(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Persistent maintenance issues affecting United States nuclear submarines have led to 37 percent of the total underwater assets operated by the superpower being non-operational, according to the latest data released by the United States Navy.
These submarines cannot undergo maintenance as the shipyards in the United States are unable to accommodate the excessive workload.
According to a report issued by the United States Navy itself, out of the current 49 nuclear submarines owned by the country, 18 submarines or 37 percent, are unable to operate as of 2023.
This percentage is significantly higher than the industry standard of 19 percent due to maintenance factors.
This figure represents a notable increase from 28 percent in 2017 and 33 percent in 2022 of non-operational nuclear submarines in the United States due to maintenance issues.
The best year was 2015, where only 19 percent of the United States Navy’s submarines, or 10 out of 53 submarines owned at that time, were non-operational due to maintenance.
An example involves the USS Connecticut submarine, which was involved in an incident of colliding with an underwater mountain in the South China Sea in 2022.
Eleven crew members of the nuclear-powered Seawolf-class submarine, USS Connecticut (SSN-22), sustained injuries after the submarine collided with the seabed mountain at an undisclosed location in the South China Sea.
According to the spokesperson for the 7th Fleet of the United States Navy, the incident occurred on October 2, 2021, while the involved submarine was conducting operations in international waters in the South China Sea.
Immediately after the accident, the USS Connecticut sailed back to Guam, the main naval base of the United States in the Indo-Pacific, under its own power.
The nuclear-powered submarine was declared non-operational until early 2026 as it lacked a shipyard with the capacity to undertake necessary repairs.
Further reports indicate that a major factor contributing to the failure of maintenance aspects is a shortage of personnel and facilities at the shipyard, along with supply chain issues.
Delays in maintenance have led to a reduction in the capacity to meet daily mission requirements, thereby increasing pressure on the operations of United States Navy submarines.
According to experts, the statistics indicate a level of unpreparedness for the United States Navy in facing potential armed conflicts with China.
The United States Naval Institute stated last May that the Chinese Navy is expected to increase its number of warships to 440 by the year 2030, while the United States Navy is projected to have only 290 warships by 2030.
Simulations of warfare with China conducted by the United States Department of Defense and international think tanks show that Washington is currently not prepared to engage in armed conflict with China. — DSA
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