USS Tang (SSN-805) will be a nuclear-powered, Virginia-class attack submarine in the United States Navy. She will also be third United States Navy vessel with the name tang, a large family of tropical fish. Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite announced in a 17 November 2020 press release that the submarine will be named USS Tang, in honor of a storied WWII submarine. This is the second of four new Virginia class members named in honor of WWII submarines with very successful combat records.[3] Ordered on 2 December 2019, she is the fourth of the Block V boats, the first boats of the class to include the Virginia Payload Module.

USS Tang (SSN-805)
The lead boat of the Virginia class, USS Virginia (SSN-774).
History
United States
NameUSS Tang
NamesakeUSS Tang (SS-306)
Ordered2 December 2019[1]
BuilderGeneral Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down17 August 2023[2]
Sponsored byMimi Donnelly
StatusUnder construction
General characteristics
Class and typeVirginia-class submarine
Displacement10,200 tons
Length460 ft (140 m)
Beam34 ft (10.4 m)
Draft32 ft (9.8 m)
PropulsionS9G reactor auxiliary diesel engine
Speed25 knots (46 km/h)
Endurancecan remain submerged for periods in excess of 3 months
Test depthgreater than 800 ft (244 m)
Complement
  • 15 officers
  • 120 enlisted men
Armament40 VLS tubes (12 forward VPT; 28 in VPM), four 21 inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes for Mk-48 torpedoes BGM-109 Tomahawk

The keel laying ceremony for the submarine took place 17 August 2023 at the Quonset Point Facility of General Dynamics Electric Boat in North Kingstown, Rhode Island and the sponsor is Mimi Donnelly, wife of the retired American submarine officer Vice admiral John J. Donnelly.[2]

Design

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Compared to Blocks I-IV of Virginia-class submarines, Block V vessels will incorporate previously introduced modifications to the base design in addition to a Virginia Payload Module (VPM). The VPM inserts a segment into the boat's hull which adds four vertical launch tubes. Each tube allows for the carrying of seven Tomahawk strike missiles, increasing her armament to a total of 40 missiles.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Naval Vessel Register".
  2. ^ a b "Keel of Future USS Tang is Well and Truly Laid". EB Landing (Press release). Electric Boat. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  3. ^ "SECNAV Names Two Future Virginia-class Submarines Tang, Wahoo" (Press release). United States Navy. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Attack Submarines - SSN". United States Navy. Retrieved 2024-05-09.