US Navy notes improvements in submarine force maintenance and operational availability

The United States Navy says it is recovering operational days for attack submarines after a government review documented severe maintenance delays. The Government Accountability Office found that depot overruns and periods spent inactive while awaiting work cost more than 15,000 operational days over a decade and about $3.4 billion in crew and support expenses without corresponding capability. Vice Admiral Rob Gaucher said the Navy agrees with the recommendations and has already returned substantial time to the fleet, though delays involving submarines awaiting decommissioning remain a concern.