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Professional US Navy Career

Colin's US Navy Background.

Colin O'Connell was a Machinist Mate First Class (MM1) with nine years of active duty service. Commands included the USS Alaska, USS Frank Cable, and Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston.

USS Alaska (SSBN 732)

Gold Crew, M-Division

The USS Alaska, one of the sister ships of the Ohio-class (TRIDENT) submarines is one of the quietest, fastest, largest and more powerful submarines in the world. The Ohio-class submarine offers significant improvements and advantages over the POLARIS/POSEIDON programs in equipment design and it represents the most modern technology in the world. source: the Alaska's official web site

Colin served aboard Alaska's Gold crew from February 1989 to August 1991. He reported aboard as a Machinist Mate Third Class (MM3) and was promoted twice, first to Second Class (MM2) and then to First Class (MM1) while onboard. He was one of two welders onboard that were qualified to weld on the nuclear systems. Colin was formally trained as the ships photographer/periscope operator. He stood watch in the engine room, operating and maintaining all mechanical systems including reactor coolant, steam, propulsion and power generation turbines, seawater cooling and condensing systems, hydraulic, lubrication, and filter equipment, high and low pressure air systems, 175 ton chillers, and fresh water distilling equipment. Key achievements include qualifying submarine warfare (SS) on his first 70 day patrol and qualifying all M Division watch stations including Secondary Chemist and Engine Room Supervisor during his next two patrols.

Nuclear Power Training Unit - Charleston

The Nuclear Power Training Unit is a US Naval nuclear training facility located just North of Charleston, SC. The Navy maintains two operational nuclear power plants (MTS-635 and MTS-626) in the form of two decommissioned Polaris missile submarines that have been refitted for their current role as training platforms. They are permanently moored on the Cooper River and are used to provide hands-on training to enlisted sailors, officers, and civilians in the operation and maintenance of a nuclear power plant. This is essential training for nuclear candidates prior to being transferred to the fleet. Following an academically rigorous assignment at Nuclear Power School (NPS), prospective students are assigned to one of the Navy's Nuclear Power Training Units. There they are given the opportunity to apply the technical knowledge that they've learned in the stressful environment of an operational nuclear power plant. Due to its depth and fast pace, the Nuclear Power Training Program is regarded as the one of the most difficult academic programs in the country. The United States Navy currently operates 103 total nuclear power plants including 73 submarines, 10 aircraft carriers (Enterprise has 8 reactors and all others have 2 each), and 4 training/research prototype plants.  source: wikipedia.com (with added information)

Colin reported to the USS Daniel Webster (SSBN 626) at the Charleston Naval Shipyard in August of 1991 as a member of her decommissioning crew. In August 1990 the Daniel Webster began an extensive refit, reactor refueling, and conversion to the moored training ship (MTS-2) aka (MTS-626). MTS-626 began it's role as a pier side training facility on February 4th, 1993 along side the previously refitted USS Sam Rayburn (MTS-1/MTS-635) which began its service at NPTU Charleston in 1989. Colin taught shipboard nuclear power plant operations to officers and enlisted personnel until March 1994 when he was transferred to the USS Frank Cable.

USS Frank Cable (AS 40)

Repair Crew, R-9 Division

The USS FRANK CABLE is a L.Y. SPEAR class Submarine Tender and the second ship in the EMORY S. LAND class, a subclass of the L.Y. SPEAR class. Commissioned on February 5, 1980, FRANK CABLE was designed to tend the nuclear-powered Los Angeles-class attack submarines. The ship spent 1980 until 1996 as the repair ship for Submarine Squadrons FOUR and EIGHTEEN in Charleston, South Carolina, tending Sturgeon-class attack submarines and Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarines. The FRANK CABLE began decommissioning in 1996, but was reactivated and refitted to replace the USS HOLLAND (AS 32) in the Western Pacific as Commander Seventh Fleet’s mobile repair and support platform. Currently, the FRANK CABLE is the only forward deployed Submarine Tender in the Pacific. source: Frank Cable's official web site

Colin was stationed aboard the Frank Cable from March 1994 until his enlistment was completed with an honorable discharge from the Navy in October of 1995. His assignment as the Administrative Leading Petty Officer in charge of the Outside Machinery Repair Department (R-9 Division) was highlighted by two years of successful repairs to fast attack submarines assigned to Submarine Squadron Four. No deployments were delayed and there were no personnel injuries under his leadership. Colin was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NAM) from Rear Admiral Ellis, Commander Submarine Group 10 for "Professional Achievement" while onboard the Frank Cable.