Contained in the pages of the National Defense authorization act for year 2014 are “recommendations” to insure proper submarine propeller on attack and strategic submarine fleet.
“The committee notes that the Navy has indicated that `funding requirements for propeller repair and overhauls are estimated based on historical and current year expenditures’ and that `sustaining out-year funding for Ready for Issue (RFI) spare propellers at required levels would help maintain inventory and limit risk to readiness.’
The Navy has indicated that lower-than-targeted levels of healthy RFI propellers pose `medium to high risk to attack and strategic submarine operational readiness.’
The committee further notes that the Navy continues to request partial funding to support this effort in the Overseas Contingency Operations account.
The committee encourages the Navy to identify the necessary funds to ensure an adequate supply of ready propellers when projecting Future Years Defense Program base budget requests” (source: National Defense authorization act for year 2014 http://thomas.loc.gov).
We called Office of the Secretary of the Navy on Friday who chose not to respond to our questions in this matter.
See related video: Fast Attack sub – US NAVY Virginia class http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrU0bYq7KPQ
See video: Modern US Nuclear submarine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjS39tfPfhA