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dolphin badges 





Slides from 2012.












































Arctic ice
On deck after breaking through arctic ice.




     Welcome aboard:    Sea trials




Sea trials off New England, circa 1998









In Pacific



In the Pacific with  USS George Washington (CVN 73) in 2009.








 

This is a 6 minute CNN video from 2011 that includes USS Connecticut surfacing through arctic ice and underway interior scenes, too.  (Note that if you have any "ad blocker" software running, you may need to pause it to see this video).


USS CONNECTICUT news:
"Since we last spoke, progress on CONNECTICUT has been impressive.  July was packed with training and preparations for our Post-Overhaul Reactor Safeguards Examination (PORSE).  The inspection team gave us a good look, liked what they saw, and we passed the examination!  It was a huge win for the Crew.
 
Following the PORSE, we spent a bit of time making the final preparations to startup the reactor and engineroom.  Then on 16 August at 12:08, and 22 seconds, we took the reactor critical for the first time in 51 months!  A few hours later, we shifted the electric plant and divorced from shore power…we were now operating on nuclear power!  It was a great day and the Crew performed superbly.
 
We are loading our weapons handling skid today in preparations for the final grooming of the Torpedo Room and weapons handling system.  All in all, August has been a great month for CONNECTICUT."

  • We thank the Captain for this update, and wish all aboard continued success as they prepare their sub to again join fleet operations after a lengthy stay in the yards.
  • "Seapower", the international magazine of the Navy League, featured a story about our Council adopting the USS Connecticut in its September 2016 edition.  To read the article, see pages 65 and 66 of the edition here.
  • December 30, 2016 update:  we learned that the submarine got underway for sea trials after the lengthy stay in the yards of over 4 years. Below at bottom are 3 photos as they were getting underway.
  • January 31, 2017 update:  we received another update from the CO that was written for the crew's families and for us.  Here it is:  “CONNECTICUT Families! Happy New Year! 2017 is off to a great start. That being said, 2016 was a tremendous year. We completed the shipyard period and went to sea! I can think of no greater reward for the Crew than to be free of the shipyard.  Also, CONNECTICUT earned two awards in 2016.  First is the Engineering Readiness Red “E.” This is presented to the ship in the squadron with the best and most successful Engineering Department. However, it takes the entire crew to make the Engineers successful, so this is an award for the whole ship. I’m also extremely proud to report CONNECTICUT was awarded the Personnel Readiness White “P!” Technically, CONNECTICUT is not even eligible for this award, but our performance in the area of personnel readiness was superior to every other ship in the submarine force!  Because of this, my boss received special permission to award us with the Personnel “P.”  This award is truly an entire CONNECTICUT FAMILY award…we would not have been so successful without the support from our family
  •  and friends.  Thank you for helping the COB, XO, and I take care of the Crew and congratulations to all of you."  Bravo Zulu to all aboard for these important accomplishments.
  • May 15, 2017 update: CDR Carl Trask, from Glendora, California, relieved Cmdr. Brian Taddiken, as commanding officer of our adopted nuclear submarine.  "When I look at this crew, and I see all that they have done, I see the greatness that is America," said Taddiken.  Under Taddiken's leadership, the crew completed a 54-month depot modernization period, which was immediately followed by an Eastern Pacific deployment only three weeks after leaving the shipyard.

    The sub earned the Retention Excellence Award, two years in a row, and had the lowest unplanned loss rate in the entire submarine force. In 2016, the ship was awarded the Engineering Readiness Red "E". They also received the Personnel Readiness White "P", which is an award that the ship would not normally be eligible for because they were in the shipyard.

    Trask comes to Connecticut from Omaha, Nebraska, where he served as the branch chief for Ballistic Missile Requirements and Resources for United States Strategic Command.  "To the family and crew of Connecticut, I am humbled to be your captain," said Trask. "You have worked hard and sacrificed much to get the boat out of the shipyard and to sea.”

    Connecticut is one of three Seawolf subs.  Originally intended as a class of 29 submarines, the end of the Cold War and budget constraints led to the reduction. The class is significantly quieter than any Los Angeles-class submarine, faster, has more torpedoes tubes, and can carry more weapons.

    Our Council wishes the new skipper and crew continued success in their upcoming deployment; and very best wishes to the outgoing skipper.
  • October 25, 2017 update: the submartine was reported in August to be operating off San Diego with the nuclear carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and her escorting ships, as part of that strike group's Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPUTEX).  This extensive exercise is done in preparation for an overseas deployment of the group, and includes all warfare specialities including anti-submarine warfare.  In late August 2017, the sub returned to homeport Bremerton.  On October 17th, the submarine was reported to have made a brief stop at Naval Base Point Loma, San Diego, so is again operating off southerm California.  Our Council wishes the officers and crew continued success as they hone their skills on this formidable warship, operating in our defense!
  • April & May 2018 update: the submarine was involved in arctic exercises ("ICEX") with both another Navy sub and a sub from the U.K.  All three subs surfaced through acrtic ice in March (see photos below).  For details see the published story at:  www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=104692 
  • We also received details of the Exercise from the sub's Supply Officer, LT(jg) Dan Hurley: "ICEX was a great experience for the whole crew.... Some highlights:
    • the "blue nose" ceremony [initiating those who had never before cruised in Arctic waters] was a lot of fum; we have 130 new blue noses onboard now;
    • we conducted multiple surfacing evolutions and had ice liberty for almost all of them; crew played football, soccer, and even golf.
    • we surfaced at the North Pole, where 4 crew members received their dolphins and many had a chance to smoke cigars and take photos, as well as collect lots of Arctic water;
    • [USS] Hartford and HMS Trenchant surfaced by us, and we had the opportunity to tour the British submarine and many got cool British souvenirs;
    • we had a successful DV [Distinguished Visitor] cruise, where we hosted the VCNO [Vice Chief of Naval Operations], senators, congressmen, and British military and civilian guests.
    • overall it was a lot of fun and the who;e crew really enjoyed the uniques experience.  We have now focused our shift to ORSE [Operational Reactor Safeguard Exam] and pre-deployment training."
  • Our Council thanks Lieutenant Hurley for this detailed update and wish all onboard every success as they prepare for the upcoming deployment!  And Bravo Zulu on your successful cruise way up north!
USS CT and Hartford in arctic
  • Photo at bottom shows USS Connecticut in center foreground, USS Hartford top left and HMS Trenchant top right.  Photo directly below shows USS Connecticut returning to Bremerton homeport after ICEX on May 8, 2018:
USS CT returning from ICEX
Ice Ex

August 2019 update
  • USS Connecticut deployed to the Western Pacific in July 2018, returning to the west coast in January 2019.  While deployed, the submarine visited Yokosuka, Japan in August and October 2018, and Gardner Island Western Australia in December.  Connecticut departed Bremerton homeport for routine ops on March 5, 2019 and later that month entered drydock for routine maintenance.  
  • Connecticut was awarded the coveted "Battle E" award in 2019 (congratulations!)
  • On August 8, 2019 Commander Cameron Aljilani relieved Commander Carl Trask as Commanding Officer in a ceremony at the Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport Washington. See CDR Aljilani's bio by clicking the "leadership" tab at the top of this page. See full press release of the ceremony by clicking here.  
  • quoting from the press release:
    • Trask took command of Connecticut in April 2017.  During his tour, the boat spent 462 days underway,.... steamed 102,022 miles,... enough to sail around the world four times.


      •
    • Per Trask: "we earned the title fastest running, deepest diving, most heavily armed submarine in the world".
    • The new CO Aljilani said: "Connecticut is one of the most capable warships in the world.  In combat, there are no trophies for second place.  We are the "Arsenal of the Nation". We are ready to receive the call to arms, the call to go in harn's way, we will be ready. Ready to fight. Ready to win".  
July 2021 update:

  • Connecticut completed a 3.5 month deployment to the 3rd Fleet area of operations (North Pacific, Berring Sea, and Artctic) returning to Bremerton in late April 2020.  In September 2020, the sub was operating at sea in the San Diego 
  • area, returning to Bremerton homeport in late December 2020. Also in December, the CT Governor recognized the sub's 22 years since commissioning.
  • in May 2021, the sub departed Bremerton for deployment to the northern and western Pacific.  In July, the sub made a brief stop at Yokosuka, Japan.
December 2022 update:
  • In May 2021, the submarine departed Bremerton homeport for a deployment to the northern and western Pacific.  In July 2021, the sub made a brief stop in Yokosuka, Japan.
  • In early Octoer 2021, the submarine hit an underwater sea mount in the South China Sea, then returned to Guam with 11 injured crew members (none serious).  On November 4, 2021, the Commanding Officer, Executive Office, and Command Master Chief were relieved of their duties for cause.  The Navy issued a formal report on the collision in May 2022 and it can be seen here.
  • a temporary Commanding Officer was named who subsequently was relieved by Commander Jonathan Baugh, (who in turn was relieved by Commander Andrew Ra in March 2024).
  • In July 2022, the Navy Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) announced that, after a detailed review of the collison damage, the sub will be repaired at a Washington state shipyard and returned to active service.
  • Our Council best wishes go out to the submarine's officers and crew as they work to get USS Connecticut back in fighting trim for many important future mssions.
April 2024 update:
  • the submarine continues to be worked on in the shipyard especially the bow area that was heavily damaged as described above.
  • there was a change of command ceremony on March 22, 2024, where Commander Baugh was relieved by Commnder Andrew Ra.  We welcome the new CO onboard and wish him well.