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January 9, 1989 – Present

USS Seawolf (SSN-21)

Scale 1/200

Credit: Museum of Military Models, Clyde, Texas. Private Collection of Warren D. Harkins.

ON VIEW

General Characteristics

Class and Type: Seawolf-class submarine

Length: 353 ft (108 m)

Beam: 40 ft (12 m)

Draft: 36 ft (11 m)

Propulsion:

1 S6W PWR 220 MW (300,000 hp), HEU 93.5%

1 secondary propulsion submerged motor

2 steam turbines 57,000 shp (43 MW)

1 shaft

1 pump-jet propeller

Speed: 25+ knots submerged, 18+ knots surfaced

Test Depth: Greater than 800 ft (240 m)

Complement: 15 officers and 101 enlisted

Armament:

8 Γ— 26.5-inch torpedo tubes, sleeved for 21-inch weapons[5] (up to 50 Tomahawk land attack missile/Harpoon anti-ship missile/Mk 48 guided torpedo carried in torpedo room)

Description

USS Seawolf (SSN-21), is a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine and the lead ship of her class. She is the fourth submarine of the United States Navy named for the seawolf, a solitary fish with strong, prominent teeth that give it a savage look.

The nation's newest and most advanced attack submarine USS Seawolf (SSN-21) puts to sea in the Narragansett Bay operating area for her first at-sea trial operations on July 3, 1996. Sea trials include various tests of the Seawolf propulsion systems and the first underway submergence of the submarine. The Seawolf represents the Navy's most advanced quieting technology, weaponry, tactical capability and communications. Seawolf is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy and commissioned this fall. U.S. Navy photo courtesy of General Dynamics.

Ownership & Province

  • FLAG

    Namesake: Seawolf

    Awarded: January 9, 1989

    Builder: General Dynamics Electric Boat

    Laid Down: October 25, 1989

    Launched: June 24, 1995

    Commissioned: July 19, 1997

    Homeport: Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor

    Motto: Cave Lupum (English: "Beware the Wolf")

    Status: in active service

Identification

Honors & Awards

History & Related Content

USS Seawolf (SSN-21) bravo sea trials in September 1996.

Construction

The contract to build Seawolf was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics on 9 January 1989 and her keel was laid down on 25 October 1989. She was launched on 24 June 1995, sponsored by Mrs. Margaret Dalton, and commissioned on 19 July 1997. The 7-year 9-month time period from keel laying to commissioning is the longest for a submarine in the U.S. Navy.

Adding support personnel as well as the ship's crew, there are 140 personnel assigned or attached to Seawolf.

USS Seawolf (SSN-21) under construction at General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), Groton, Connecticut.

Service History

A surfaced Seawolf with her crew surveying her surroundings, 1996

Seawolf is featured in a 1998 episode of the documentary Super Structures of the World: Seawolf. The program followed her construction and sea trials.

On 22 July 2007, Seawolf transferred from her previous homeport of Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, to Naval Base Kitsap, Washington.

Seawolf leads USS John C. Stennis and the Japanese destroyer JS Ōnami during an exercise in 2009

In 2015, Seawolf was deployed to the Arctic region for six months.

In July 2020 Seawolf deployed into the Arctic area of responsibility. She conducted special operations and pulled into multiple European ports. Port calls included HMNB Clyde in Faslane Scotland, and Gibraltar, and briefly in TromsΓΈ, Norway. Seawolf's deployment was the first US Navy deployment during the coronavirus pandemic.

USS Seawolf (SSN-21) USS Sea Wolf (SSN-21) bravo sea trials in September 1996.

USS Seawolf (SSN-21) approaching Port Canaveral, Florida while on trials - July 1997.

USS Seawolf (SSN-21) departing Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut for the last time in June 2007.

USS Seawolf (SSN-21) in Arctic Ocean - July 2015.

USS Seawolf (SSN-21) in Arctic Ocean - July 2015.

USS Seawolf (SSN-21) Badge

1997

Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation (1995–1997)

2001

Navy "E" Ribbon

Navy β€œE” Ribbon

2002

Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal or GWOT-EM (2002–2011)

Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal or GWOT-EM (2002–2011)

USS Seawolf (SSN-21) during trials - July 1997.

USS Seawolf (SSN-21) commissioning ceremony at General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut - July 19, 1997.

USS Seawolf (SSN-21) at Gibraltar - December 2020.

Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Service Ribbon

Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Service Ribbon

2004

Navy "E" Ribbon

Navy β€œE” Ribbon

2007

Tactical White β€œT”

Navy "E" Ribbon

Navy β€œE” Ribbon

Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award

Marjorie Sterrett Prior to 1920
Marjorie Sterrett, prior to 1920.

Meritorious Unit Commendation

Meritorious Unit Commendation

2009

Meritorious Unit Commendation

Meritorious Unit Commendation

2014

Navy "E" Ribbon

Navy β€œE” Ribbon

Weapons "W"

Navigation Red and Green "N"

Supply Blue "E"

Personnel "P"

2015

Navy "E" Ribbon

Navy β€œE” Ribbon

Weapons "W"

Navigation Red and Green "N"

Supply Blue "E"

Engineering Red "E"

2020

Navy "E" Ribbon

Navy β€œE” Ribbon

Weapons "W"

Navigation Red and Green "N"

Supply Blue "E"

Navy Expeditionary Medal

Navy Expeditionary Medal

Navy Expeditionary Service Ribbon

Navy Expeditionary Service Ribbon

Navy Arctic Service Ribbon

Navy Expeditionary Service Ribbon

Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with "2"

Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

Meritorious Unit Commendation

Meritorious Unit Commendation

Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy

Admiral Arleigh Burke (1901 -1996), Chief of Naval Operations. Portrait photograph, dated 15 December 1958
Admiral Arleigh Burke (1901 -1996), Chief of Naval Operations. Portrait photograph, dated 15 December 1958. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.