On April 19, 2025, the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Toledo (SSN 769) rejoined the operational fleet after successfully completing a comprehensive Engineered Overhaul (EOH) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY). This critical mid-life refit extends the service life of the Los Angeles-class submarine by a decade or more, ensuring its readiness to meet the demands of evolving global maritime threats.
Commissioned in 1995, the USS Toledo is one of 28 Los Angeles-class submarines still in service out of the 62 originally built. These submarines feature a submerged displacement of approximately 6,900 tons and a length of 360 feet. Powered by a single S6G nuclear reactor, the Toledo can exceed submerged speeds of 30 knots and is equipped with four 533 mm torpedo tubes and 12 vertical launch system (VLS) cells capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles. This versatile configuration enables the Toledo to carry out anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, land-attack missions, and intelligence-gathering operations.
The EOH process included deep inspections, repairs, and system upgrades. Key work on the USS Toledo involved mast and periscope replacement, engine room refurbishment, structural reinforcement, and unplanned but essential repairs to its steering hydraulic system. The overhaul also featured combat system modernization, sonar upgrades, and communications enhancements. The project was coordinated through a dedicated Operations Control Center, enabling effective oversight across mechanics, engineers, and managers.
This maintenance effort was executed in parallel with upgrades to the dry dock facility itself under the Navy’s Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP), which aims to modernize America’s aging naval shipyards to support the Navy’s long-term maintenance needs.
Modernizing and maintaining legacy submarines like the Toledo is essential to preserving the Navy’s combat effectiveness during a time of constrained industrial output. While the U.S. is transitioning to the more advanced Virginia-class submarines, current production capacity and budgetary limitations have created a capability gap. To sustain its required fleet strength and readiness, the Navy must continue to invest in the service life extension of Los Angeles-class boats through EOH programs.
The return of the USS Toledo underscores the strategic value of a well-maintained submarine force. Submarines are among the most survivable and effective assets in the Navy’s arsenal, capable of performing critical missions in denied environments such as the Indo-Pacific, Arctic, and beyond. Their stealth, endurance, and precision strike capabilities make them key instruments of deterrence and power projection.
By successfully completing its overhaul, the USS Toledo reenters service as a vital component of the U.S. undersea warfare fleet, reinforcing American maritime dominance, preserving strategic stability, and ensuring freedom of navigation in an increasingly contested global seascape.