Saturday 28 April 2012

Women joining third Bangor-based submarine

The Navy announced Thursday that USS Louisiana will be the third submarine at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor to integrate women crew members.

Twelve women broke into the sub force here in the USS Ohio and USS Maine. The Navy announced the policy change in spring 2010, the boats were picked out in October and the women arrived late last year after completing college, nuclear power school, prototype training and submarine officer school. They're working on their submarine qualifications and have deployed aboard their boats, said Lt. Ed Early, spokesman for Submarine Group 9.

The Louisiana will have the same female makeup as the other two boats — two ensigns not yet qualified and one lieutenant for each of its two crews, Blue and Gold. The lieutenant will be the boat's supply officer and serve as a mentor for the younger women.

The Maine and Louisiana are ballistic-missile subs; the Ohio was converted to carry conventional missiles.

The moves were duplicated at the Navy's East Coast Trident base at Kings Bay, Ga. The difference is this latest sub, the USS Florida, carries conventional missiles instead of nukes.

The Navy is beginning its submarine integration with the 560-foot Tridents because they're larger than fast-attack subs and don't need to be modified. There are five officer staterooms. Women share one. There is one shared head for all the officers. It has a sign on the door saying whether it's in use by a man or woman.

Women had previously been barred from subs on the theory the close quarters and long deployments were unsuitable for a coed crew.

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