Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility returned another strategic asset to service with the USS Connecticut completing its work Sept. 5.

The submarine moved out of the shipyard’s dry dock Aug. 10 to put the finishing touches on its five-and-a-half-month period of maintenance and modernization. Shipyard personnel invested more than 30,200 man-days into the effort on Connecticut, which began March 26 when the vessel entered dry dock.

“Maintaining and modernizing warships and returning them to active service is what we’re all about, so this is yet another important milestone for our shipyard,” Capt. Dianna Wolfson said, commander of PSNS & IMF. “Our team, which includes PSNS & IMF employees, ship’s force and contractors, did a tough job very well, and I couldn’t be more proud of their efforts to send Connecticut back to the fleet in tip-top shape, ready for whatever the nation requires of it.”

Connecticut was commissioned Dec. 11, 1998, and is one of three Seawolf-class submarines in the Navy’s fleet. It is the fifth vessel by that name, and its motto is “Arsenal of the Nation.” David Fleck, PSNS & IMF Connecticut project superintendent, said the complex process of moving the submarine out of dry dock went very smoothly and involved superior work from multiple shipyard organizations.

“Undocking Connecticut was an entire shipyard effort and a major win to clear the way for (docking the next vessel),” Fleck said.

Assistant Project Superintendent Pat McCorkle added that the entire project team worked well together with a sense of urgency — as if they were deployed — to “work the issues.”