul in 2011.

 

Hangor (Daphne) Submarine

The Agosta-90B Hamza (Khalid-class) was constructed at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW). Pakistani officials and media outlets extolled the accomplishment, treating the indigenous submarine's 26 September 2008 commissioning as a significant step in the enhancement of the country's naval capabilities vis-à-vis India. It is the first conventional submarine in the Indian Ocean to feature the AIP system (in this case a 200KW liquid oxygen MESMA AIP), which allows the vessel to increase its submerged endurance for up to 3 weeks and improves its stealth characteristics.

 

Hashmat (Agosta 70) Submarine 

During the 1971 war between India and Pakistan, India effectively blockaded the port of Karachi, Pakistan's only major harbor. In response, Islamabad was able to curtail India's naval supremacy only through the use of its submarine force, which sank one Indian frigate. Drawing on these experiences and the perceived threat posed by a larger Indian Navy, Pakistan has been continuously investing in its submarine force, within the constraints posed by its economy.

An effective sea-denial capability is vital to Pakistan. Given that over 96 percent of this trade is seaborne, the Pakistan Navy and its submarine fleet is charged with protecting the country's sea lanes of communication (SLOC).

 

Khalid (Agosta 90B) Submarine

Developments in India's naval infrastructure and force posture significantly inform Pakistan's own naval planning. In February 2001, the Pakistan Navy publicly considered the deployment of nuclear weapons aboard its submarines, arguing that it had to keep pace with developments in India. Islamabad later rescinded its statement in January 2003, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to a "minimum credible deterrence." In the wake of India's short-range Agni-I test that month, then Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Shahid Karimullah left the option open, saying that the country had no plans to deploy nuclear weapons on its submarines, and that it would do so only if "forced to." But most experts agree that Pakistan is, at the very least, attempting to develop a sea-based version of the indigenously built nuclear capable ground-launched 'Babur' cruise missile. This missile is similar in design to the American Tomahawk and Russian KH-55 cruise missiles.

Pakistan has explored options to purchase additional advanced diesel-electric submarines in an attempt to address the country's "critical force imbalance" with India, which plans to begin acquiring six French AIP-equipped Scorpène submarines at a rate of one per year in 2014. Discussions between the Pakistan Navy and Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) began in 2004 concerning the possible purchase of three diesel-electric Type 214 submarines equipped with an AIP system based on fuel cell technology. Although the deal appeared close to completion in 2008, it stalled over financing concerns and German political opposition to fueling an arms race in South Asia. Parallel to the negotiations with TKMS, France also attempted to sell its Marlin or Scorpène-class submarines to Pakistan, and revived discussions after Pakistan failed to finalize the contract with Germany. In May 2011, the Pakistani cabinet approved the start of negotiations with China over the purchase of diesel-electric submarines equipped with AIP.

Pakistan is planning to acquire six AIP conventional submarines

Pakistan is planning of buying six more submarines with options for joint development of future submarines with China. The reason for that is, because Pakistan is seeking for ways to strengthen its under-sea warfare capabilities.  

For now it is unknown what the class of the submarines is, but according to anonymous information Islamabad required an advanced under-sea vessel with air independent propulsion (AIP) system. This system will give the submarine the capability of staying submerged for longer and operating noiselessly.

The Co-development will not only include projecting and manufacturing, but also training of Pakistani personnel, upgrades of Pakistan Navy’s shipyard and other things. At the moment Pakistan is finalizing a deal of inducting 36 J-10 fighter aircraft from China in a deal which has an estimated worth of over USD 1.4 billion. Islamabad and Beijing are also collaborating to build an advanced fighter — JF-17 or ‘Thunder’.