What a Mess': The US Navy Spent Four and a Half Years and $80 Million Repairing a Seawolf-Class Nuclear Submarine. It Is Scheduled to Retire in 2031

The U.S. Navy will spend $80 million and take 4.5 years to repair the Seawolf-class nuclear attack submarine USS Connecticut after a grounding near China’s defenses, even as it has been scheduled to retire in 2031. The incident began in October 2021 when the sub struck an underwater seamount during a classified humanitarian mission in the South China Sea, near Hainan Island. Connecticut immediately surfaced, underscoring how close it was operating to the People’s Liberation Army area. Eleven sailors were hurt, but the nuclear propulsion system was not damaged. The Navy later attributed the mishap to navigation planning, watch team execution and risk management failures.