Future USS Mississippi Successfully Passes Sea Trials, On Track for Summer Commissioning

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Pre-Commissioning Unit Mississippi (SSN 782), the nation's newest and most advanced nuclear-powered attack submarine, arrived April 17 at General Dynamics Electric Boat following its successful completion of Alpha and Bravo sea trials.

Testing evolutions completed during Alpha sea trials included diving to test depth, conducting an emergency surfacing, and testing the submarine's propulsion plant and were designed to evaluate the ship's seaworthiness and operational performance.

"With each Virginia-class submarine delivery, we continue to raise the performance and quality even further above an already high bar. Our first look at Mississippi's performance underway shows that she has continued that trend," said Virginia Class Program Manager Rear Adm. (sel.) Michael Jabaley, who rode the ship during Alpha trials.

Bravo trials consisted of testing Virginia's acoustic performance and combat systems.

The ninth ship of the Virginia-class, Mississippi is on track to deliver up to one year early of its contract delivery date. All Virginia-class submarines currently under construction are scheduled to deliver earlier than their original contract delivery dates.

Mississippi is commanded by Neptune, N.J., native Capt. John McGrath, who shared the experience of seeing his crew successfully operating his ship at sea for the first time.

"It was an exhilarating experience to finally see the crew operate the ship at sea. The sea trials schedule was extremely challenging and required us to drive the ship at its operational limits. I was very happy with the ship's performance, but I was even happier with how our Sailors executed their duties throughout the underway," said McGrath.

Mississippi's sponsor Allison Stiller christened the ninth Virginia-class submarine during a ceremony at General Dynamics Electric Boat, Dec. 3. Mississippi will be commissioned in Pascagoula, Miss. June 2.

Construction on the submarine began in February 2007. Virginia-class submarines are built under a unique teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries - Newport News.

Virginia-class submarines are designed to dominate the world's littoral and deep waters while conducting Anti-submarine; anti-surface ship; strike; special operation forces; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. Their inherent stealth, endurance, firepower, and sensor suite directly enable them to support five of the six Maritime Strategy Core Capabilities - sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.

USS New Mexico Arrives at New Homeport in Groton, Conn

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Virginia-class attack submarine USS New Mexico (SSN 779) made her way up the Thames River June 1 and arrived at her new homeport, Naval Submarine Base New London.

New Mexico joins Submarine Squadron 4 to further train and test the crew.

The submarine made the transition from a shipyard project to a fully operational, combat-ready vessel when she officially joined the fleet on March 27 during a commissioning ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk.

New Mexico is named in recognition of the people of the "Land of Enchantment." The battleship New Mexico (BB-40) (1918-1946), the only other ship named after the 47th state, earned six battle stars for World War II service, which included providing shore bombardment support for landings in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, Guam, Tinian, Saipan, the Philippines, and Okinawa.

Northrop Grumman Corporation delivered the sixth submarine of the Virginia class to the U.S. Navy in December, four months ahead of schedule. New Mexico's 70-month construction period represents the shortest overall construction time to date of any Virginia-class submarine.

New Mexico is built to excel in anti-submarine warfare; anti-ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; battle group support; and mine warfare missions. By doing so, New Mexico 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 New Mexico was built under a unique teaming arrangement between Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat. She is 377-feet long, has a 34-foot beam, and will be able to dive to depths of greater than 800 feet and operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots submerged. New Mexico is designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship - reducing life-cycle costs while increasing underway time.

The keel for New Mexico was authenticated April 12, 2008, and the ship was christened Dec. 13, 2008. New Mexico is the most modern and sophisticated attack submarine in the world, providing undersea supremacy well into the 21st century.

USS North Carolina Arrives at New Home

By Lt. James Stockman, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs



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.