Non-Subscriber Extract
North Carolina takes heat out of welding glitch
By Tim Fish
03 March 2008
The US Navy has taken delivery of the fourth Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) after acceptance was delayed by welding problems and a faulty steam valve.
Following completion of builder's sea trials, North Carolina was handed over on 21 February at Northrop Grumman's Newport News shipyard. The boat will be commissioned on 3 May in Wilmington, North Carolina.
A Northrop Grumman spokeswoman told Jane's that three trial periods, which ranged from three to eight days, had tested the "complete range of the ship's capabilities including speed, manoeuvrability, navigation and weapons systems".
North Carolina was launched in April 2007 and was scheduled for delivery in December, until yard-wide pipework welding issues enforced a postponement to January 2008.
"The welding inspection delayed initial sea trials for the North Carolina by a few days," the spokeswoman said. "None of the welds on North Carolina were defective, and we are now working to submit a plan to the navy in April to address the long-term effects of the welding process issue."