US Submarine Damaged in South China Sea Won’t Return Until 2026 as Shipyards Are Clogged
- USS Connecticut hit an underwater mountain in South China Sea
- Eighteen of 49 attack subs are out of service for maintenance
This article is for subscribers only.
The USS Connecticut, a premier submarine that struck an underwater mountain in the South China Sea 19 months ago, won’t be back in service until early 2026 at the soonest, according to the US Navy, adding to a backlog of maintenance overhauls as the US faces a growing Chinese fleet.
The Connecticut, one of three advanced Seawolf submarines, hit the uncharted seamount on Oct. 2, 2021. The repairs to the bow and lower rudder will cost an estimated $80 million, according to the Navy. That’s a modest sum by Pentagon standards, but the long wait for the vessel’s return to service highlights problems with maintenance at the Navy’s four shipyards.