US Navy completes refitting USS Ohio guided missile submarine.

Fully refreshed after more than two years of refitting, the US Navy’s oldest guided-missile submarine, USS Ohio (SSGN 726), is once again ready to set sail, the PSNS & IMF Public Affairs said on August 15, 2019.

USS Ohio (SSGN 726) arrives April 25, 2017, in dry dock for the start of its major maintenance period. (Picture source: Naval Sea Systems Command)

USS Ohio (SSGN 726) completed its maintenance availability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility Wednesday, bringing to a close a 27-month major maintenance period that saw updates and upgrades to most major onboard systems.

Almost 400,000 man-days of work by the shipyard’s Ohio project team, ship’s force, contractors and others were needed to return Ohio to the fleet. Major repairs included preservation and structural work on the submarine’s sail, tanks and superstructure.

“Our central focus on the Ohio project has always been to provide the maintenance required to quickly return this naval warship back to the fleet in support of our national defense capability,” said Project Superintendent Christopher Byron. “Since joining the Ohio project, I have witnessed team members consistently demonstrating the values that our command upholds – integrity, teamwork, ingenuity, excellence and service.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this team and look forward to a strong continued relationship with the SSGN sailors on board Ohio and the supporting submarine community.”

Ohio’s maintenance period began on April 25, 2017, when – fresh off a 20-month Pacific deployment – the ship arrived in dry dock for the start of its availability.

Originally commissioned as the lead boat of its class of ballistic missile submarine fleet on November 11, 1981, Ohio was also the first submarine to be converted to a guided missile platform. The conversion ended when the Ohio returned to service as an SSGN in 2006.

“Days like today are a perfect example of why we do what we do,” said Capt. Dianna Wolfson, PSNS & IMF commander. “Ohio plays a vital role in America’s defense, and we’ve returned it to the fleet, ready to do whatever our nation requires of it. We can all take great pride in the work our team did for the ship, and we wish her and the crew well as they rejoin our naval forces on patrol.”