As construction of the District of Columbia (SSBN 826) continues apace in EB’s South Yard Assembly Building, the sailors who will soon be at the controls are spending hours in a dynamic, high-tech simulator learning the intricacies of operating the 21,000-ton, first-in-class boomer.
The Columbia Ship Control Operator Trainer (CSCOT) is a replica of the control station onboard a Columbia-class submarine – down to the humming white background noise that submariners quickly learn to tune out. CSCOT was designed and built in Groton, incorporating lessons learned from previous Virginia-class training simulators.
Once inside, the experience is remarkable. From the pilot’s seat, a slow forward push of the joystick begins a noticeable descent – with the angle, speed, depth and scores of other details and data available at a glance on high-def screens as the compartment inclines forward.
On a recent visit, a guest pilot completed a long dive then reached for the “chicken switch” for an emergency blow. As the boat began to ascend, visitors were pushed back in their seats at a sharp pitch. Moments later, the submarine broke through the surface, rolling gently to starboard before settling.
CSCOT is overseen by the D432 Ship Control Training Team. The current focus is readying more than 30 mostly senior enlisted sailors of the SSBN 826, said Test Engineer Specialist Juan Garcia, who runs the training. Constant coaching is a priority and will continue even after the boat is homeported at Kings Bay, Georgia, where a sister simulator will be used.
The Training Team also plays the role of ambassador, providing tours to Pentagon officials, Congressional delegations, EB employees and other visitors, Garcia said.
Among its benefits, CSCOT gives sailors basic and advanced training in normal and casualty ship control procedures. These range from diving and surfacing, submerged operations, periscope depth operations, weapons launch evolutions, and high and low speed operations.
“We take the design and implementation of our training devices seriously to ensure the sailors have a realistic training environment and ultimately keep them safe at sea,” said EB Engineering Specialist Matt Santovasi, the CSCOT lead.
Delivering the Future
Some imagine the future. We deliver it now.
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