The USS Illinois is expected to become the fifth Virginia-class submarine to base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, a region shared with China, Russia and North Korea, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports. 

The Illinois is currently in post-shake down availability. This entails taking the submarine back to the initial delivery site to correct any possible deficiencies, Cmdr. Tommy Crosby, spokesperson for the Atlantic Fleet Submarine Force, told the Star-Advertiser. 

After post-shake down availability is completed, Crosby continued, "the submarine will report to its final home port as designated by the Chief of Naval Operations where it will then begin its workup and preparation for its maiden deployment."

The Illinois would be the first Virginia-class "Block III" submarine in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser reports the submarine contains two six-shooter 87-inch Virginia-payload tubes that are capable of launching six Tomahawk cruise missiles. And, as a Virginia-class submarine, the Illinois is able to dive more than 800 feet deep and operate at more than 29 mph while submerged.

Approximately 230 of 400 foreign submarines worldwide are located in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. Of these, 160 belong to China, Russia, and North Korea. 

Even with the 52 attack submarines currently available, Adm. Harry Harris, head of the United States Pacific Command, told the Star-Advertiser the Navy is only able to meet about 50 percent of submarine requirements. "From a joint commander perspective, I need more submarines," he said.

According to Harris, submarine requirements include dealing with "the Russian submarine threat, the Chinese submarine threat, and they're also involved in surveillance missions and other kinds of missions." Plus, over the next few years, the number of attack submarines is expected to decrease with the older Los-Angeles-class vessels going into retirement, which could cause that percentage to decline.

"I believe that there is no submarine on the planet that can touch an American submarine — [a] Virginia-class submarine," Harris told Congress, continuing to say, however, that the gap between the American Virginia-class submarine and the "next best" is closing.

About Rachael Kalinyak

Rachael Kalinyak is an editorial intern with Network Solutions.

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