KITTERY, Maine, — The U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class attack submarine USS Washington (SSN 787) undocked on schedule at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine on October 27, 2026, completing the drydock phase of its scheduled maintenance and modernization period. The submarine will now proceed to the next stage of operational testing.
USS Washington arrived at the shipyard on September 27, 2024, for an extensive overhaul involving structural inspections, mechanical and electrical system upgrades, and routine maintenance. Shipyard personnel used traditional repair methods alongside modern manufacturing techniques, including additive manufacturing, to support the work.
In March 2026, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard completed a significant milestone by inspecting, testing, and installing the first welded additively manufactured copper-nickel flange on an in-service U.S. Navy submarine. The component was welded at a public shipyard for the first time and installed aboard USS Washington. The initiative supports the Navy’s efforts to expand additive manufacturing for submarine components and address supply requirements.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Commander Capt. Jesse Nice highlighted the coordinated efforts of the shipyard workforce in completing the undocking on schedule.
“Washington’s undocking is an achievement that represents a coordinated effort across the shipyard to return a renewed and combat-ready submarine back to the fleet,” Nice said. He also credited the shipyard’s workforce for overcoming challenges through traditional shipyard expertise and modern technical innovations.
USS Washington Commanding Officer Cmdr. Keith Turnbull also praised the collaboration between the submarine’s crew and the civilian shipyard workforce.
“I’m proud of the incredible work done between our crew and the project team, whose exceptional collaboration and vigilance led us to this undocking on time,” Turnbull said.
He added that the collective effort is laying the groundwork for returning the submarine as a fully mission-capable platform operated by a skilled crew.
USS Washington Submarine: Capabilities and Specifications
USS Washington is a Block III Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine commissioned on October 7, 2017, at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, which remains its homeport.
The submarine measures approximately 377 feet in length and 34 feet in beam, with a displacement of roughly 7,800 to 7,900 tons. It is the 14th Virginia-class submarine and the third U.S. Navy ship named after the state of Washington.
As a Block III submarine, USS Washington features two large-diameter Virginia Payload Tubes that replaced the earlier vertical launch arrangement. Each tube can accommodate up to six Tomahawk cruise missiles, providing the submarine with a total capacity of up to 12 missiles in these tubes.
Next Steps Toward Fleet Operations
The completion of the docking phase marks an important step toward restoring USS Washington to operational service. The submarine must now proceed through the next stage of testing before returning to fleet operations.
The U.S. Navy has not announced an official return-to-service date for the submarine.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a primary U.S. Navy facility responsible for the maintenance, repair, and modernization of attack submarines. The work on USS Washington supports the Navy’s broader efforts to maintain undersea fleet readiness and improve the operational availability of its submarine force.
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