The U.S. Submarine Force: The best in the world

August 2011 - Navy
By Aaron Bresnahan

Strategic deterrence. Multipurpose operational missions (hunter-killer and guided missile launching). Special Operations missions, such as SEAL delivery. Arctic exploration. Intelligence gathering. You name it, and it seems like it is on the docket for today’s submarine force.

Despite the depth and breadth of tactical, operational, and strategic employment, the submarine force doesn’t always get its contributions spotlighted on the front pages of today’s news media. Most typically, the carrier force steals the limelight. For the general public, you could almost say that it is a bit the case of out of sight and, therefore, out of mind.

Thankfully, though, the submarine force will soon have its capabilities highlighted front-and-center in the personage of Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert, who is a submariner and recently recommended as the next Chief of Naval Operations, succeeding Admiral Gary Roughead.

Today, there is a strong push for recapitalization and revitalization of the submarine force. The Virginiaclass submarine program is progressing at a good clip and is finally showing signs of the building efficiency previously envisioned. And even though the Navy continues to commission new vessels year-on-year, it is still maintaining several squadrons of 688, Trident and Seawolf submarines. Maintaining the existing submarine fleet as well as implementing a series of Service Life Extension Programs requires an array of support capabilities and a network of system specialists; fortunately, the industrial base for our modern submarine force is continually transforming to keep up with the task.

One company supporting today’s submarine force in meeting its operational requirements for submergence integrity and reductions in waterborne noise generation is Wartsila Defense, Inc., headquartered in Chesapeake, Virginia. Wartsila Defense is an AUSN Gold–Level Corporate Partner and is a leading propulsion services provider. Wartsila Defense has two main locations in the United States for propeller repair, one facility is co-located in Chesapeake with its headquarters, and the second is located in Poulsbo, Washington, near Bremerton.

Wartsila Defense is a specialist in repairing and overhauling submarine propellers and provides the highest level of quality and efficiency to the process. In addition to its submarine work, Wartsila is also supporting surface propeller repair opportunities.

One other area of specialization provided by Wartsila Defense is the repair and overhaul of submarine stern tube seals. Wartsila has decades of experience developing its stern tube seal technology and has the privilege to maintain the seals for the existing submarine fleet as well as supplying new stern seals for the Virginia Class submarine program.

According to Bryan Rutter, President of Wartsila Defense, “We are focused on maintaining the Navy’s highest levels of readiness through the provision of both planned and emergent propeller repair capability. Submarine propeller repair can be considered an art, and the end-product coming out of our facilities can be compared to the craftsmanship of a master painter. It takes many years of apprenticeship to become a repair specialist, and we have some the best people in the business on our staff. Wartsila Defense is a key enabler of the US Navy’s ability to ‘Run silent and run deep’ and is dedicated to supporting the Navy’s evolving mission profiles.”