U.S. Navy Inactivates USS Boise Submarine After 11 Years and $800 Million in Overhaul Efforts

S. Navy has announced the inactivation of the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Boise (SSN-764). The 34-year-old submarine has been pierside for more than 11 years, during which roughly $800 million was spent on a repair effort.

Instead of returning to operational status, the vessel will be decommissioned. The announcement follows delays in the overhaul process. The submarine's regular maintenance was scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2016 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

However, it remained idle, lost its dive certification in 2017, and was moved between public and private shipyards. 2 billion contract was awarded to Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News for the overhaul. Costs had increased by that point, and progress on the work was limited.

The USS Boise last deployed in January 2015.

Broader Maintenance Challenges The Navy's nuclear attack submarine fleet has faced ongoing maintenance issues.

Approximately one-third of these submarines have been in maintenance or idle status in recent years, exceeding the service's target of 20 percent. This situation has led to extended deployments and higher operational tempos for the available submarines. The maintenance backlog contributes to a cycle where fewer submarines are at sea.

This results in increased wear on deployed vessels, which requires additional maintenance in the future. The inactivation of USS Boise occurs as the Navy prioritizes construction of Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines.

Historical Context and Shipyard Capacity The USS Boise's situation highlights challenges in U.

S. shipyard performance. For comparison, after the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, the Navy Yard repaired damaged battleships such as Nevada, California, and West Virginia. Those repairs involved around-the-clock work by Navy crews, civilians, and divers who logged more than 20,000 hours underwater.

The decision to inactivate USS Boise affects the submarine force's operational capacity. Other attack submarines have covered the shortfall through accelerated redeployments and longer patrols. The Navy has not specified immediate next steps for reallocating resources from the Boise project.