Deadly Quiet: USS Virginia

The Virginia class is the first U.S. Navy warship designed from the keel up for the full range of mission requirements in the post-Cold War era. Optimized for maximum technological and operational flexibility, these submarines play a key role in the nation's defense with their stealth, firepower and unlimited endurance.

Virginia-class submarines displace 7,800 tons, with a hull length of 377 feet and a diameter of 34 feet. They are capable of speeds in excess of 25 knots and can dive to a depth greater than 800 feet, while carrying Mark 48 advanced capability torpedoes, Tomahawk land attack missiles and unmanned underwater vehicles. 

As one sailor said its like having comfort food 24 hours a day

Despite computer navigation systems all routes are plotted manually as well

Down below the command center is the torpedo room where it is possible to set up temporary bunks for special operations team

even as they are being built new improvements and upgrades are being added into the 

design of the submarines

 

here are the USS virginias engines which powers a pump jet propulsor rather than a conventional propeller

Submariners eat well  the quality of the food is designed to offset the stress and burden of living underwater for months at a time

 

The command center doesn't have to be directly under the deck of the ship in the virginia class subs because there isnt a periscope

The command center on the virginia subs are much more spacious compared previous submarines

The engine room near the subs stern is the place where power from the sg9 nuclear reactor core drives the ship to nearly 32 mph when its submerged

The monitor the commander is looking at is this is the subs periscope  a state of the art photonics system which enables real time imaging that more than one person can see at a 

time

The only thing in front of the torpedo room is the bow of the submarine which contains sonar equipment and shielding designed to make the sub stealthier

The seals can exit the sub while its underwater by passing through this airlock

The ship has an airlock chamber with room for 9 seals

The subs carry up to 12 vertical launch tomahawk missiles and 38 torpedoes

The submarines are nearly 400 feet long and have been in service since 2003

The subs are equipped with a spherical sonar array that scans a full 360 degrees

The virginia class submarine is a new breed of high tech post cold war nuclear subs

The virginia eliminates the traditional helmsman planesman chief of the watch and diving officer by combining them into two stations manned by two officers

 

The virginia subs carry a full crew of 134 sailors

This design cuts back on corrosive damage and also makes the ship stealthier

This hallway  extending from the engine room over the reactor and through the living habitat in the center of the ship  is dark so that sailors can sleep

This lock out chamber is in the center of the ship