North Carolina’s Active-Duty U.S. Navy Subs
USS Charlotte (SSN 766)
“The Silent Stinger”
A Flight III Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine operating from Pearl Harbor as part of the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed force.
Built for stealth, endurance, and precision strike, the USS Charlotte (SSN-766) executes missions in contested waters where detection is not an option.
Named for Charlotte, North Carolina, honoring Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Fourth U.S. Navy vessel to carry the name.
Service Record
Sustained operational presence across the Indo-Pacific.
• Multiple Western Pacific deployments
• Persian Gulf deployment, 1998 multinational deterrence force
• Six-month Western Pacific deployment completed 2016
• RIMPAC 2022 participant
2005 Arctic transit. Surfaced at the North Pole through 61 inches of ice. Verified under-ice capability.
Distinctions
• 3 Meritorious Unit Commendations
• 2 Navy Unit Commendations
• 2 Battle “E” Awards
• 2 Secretary of the Navy Letters of Commendation
• Engineering “E”
• Damage Control “DC Red”
Mission Capability
• Strike warfare with Tomahawk missiles
• Anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare
• Intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance
• Special operations support
Construction
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding
Keel laid: 17 August 1990
Launched: 3 October 1992
Commissioned: 16 September 1994
Homeport: Pearl Harbor
Specifications
Class: Los Angeles (Flight III)
Displacement: ~6,927 tons submerged
Length: 362 ft
Beam: 32 ft
Draft: 30 ft
Propulsion: S6G nuclear reactor driving steam turbines and single shaft
Crew: 12 officers, 98 enlisted
Armament:
• Mark 48 ADCAP torpedoes
• Tomahawk cruise missiles (VLS and tube-launched)
• Harpoon anti-ship missiles
• Submarine-launched mines
USS Asheville (SSN 758)
“Ghost of the Coast”
A Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine operating from Naval Base Guam as part of the U.S. Navy’s forward presence in the Pacific.
The USS Asheville (SSN-758) delivers stealth, persistence, and mission flexibility across critical maritime regions.
Named for Asheville, North Carolina. Fourth U.S. Navy vessel to carry the name.
Service Record
Continuous operational tempo across the Pacific and Central Command theaters.
• Multiple Western Pacific deployments
• Persian Gulf and Arabian Gulf operations supporting national security missions
• Eastern Pacific operations with carrier strike groups
• Southern Command deployment including Panama operations
• Participant in multinational exercises and classified tasking
1999 carrier strike group workups. Only unit not successfully countered during staged attacks.
2000 deployment included extended operations across Japan, Singapore, Bahrain, UAE, and Australia. Executed multiple classified missions and became the first submarine to participate in Maritime Interdiction Operations.
Distinctions
• Meritorious Unit Commendations
• Battle “E” Award
• Navy Expeditionary Medal
• National Defense Medal
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
• Engineering Excellence awards
• Navigation and tactical excellence recognitions
Mission Capability
• Strike warfare with Tomahawk missiles
• Anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare
• Intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance
• Special operations support
• Mine detection and undersea navigation capability
Construction
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding
Keel laid: 9 January 1987
Launched: 24 February 1990
Commissioned: 28 September 1991Homeport: Guam
Specifications
Class: Los Angeles
Displacement: ~6,927 tons submerged
Length: 362 ft
Beam: 33 ft
Draft: 31 ft
Propulsion: S6G nuclear reactor driving steam turbines and single shaft
Crew: 20 officers, 110 enlisted
Armament:
• Mark 48 ADCAP torpedoes
• Tomahawk cruise missiles
• Harpoon anti-ship missiles
• Submarine-launched mines
Sensors:
• Advanced sonar suite including BQQ-5 and mine detection systems
• Electronic warfare and countermeasure systems
USS North Carolina (SSN 777)
“Primus in Proelio”
A Virginia-class fast-attack submarine representing the next generation of undersea warfare. The USS North Carolina (SSN-777) operates from Pearl Harbor with advanced stealth, digital systems, and expanded mission capability, setting the standard for modern submarine design.
Named for the state of North Carolina. Fourth U.S. Navy vessel to carry the name.
Service Record
Active operations across the Pacific.
• Transitioned from Atlantic Fleet to Pacific operations in 2010
• Completed extended transit and system validation exercises en route to Pearl Harbor
• Conducts ongoing tasking in support of U.S. Indo-Pacific operations
Designed and tested as part of a new class built to operate in both open ocean and complex littoral environments.
Distinctions
• Photonics mast system replacing traditional periscope
• Fully digital ship and ballast control systems
• Reconfigurable control room layout
• Integrated lockout chamber for special operations forces
Physical connections to legacy vessels, including materials from earlier ships named North Carolina, carry forward naval heritage into a modern platform.
Mission Capability
• Strike warfare with Tomahawk missiles via vertical launch system
• Anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare
• Intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance
• Special operations deployment while submerged
• Mine warfare and multi-domain mission support
Construction
Builder: Northrop Grumman Newport NewsKeel laid: 22 May 2004Launched: 5 May 2007
Commissioned: 3 May 2008
Homeport: Pearl Harbor
Specifications
Class: Virginia
Displacement: ~7,800 tons
Length: 377 ft
Beam: 34 ft
Operating depth: 800 ft
Propulsion: S9G nuclear reactor with pump-jet propulsor for reduced acoustic signature and long-term endurance
Crew: 134 personnel
Armament:
• 12 vertical launch system cells for Tomahawk missiles
• 4 torpedo tubes with capacity for ~30 Mark 48 torpedoes