USS Texas (SSN-775)

USS Texas (SSN-775) is a Virginia-class submarine of the United States Navy, named after the Texas Revolution and the Lone Star State. The submarine was built by Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat, with the Keel laying ceremony taking place on July 12, 2002, at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia. The Commissioning of USS Texas (SSN-775) took place on September 9, 2006, at Galveston, Texas, with Governor of Texas Rick Perry and United States Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter in attendance, along with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Representative Tom DeLay.

● Introduction

The USS Texas (SSN-775) is the second Virginia-class submarine to be commissioned by the United States Navy, following the USS Virginia (SSN-774). The submarine is homeported at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, and is part of the Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, under the command of Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Rear Admiral James F. Caldwell Jr.. The USS Texas (SSN-775) has participated in several exercises and operations, including Rim of the Pacific and Valiant Shield, alongside ships such as the USS Nimitz (CVN-68), USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), as well as Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels like the JS Hyuga (DDH-181) and JS Shirane (DDH-143).

● Design_and_Construction

The USS Texas (SSN-775) was designed and built by Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat, with a length of 377 feet (115 m) and a beam of 34 feet (10 m) at the waterline. The submarine has a displacement of 7,800 tons and is powered by a S9G nuclear reactor, providing a top speed of over 25 knots (46 km/h) and a range of unlimited distance, thanks to the nuclear power plant designed by Westinghouse Electric Company and built by General Electric. The submarine is equipped with Mark 48 Advanced Technology (ADCAP) torpedoes and Tomahawk land-attack missiles, as well as advanced sensors and communication systems, including the AN/BQQ-10(V4) sonar system and the AN/WLY-1 acoustic countermeasures system, developed by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.

● Operational_History

The USS Texas (SSN-775) has participated in several exercises and operations, including Rim of the Pacific and Valiant Shield, alongside ships such as the USS Nimitz (CVN-68), USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), as well as Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels like the JS Hyuga (DDH-181) and JS Shirane (DDH-143). The submarine has also conducted port visits to various countries, including Japan, South Korea, and Australia, and has participated in ASEAN-related events, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum and the Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies and attended by officials from the Ministry of Defence (Singapore) and the Australian Defence Force. The submarine's operations are supported by the Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, under the command of Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Rear Admiral James F. Caldwell Jr., and the U.S. Pacific Command, led by Admiral Robert F. Willard.

● Characteristics

The USS Texas (SSN-775) has a length of 377 feet (115 m) and a beam of 34 feet (10 m) at the waterline, with a displacement of 7,800 tons. The submarine is powered by a S9G nuclear reactor, providing a top speed of over 25 knots (46 km/h) and a range of unlimited distance, thanks to the nuclear power plant designed by Westinghouse Electric Company and built by General Electric. The submarine is equipped with Mark 48 Advanced Technology (ADCAP) torpedoes and Tomahawk land-attack missiles, as well as advanced sensors and communication systems, including the AN/BQQ-10(V4) sonar system and the AN/WLY-1 acoustic countermeasures system, developed by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. The submarine's crew consists of approximately 135 officers and enlisted personnel, led by the Commanding Officer and the Executive Officer, who are responsible for the submarine's operations and maintenance, in accordance with the United States Navy Regulations and the Navy Instructions.

● Awards_and_Honors

The USS Texas (SSN-775) has received several awards and honors, including the Battle Effectiveness Award and the Navy Unit Commendation, presented by the Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead and the Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. The submarine has also been recognized for its excellence in engineering and logistics, receiving the Engineering Excellence Award and the Logistics Excellence Award, sponsored by the American Society of Naval Engineers and the National Defense Industrial Association. The submarine's crew has also been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, for their outstanding performance and dedication to duty, as recognized by the Navy Personnel Command and the Bureau of Naval Personnel.