The Navy said effective and efficient maintenance keeps the fleet lethal and ready to defend the nation. It also said such work helps maximize the lifespan of vessels.
The early return of Colorado demonstrated the professionalism and capability of the shipyard and crew. The Navy said the work was completed ahead of schedule through close cooperation between the shipyard and the submarine’s crew.
The joint team used Navy planning processes to execute a complex work package safely and efficiently. Shipyard craftsmen, engineers, support staff and crew members worked in the submarine’s confined spaces and used deckplate-level problem solving to complete repairs.
“Finishing ahead of schedule is not about rushing, it’s about hard work and persistence,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Ryan McCrillis, commander of PHNSY & IMF. “It’s producing first-time, high-quality work and attacking every roadblock with urgency.”
“It’s a team effort, from the newest apprentice to senior shipyard leaders, the ship’s force, the project team, and support from the fleet and headquarters,” McCrillis said. The Navy said clear communication and constant teamwork between the shipyard workforce and the crew helped drive the project to early completion.
“There isn’t just one moment; it’s all the little victories we had leading up to this point,” said Chad Renti Cruz, PHNSY & IMF Colorado project superintendent. “From the get-go, the team gelled as one.”
“Whenever challenges or problems came up, we swarmed the issue, got all the right people in the room to lay out a solid plan, and executed it to a T,” Cruz said. The Navy said the accelerated shipyard period required active involvement and constant coordination from Colorado’s crew.
The crew applied its system knowledge alongside PHNSY & IMF specialists. The Navy said that contribution helped return the submarine to the fleet fully ready for operations.
“Colorado’s success was largely due to the continual hard work, communication, and coordination between our Sailors and the shipyard team,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Justin Reeves, Colorado commanding officer. “Ending the availability early allows us to get back out to sea and prepare the crew for operations.”
Colorado was commissioned on March 17, 2018, at Naval Submarine Base New London. It is the 15th Virginia-class fast-attack submarine and the fifth Block III submarine in the class.
The submarine is assigned to Submarine Squadron 7. It can support missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations forces support, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility is responsible for repairing, maintaining and modernizing Navy fast-attack submarines and surface ships. Located in the Pacific, the Navy describes it as the most comprehensive fleet repair and maintenance facility between the U.S. West Coast and the Far East.
