GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Southeastern Connecticut welcomed USS North Carolina (SSN 777), the Navy's newest nuclear-powered submarine, as it arrived at its new homeport May 16.
North Carolina, the fourth of the Virginia-class fast-attack submarines, joined its sister ships USS Virginia (SSN 774), USS Texas (SSN 775), USS Hawaii (SSN 776) and 12 other fast-attack submarines homeported at Naval Submarine Base New London.
"North Carolina's arrival at Submarine Squadron Four comes at an important time for the submarine force. One of the most significant events within the submarine force for 2008 is the Operational Evaluation program milestone for the Virginia-class," said Capt. Rick Breckenridge, Submarine Squadron 4 commodore.
"This year-long event tests every mission area of this new class and evaluates whether the designers and builders delivered the warfighting requirements required by the Navy. While USS Virginia has been conducting the bulk of this mission evaluation, USS North Carolina will quickly join this demanding real-world mission tasking."
Family members, General Dynamics Electric Boat representatives and Submarine Group 2 and Submarine Squadron 4 personnel welcomed North Carolina to its new homeport.
For one spectator, however, the boat's arrival had a deeper significance. Doug Bennett, a North Carolina native and 24-year submarine veteran, waved a small American flag as North Carolina transited up the Thames River.
"I spent many a day running on the decks of the battleship (North Carolina) while growing up in North Carolina," said Bennett. "I never thought that I would see the day when a submarine would be named North Carolina."
North Carolina was built by General Dynamics Electric Boat Division in Groton, Conn., and Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va., and was commissioned in Wilmington, N.C. on May 3.
As the Navy's next-generation attack submarine, the Virginia-class will provide the U.S. Navy with the capabilities it requires to maintain the nation's undersea supremacy well into the 21st century. North Carolina will have improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and Special Warfare enhancements that will enable it to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements.