Guided missile submarine USS Michigan starts 17-month overhaul

The converted Ohio-class guided missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727) docked at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility in July to begin a 17-month extended refit period which will end in 2020.

Work during this availability includes battery replacement, structural repair and preservation, shaft replacement, other propulsion plant inspections and improvements, and installation of several new alterations.

Critical path work for the ERP will be the structural repairs and preservation of the superstructure and ballast tanks.

The project team is implementing several process improvement initiatives aimed at reducing time to perform steering and diving grooming, hull valve repairs and structural inspections and repairs, according to Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). The project team and engineering have analyzed each of the work strings to find opportunities to streamline the process.

“Team Michigan is off to an excellent start,” said Mark Tanner, Michigan project superintendent. “Knowing who our teammates are and effectively communicating will help us refine our integrated plan and lead us to success. We met our initial goal by docking Michigan on time. I am confident our team will realize outstanding accomplishments over the next 17 months.“

Michigan is one of four Trident-class submarines converted from a ballistic missile system to a guided missile system. The boat’s homeport is Naval Base Kitsap – Bangor.

The boat started its overhaul after completing a 30-month Western Pacific deployment in May this year.