Welcome

Welcome to USS Colorado (SSN-788) Commissioning Committee web site. USS Colorado (SSN-788) is the 15th Virginia Class submarine. She was delivered to the Navy on September 21, 2017. Having completed shakedown operations, she was commissioned on March 17, 2018 at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, CT. The Committee's purposes are to promote awareness within the state, provide support for the crew, and to help organize and raise money for the events surrounding commissioning.

09. October 2017 · Comments Off on USS Washington (SSN 787) Commissioned · Categories: Other Boats, Other Event

In ceremonies at Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday October 7th, USS Washington (SSN 787) joined the fleet as a commissioned US Navy warship. Held on pier 12 at the naval station, between three aircraft carriers at adjacent piers, the weather was bright and sunny on this October day in the Tidewater area. Ship’s sponsor, Elizabeth Mabus, gave the traditional “Man our Ship and Bring Her to Life” command as the crew ran aboard. This was preceded by remarks from shipbuilders and politicians from both Virginia and Washington state. The senior person from Washington was Lt. Governor Habib. Placing the ship in commission for the Chief of Naval Operations was Admiral Frank Caldwell, Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.

Earlier festivities were the Chairman’s Reception the evening before held at the Half Moon Cruise and Celebration Center. At this reception a number of sponsors presented gifts to the ship. Attending Washington’s events were Colorado Commissioning Committee Chair, JJ Mackin and his wife Florence, who were graciously invited by Washington’s Committee Chair, retired Rear Admiral Mike Sharp. They were able to observe the key events which will be invaluable in planning for Colorado’s Commissioning. Colorado is the next submarine to be commissioned on March 17th, 2018.

During the reception they spoke to Admiral Caldwell about Colorado. The Admiral rides all new construction submarines on their initial Alpha Sea Trials. He had very positive comments about the performance of the crew while he was aboard!

21. September 2017 · Comments Off on Colorado Delivered to the Navy · Categories: Construction, KeyEvent

Last week, PCU Colorado was at sea again for her third major trial, INSURV trial. During this period, the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey evaluates the material readiness of the submarine for the purpose of determining the quality of construction, compliance with specifications and Navy requirements, and to determine if builder responsible equipment is operating satisfactorily. Correcting some minor issues, Colorado was “delivered” to the Navy this morning, September 21st. This means that the construction period is complete and the Navy considers the ship operational.  The boat will enter a shakedown phase for the next several months and then reenter the shipyard for a Post Shakedown Availability where any material issues that arise during shakedown will be repaired.

We are hoping in the near future to get more pictures of the boat on sea trials to post.

31. August 2017 · Comments Off on Colorado Completes Initial Sea Trials · Categories: KeyEvent

PCU Colorado returned from sea trials on August 30 completing both the Alpha and Bravo trials. The first phase, Alpha Trials, lasted from 19th to the 22nd and included a range of submarine and propulsion-plant operations, submerging for the first time, and high-speed runs on and below the surface to demonstrate that the ship’s propulsion plant is fully mission-capable.The trials were directed by U.S. Navy Adm. James F. Caldwell Jr., Director – Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. Also participating in the sea trials were Capt. Jeffrey Heydon, supervisor of shipbuilding in Groton; and Jeffrey S. Geiger, president of Electric Boat. 

PCU COLORADO underway on Alpha Trials, August 19, 2017. Photo by Electric Boat

The crew preformed extremely well testing the boat to it’s design limits. After an inport period, the boat will return to sea for an inspection with the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV), which is the last major step before a ship is certified ready to be delivered to the Navy. Congratulations COLORADO!

Coincidentally, as SSN 788 completed her sea trials on August 30th, that day also marks 94 years since the commissioning of USS Colorado (BB-45). Their alumni association’s website notes:

“Thus in 1921, the third in the COLORADO lineage of fighting ships became the cynosure of international relations. The world saw the epitome of floating potency. Two years of fitting out elapsed between the 1921 launching of USS COLORADO (BB-45) and her commissioning on August 30, 1923. Captain Reginald Rowan Belknap (Annapolis ’91), veteran of the Spanish-American and World Wars, the Philippine Insurrection and the Boxer Rebellion, was ordered to command this newest addition the United States Fleet, the last such addition for many years in accordance with the Naval treaty.”

For more about BB-45 visit the USS Colorado Alumni Association  website.

Some additional pictures of COLORADO underway by Toni Franklin and Mary Keyes

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21. August 2017 · Comments Off on USS Colorado Crest Presented to State Capitol · Categories: Other Event

On Friday August 18th, the Colorado Thirty Group presented a bronze sculpture of the Ship’s Crest to the State Capitol. Don Addy, Executive Director of the Colorado Thirty group, State Senator Bob Gardner, Sponsor of the USS Colorado Support Bill passed in the last session of the legislature, and JJ Mackin, Chairman of the Commissioning Committee appeared before the State Capitol Improvements Committee to make the presentation. This crest is another copy of the one presented to the boat at Christening and now is mounted in the Wardroom. The Colorado Thirty Group has also presented a copy to the Pentagon and will present a fourth copy to the City of Colorado Springs in October. The crest will be mounted sometime next spring in the South wing of the Capitol

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The Colorado Thirty Group, founded in 1978, is a state-wide military support organization providing educational events to its participants. The group also provides Colorado military installation commanders with connections to communities in the state and acts in support of military missions.

09. August 2017 · Comments Off on Commissioning to be held in March; Crew prepares for Sea Trials · Categories: News & Updates

We have been anxiously awaiting confirmation of a commissioning date by the Navy. We had been working towards a target date of October 21st, but were recently informed that March 17th is the most probable date for Commissioning. This date is circulating with Navy circles, but needs to be formally approved by the Secretary of the Navy before it becomes official. The commissioning will now occur near the end of the post construction shakedown period instead of before. This was done to provide margin in event any construction issues arise during the upcoming sea trials and to provide more lead time for planning / contracting. While we are disappointed that the commissioning will be delayed, it gives us even more time to plan a great celebration!

Meanwhile  the crew has been busy with their preparations for sea trials. They are undergoing a series of events, namely Dock Trials and Fast Cruise and completing their crew certification to take the boat to sea for the first time. We anticipate their sea trials will commence in the very near future..