{"id":56987,"date":"2018-03-17T17:24:14","date_gmt":"2018-03-17T17:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/17\/navys-new-attack-submarine-named-colorado-joins-the-fleet-2\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:12:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:12:43","slug":"navys-new-attack-submarine-named-colorado-joins-the-fleet-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2018\/03\/17\/navys-new-attack-submarine-named-colorado-joins-the-fleet-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Navy’s new attack submarine Colorado joins the fleet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

GROTON, Conn. \u2014 The U.S. Navy\u2019s newest attack submarine, the USS Colorado, joined the fleet Saturday in a ceremony at Connecticut\u2019s Naval Submarine Base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navy Secretary Richard Spencer says the submarine is a \u201cmarvel of technology and innovation.\u201d U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, said the people of Colorado are remarkably proud this submarine will silently protect the nation\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sailors of Pre-Commissioning Unit Colorado (SSN 788) salute in front of the sail during a rehearsal in preparation for Colorado’s commissioning on March 17, 2018. Colorado is the the U.S. Navy’s 15th Virginia-class attack submarine and named for the State of Colorado. (Chief Petty Officer Darryl I. Wood\/Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Annie Mabus, the daughter of former Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, gave the order to bring the ship to life before the crew boarded the vessel at the end of the ceremony, which is a Navy tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 377-foot-long sub weighs about 7,800 tons submerged. It can fight submarines and surface ships, conduct surveillance and deliver Special Operations troops. It has two large tubes that can launch six Tomahawk missiles each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the first attack submarine where sailors use an Xbox gaming system controller to maneuver the photonics masts, which replaced periscopes, according to Cmdr. Reed Koepp, the Colorado\u2019s commanding officer. Other submarines have joysticks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Koepp leads 130 men. Women serve on submarines but they haven\u2019t been assigned to the Colorado. One-fifth of submarine crews are integrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took submarine supply businesses nationwide and thousands of shipyard employees in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Virginia to build the Colorado, the 15th member of the Virginia class of submarines.<\/p>\n\n\n\t