The USS Boise Disaster: A $1.2 Billion Overhaul For A Submarine That Won’t Return Until 2029
One U.S. Navy Los Angeles-class submarine has become the poster child for the maritime branch’s maintenance and repair woes. The USS Boise (SSN) has been delayed since its last patrol in 2015. The boat has been out of action for nearly 11 years, and the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Daryl Caudle, said during his confirmation hearing last summer that the situation with the USS Boise was “unacceptable.”
The Boise has so many problems that there is little chance of it emerging from maintenance and repair anytime soon. The Navy has considered scrapping it. Admiral Caudle told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he would consider different options for the sub’s future.
Is It Time to Give Up?
“The decision whether or not to actually walk away from Boise is a big one, and I want to make sure I clearly understand the trajectory and trends,” Caudle said, after a question from Senator Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican who wondered if it was time to give up and “just simply pull the plug on that one,” according to Business Insider, which has done the best reporting on the Boise.
The CNO is Showing Remorse But Does Not Appear to Have a Plan
“I hear you loud and clear, senator, on how unacceptable it is, how long she’s been in the yards,” Caudle replied.
The admiral believes that the situation with the Boise “is a dagger” in his heart. Caudle served as a submarine commander on three boats during his career, so the painful saga of the Boise has hit home with him.
In 2015, the Boise went to Naval Station Norfolk for repairs, but there was no space available and insufficient workers to address the issues. In 2016, the sub was classified as “restricted” and unable to perform full operations. In 2017, its dive certification was taken away.
Los Angeles-Class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Los Angeles-Class. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
PUERTO PRINCESSA, Philippines – (Dec. 9, 2018) – The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Greenville (SSN 772) prepares to moor alongside the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), Dec. 9. Emory S. Land is a forward-deployed expeditionary submarine tender on an extended deployment conducting coordinated tended moorings and afloat maintenance in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Willoughby/RELEASED)
Los Angeles-class attack submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Then the wait began, and even a Pentagon chief, Secretary Mark Esper, toured the Boise in 2019 and told its crew they were still exhibiting excellent service to the Navy even though they were simply waiting for a mission on the sub.
The Navy Sets Aside Over a Billion Dollars for the Boise
Fast forward to 2024, and the Navy awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) $1.2 billion to conduct a complete overhaul. But the work is not expected to be done until 2029. Should the Navy even bother? Chalk this one up to maintenance failure, and cut losses?
In January 2025, the service announced that work on the Boise was still ongoing. HII had removed four keel blocks and had a “satisfactory completion of the load monitoring test,” according to a news release from the Department of Defense.
Is It Really ‘Great News’?
Commander Jordan Fouquette, Repair Officer and the Supervisor of Shipbuilding at Newport News, said, “This is great news for the team as we prepare to commence keel track repairs in those areas.”
“This extensive repair operation necessitated moving each of the docking blocks along the keel track, an evolution never before attempted within the Navy. The engineering effort was substantial to ensure the hull, blocks, and drydock floor remained undamaged during the process,” the DOD news release explained.
Buried deep in the Navy announcement was this warning. “The keel block removal and load monitoring test will take years to complete.”
Investigation Needed By Government Watchdog
The situation with the Boise is unbelievable, and Congress needs to refer the repair program to the watchdog, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, to determine whether any waste, fraud, or abuse has occurred. GAO issued one report on the problem in 2018.
They need to do it again. Everything just does not add up. However, that investigatory report could take a year or more.
There also needs to be more urgency by the Navy and Congress. Senator Mike Rounds is probably one of the most experienced defense experts in either chamber. Once Rounds is wound up, he is difficult to stop. The senator must look long and hard at the Boise and, in future hearings, be convinced that it must be cancelled. If not, the Navy must present Congress with a detailed plan of action that doesn’t include jargon and acronyms.
Does Secretary Hegseth Know About the Boise?
This is part of a broader Navy-wide issue with ships and submarines in extended maintenance periods. Readiness and lethality should be the mantra of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The Navy should level with the SECDEF and explain that it has failed to get the Boise back in the water.
Los Angeles-Class Attack Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Put Up or Shut Up
Caudle must fish or cut bait. I would recommend scrapping the Boise. There have been too many roadblocks and bottlenecks with the sub repair. I know that the CNO is nostalgic about submarines, but he needs to take a realistic view. This boat has a dim future, and the Navy must make sure that maintenance and repair do not suffer again for any ship or submarine.
Meanwhile, more media outlets must shine a light on the Boise saga. This is a terrible chain of non-action, and the more Congressional members are alerted to the sub’s plight, the better. This should be a case study taught at naval training schools to ensure a submarine is not out of action for so long. It is an abysmal situation that should not be repeated.
About the Author: Brent M. Eastwood
Author of now over 3,000 articles on defense issues, Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for US Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former US Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.