Step Aboard The Navy's $2.4 Billion Virginia-Class Nuclear Submarine Walter Hickey <http://us.mg204.mail.yahoo.com/author/walter-hickey> and Robert John (loading images...please wait .) [image: uss virginia]
Christina Shaw / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=17219> The USS *Virginia*-class submarines<http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/nssn/>are the United State's newest and most advanced submarine. The first Virginia slipped beneath the waves just eight years ago and only nine vessels have been completed. They take more than five years to build and run about $2.4 billion apiece. Here, we look at the Virginia class of submarines from stern to bow, finding out what makes these ships unique. We'll start in the engine room, move our way over the reactor, through the barracks to the command center and down into the torpedo room. The Virginia-class submarine is a new breed of high-tech post-Cold War nuclear subs [image: The Virginia-class submarine is a new breed of high-tech post-Cold War nuclear subs] Christina Shaw / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=17219> The submarines are nearly 400 feet long and have been in service since 2003 [image: The submarines are nearly 400 feet long and have been in service since 2003] US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=7777> The ships were designed to function well in both deep sea and low-depth waters [image: The ships were designed to function well in both deep sea and low-depth waters] David Nagle / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=1922> So far, nine have entered service — here is Cheryl McGuiness, the widow of one of the pilots killed on 9/11, christening the USS New Hampshire [image: So far, nine have entered service — here is Cheryl McGuiness, the widow of one of the pilots killed on 9/11, christening the USS New Hampshire] John Narewski / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=60444> Here are the USS Virginia's engines, which powers a pump-jet propulsor rather than a conventional propeller [image: Here are the USS Virginia's engines, which powers a pump-jet propulsor rather than a conventional propeller] US Navy / Wikimedia Commons<http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SSN774_diesel_engine_040821-N-2653P-003.jpg> This design cuts back on corrosive damage and also makes the ship stealthier [image: This design cuts back on corrosive damage and also makes the ship stealthier] Tosaka / wikimedia<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ship%27s_Waterjet_system_(cut_view)_NT.PNG> The engine room, near the sub's stern, is the place where power from the SG9 nuclear reactor core drives the ship to nearly 32 mph when it's submerged [image: The engine room, near the sub's stern, is the place where power from the SG9 nuclear reactor core drives the ship to nearly 32 mph when it's submerged] James Pinsky / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=29388> This hallway — extending from the engine room, over the reactor and through the living habitat in the center of the ship — is dark so that sailors can sleep [image: This hallway — extending from the engine room, over the reactor and through the living habitat in the center of the ship — is dark so that sailors can sleep] James Pinsky / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=29392> The ship has an airlock chamber with room for 9 SEALs [image: The ship has an airlock chamber with room for 9 SEALs] James Pinsky / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=29389> The SEALs can exit the sub while its underwater by passing through this airlock [image: The SEALs can exit the sub while its underwater by passing through this airlock] Andrew McKaskle / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=53231> This lock-out chamber is in the center of the ship [image: This lock-out chamber is in the center of the ship] Andrew McKaskle / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=53232> Submariners eat well — the quality of the food is designed to offset the stress and burden of living underwater for months at a time [image: Submariners eat well — the quality of the food is designed to offset the stress and burden of living underwater for months at a time] Roadell Hickman / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=65644> As one sailor said, "It's like having comfort food 24-hours a day [image: As one sailor said, "It's like having comfort food 24-hours a day] Jennifer A Villalovos / US Navy<http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=84654> Going further toward the bow of the sub, the command center is directly beneath the main sail of the sub and where the navigators do their work [image: Going further toward the bow of the sub, the command center is directly beneath the main sail of the sub and where the navigators do their work] Kevin S O'Brien / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=85338> The command center on the Virginia subs are much more spacious compared previous submarines [image: The command center on the Virginia subs are much more spacious compared previous submarines] Kevin O'Brien / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=55352> The command center doesn't have to be directly under the deck of the ship in the Virginia-class subs because there isn't a periscope. [image: The command center doesn't have to be directly under the deck of the ship in the Virginia-class subs because there isn't a periscope.] Peter Lawlor / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=114230> The monitor the Commander is looking at is this is the sub's "periscope" — a state-of-the-art photonics system, which enables real time imaging that more than one person can see at a time [image: The monitor the Commander is looking at is this is the sub's "periscope" — a state-of-the-art photonics system, which enables real time imaging that more than one person can see at a time] Jeremy Lambert / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=65672> The Virginia eliminates the traditional helmsman, planesman, chief of the watch and diving officer by combining them into two stations manned by two officers [image: The Virginia eliminates the traditional helmsman, planesman, chief of the watch and diving officer by combining them into two stations manned by two officers] James Pinsky / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=17918> The subs are equipped with a spherical sonar array that scans a full 360-degrees [image: The subs are equipped with a spherical sonar array that scans a full 360-degrees] Jennifer Villalovos / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=89712> The Virginia subs carry a full crew of 134 sailors [image: The Virginia subs carry a full crew of 134 sailors] Kevin O'Brien / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=55364> Despite computer navigation systems all routes are plotted manually as well [image: Despite computer navigation systems all routes are plotted manually as well] Roadell Hickman / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=38454> Down below the command center is the torpedo room, where it is possible to set up temporary bunks for special operations team [image: Down below the command center is the torpedo room, where it is possible to set up temporary bunks for special operations team] James Pinsky / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=29390> The ships carry up to 12 vertical launch tomahawk missiles and 38 torpedoes [image: The ships carry up to 12 vertical launch tomahawk missiles and 38 torpedoes] Kevin O'Brien / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=85339> Here an officer on the USS Texas fires water through the torpedo tubes as part of a test [image: Here an officer on the USS Texas fires water through the torpedo tubes as part of a test] Roadell Hickman / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=38453> The subs were designed to host the defunct Advanced SEAL Delivery system, a midget submarine that transported the Navy SEALs from the sub to their mission [image: The subs were designed to host the defunct Advanced SEAL Delivery system, a midget submarine that transported the Navy SEALs from the sub to their mission] Jennifer Villalovos / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=89713> The only thing in front of the torpedo room is the bow of the submarine, which contains sonar equipment and shielding designed to make the sub stealthier [image: The only thing in front of the torpedo room is the bow of the submarine, which contains sonar equipment and shielding designed to make the sub stealthier] James Pinsky / US Navy <http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=18031> Even as they are being built, new improvements and upgrades are being added into the design of the submarines [image: Even as they are being built, new improvements and upgrades are being added into the design of the submarines] US Navy Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/here-is-why-the-navy-is-betting-it-all-on-the-high-tech-virginia-class-submarine-2012-7?op=1#ixzz283gblkjS __._,_.___
