The Navy will christen its newest attack submarine Minnesota,
Saturday, Oct. 27, during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony at Newport News Shipbuilding, a
division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, in Newport News, Va.
Adm. Kirk Donald, Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion,
will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Ellen Roughead, wife of former
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and a Minnesota native, will serve
as ship's sponsor and break a champagne bottle against a plate welded to the
hull, and officially christen the ship 'Minnesota.'
Minnesota, the 10th ship of the Virginia class is named in
honor of the state's citizens and their continued support to our nation's
military. Minnesota has a long tradition of honoring its veterans of wars past
and present. The state is proud to be home to 46 Medal of Honor recipients that
span from the Civil War to the Vietnam War.
"There is a special relationship between a state and its
namesake ship," said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. "Naming this submarine
Minnesota not only salutes the proud history of military support and
contributions made by the people of Minnesota, but will also serve as a
testament to the U.S. Navy's enduring bond with the great state of Minnesota for
decades to come."
This will be the third ship to bear the state name. The
first USS Minnesota, a sailing steam frigate, was commissioned in 1857 and
served during the Civil War, remaining in service until her decommissioning in
1898. The second Minnesota was commissioned in 1907. On Dec. 16, 1907 she
departed Hampton Roads as one of the 16 battleships of the Great White Fleet
sent by then-President Theodore Roosevelt on a voyage around the world. She
continued her service through World War I, and was decommissioned in
1921.
Minnesota will provide the Navy with the capabilities
required to maintain the nation's undersea supremacy well into the 21st century.
She will have improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and
special warfare enhancements that will enable her to meet the Navy's
multi-mission requirements.
Designated SSN 783, Minnesota is built to excel in
anti-submarine warfare; anti-ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations;
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine
warfare missions. Capable of operating in both the world's shallow littoral
regions and deep waters, Minnesota will directly enable five of the six Navy
maritime strategy core capabilities - sea control, power projection, forward
presence, maritime security, and deterrence.
The 7,800-ton Minnesota is built under a teaming
arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls
Industries. A crew of approximately 134 officers and enlisted personnel will
operate the 377-foot long, 34-foot beam vessel, which will be able to dive to
depths of greater than 800 feet and operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots
submerged. Minnesota is designed with a nuclear reactor plant that will not
require refueling during the planned life of the ship - reducing lifecycle costs
while increasing underway time.