USS Virginia (SSN-774)

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USS Virginia (SSN-774)
US Navy 040730-N-1234E-002 PCU Virginia (SSN 774) returns to the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard.jpg
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NameUSS Virginia
Namesake Commonwealth of Virginia
Ordered30 September 1998 [1]
Builder General Dynamics Electric Boat
Laid down2 September 1999 [1]
Launched
  • 16 August 2003 [1]
  • Program cost, US$29 billion [2]
  • Unit cost, US$6 billion (FY 2011) [2]
Acquired12 October 2004 [3]
Commissioned23 October 2004 [1]
Homeport Groton, Connecticut [4]
Identification
Motto
Statusin active service [1]
Badge USS Virginia SSN-774 Crest.png
General characteristics
Class and type Virginia-class submarine
Displacement7,800  tons
Length377 ft (115 m) [1]
Beam34 ft (10.4 m) [1]
Draft32 ft (9.8 m) [1]
Propulsion
  • 1 × S9G PWR nuclear reactor [5] 280,000  shp (210 MW), HEU 93% [6] [7]
  • 2 × steam turbines 40,000 shp (30 MW)
  • 1 × single shaft pump-jet propulsor [5]
  • 1 × secondary propulsion motor [5]
Speed25 knots (46 km/h)
Test depthgreater than 800 ft (244 m)
Complement134 officers and enlisted personnel
Armament12 VLS tubes, four 21 inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes for Mk-48 torpedoes and BGM-109 Tomahawk

USS Virginia (SSN-774) is a nuclear powered cruise missile attack submarine and the lead ship of her class, currently serving in the United States Navy (USN). She is the tenth vessel of the Navy to be named for the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as the second US Navy attack submarine to be named after a state, a pattern that is common throughout her class.

Contents

History

The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 30 September 1998 and her keel was laid down on 2 September 1999. She was launched on 16 August 2003 sponsored by Lynda Johnson Robb, the wife of former Virginia governor and senator Charles Robb, and daughter of President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson. She was the first U.S. Navy submarine to be completely designed on a computer. [8] [9] On 10 and 11 March, the prospective submarine shot 12 dummy torpedoes into the Thames River, Connecticut, from each of the boat's four tubes.

Virginia was delivered to the Navy on 12 October 2004, the 104th anniversary of the commissioning of Holland, the Navy's first modern, commissioned submarine. She was commissioned on 23 October 2004 under the command of David J. Kern. The commissioning ceremony was featured in the 2005 television series Submarine: Hidden Hunter on Discovery Channel. This class of submarine is unique in that it features a photonics mast that freed ship designers to place the boat's control room in a lower, less geometrically constrained space than would be required by a standard, optical tube periscope. It is additionally unique in the U.S. Navy for featuring all-digital ship and ballast control systems that are operated by relatively senior watchstanders and a pressure chamber to deploy SEALs, divers or other special forces units while being submerged.

On 23 November 2005, Virginia completed her first deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. On 12 January 2006, Virginia entered Electric Boat's shipyard for post-shakedown availability, which was expected to last for most of 2006. In April 2010 the submarine returned from a six-month deployment having covered 37,000 miles. [10] [11]

The submarine completed her first 20-month-long overhaul in May 2012. [12]

On 13 November 2024, Virginia accidentally sailed into the nets of Øygutt, a fishing vessel, near the island of Senja, Norway. The Øygutt was fishing for halibut at the time of the incident. The Virginia was able to successfully free itself without further damage to the submarine. [13]

Ship's crest

"Emblazoned on a blue background that symbolizes the mighty deep, Virginia is prominently positioned. The forward view of Virginia denotes her leading the submarine force into a new century and onto a new and exciting course for the United States Navy. The gold lettering and border around the seal combined with the blue background represent the Navy's colors of blue and gold. The silhouette of the Commonwealth of Virginia represents the state for which the boat is named. Each of the nine stars represents an American warship named Virginia. The single point of light at the stern of the boat symbolizes both the nuclear propulsion plant that powers the submarine as well as the boat's data processing system fiber optic backbone. In keeping with the Commonwealth of Virginia's motto, the words " Sic Semper Tyrannis " (Latin for "Thus Always To Tyrants") appear at the bottom, which combined with the symbolism of the Commonwealth's Seal, represents the triumph of Virtue over tyranny. [14]

The image of George Washington also looks forward with Virginia. George Washington, a Virginia native, has been characterized as the "indispensable man" vital to the formation of the American republic. In all of history, few men who possessed unassailable power have used that power so selflessly and wisely for the welfare of their countrymen and all mankind. Virginia also stands ready in all her indisputable power to serve the people of America and her allies." [14]

Commemorative works

USS Virginia
USS Viginia.jpg
Navy Commissioning print
by Tom Liesegang

The Navy League of the United States commissioned Tom Liesegang to commemorate the USS Virginia in 2004. A print, depicting the submarine on her sea trials, is layered with copies of the CSS Virginia (1862) line drawings obtained from the Mariners' Museum. [15] Ten prints were created for contractors and sponsors, including: Senator John Warner, Admiral Edmund Giambastiani and Lynda Bird Johnson Robb, the daughter of President Lyndon Johnson. [16]

Related Research Articles

The Ship-Submarine Recycling Program (SRP) is the process that the United States Navy uses to dispose of decommissioned nuclear vessels. SRP takes place only at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) in Bremerton, Washington, but the preparations can begin elsewhere.

<i>Virginia</i>-class submarine US Navy fast attack submarine class

The Virginia class, or the SSN-774 class, is the newest class of nuclear-powered cruise missile fast attack submarines in service with the United States Navy. The class is designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions, including anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering operations. They are scheduled to replace older Los Angeles-class submarines, many of which have already been decommissioned. Virginia-class submarines will be acquired through 2043, and are expected to remain in service until at least 2060, with later submarines expected to operate into the 2070s.

USS <i>Jimmy Carter</i> US Navy Seawolf-class submarine

USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23) is the third and final Seawolf-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine in the United States Navy. Commissioned in 2005, she is named for the 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, the only president to have qualified on submarines. The only submarine to be named for a living president, Jimmy Carter is also one of the few vessels, and only the third submarine of the US Navy, to be named for a living person. Extensively modified from the original design of her class, she is sometimes described as a subclass unto herself.

USS <i>Baton Rouge</i> Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy

USS Baton Rouge (SSN-689) was a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine which served with the United States Navy. With her keel laid down on 18 November 1972, Baton Rouge was launched on 26 April 1975. She became the second Los Angeles-class submarine to be commissioned, on 25 June 1977. In 1995, she was the first of her class to be decommissioned, after a collision with a Russian Sierra-class submarine.

USS <i>Hawaii</i> (SSN-776) US Navy Virginia-class submarine

USS Hawaii (SSN-776), a Virginia-class submarine, is the first commissioned warship of the United States Navy to be named for the 50th state. The building contract was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 30 September 1998 and her keel was laid down on 27 August 2004. She was christened on 17 June 2006 by her sponsor, Governor Linda Lingle of Hawaii. Electric Boat delivered Hawaii to the US Navy on 22 December 2006, ahead of schedule. She was commissioned on 5 May 2007. In July 2009, she changed home port from Groton, CT to Pearl Harbor, HI.

USS <i>North Carolina</i> (SSN-777) US Navy Virginia-class submarine

USS North Carolina (SSN-777), a Virginia-class attack submarine, is the fourth vessel of the United States Navy named for U.S. state of North Carolina. The contract to build her was awarded to Northrop Grumman Newport News on 30 September 1998 and her keel was laid down on 24 May 2004. She was launched on 5 May 2007. North Carolina was commissioned on 3 May 2008 in Wilmington, North Carolina.

USS <i>New Hampshire</i> (SSN-778) US Navy Virginia-class submarine

USS New Hampshire (SSN-778), a Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, is the fourth vessel of the United States Navy to be named for the state of New Hampshire. She is the first of the Virginia-class Block-II submarines to enter service. Her name was awarded to the submarine after a letter-writing campaign by the third-graders from Garrison Elementary School and sixth graders from Dover Middle School in Dover to their members of Congress, the state governor, and the Secretary of the Navy.

USS <i>Pasadena</i> (SSN-752) Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy

USS Pasadena (SSN-752) is a Los Angeles-class submarine and the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Pasadena, California.

USS <i>New Mexico</i> (SSN-779) US Navy Virginia-class submarine

USS New Mexico (SSN-779) is a Virginia-class nuclear powered fast-attack submarine of the United States Navy. She is the second U.S. warship named for the 47th state, after the early twentieth century super-dreadnought,USS New Mexico (BB-40).

USS <i>Missouri</i> (SSN-780) US Navy Virginia-class submarine

USS Missouri (SSN-780) is the seventh Virginia-class attack submarine and the fourth ship in the United States Navy named in honor of the U.S. state of Missouri. She was completed, and delivered, nine months early and under budget.

USS <i>North Dakota</i> (SSN-784) US Navy Virginia-class submarine

USS North Dakota (SSN-784) is a Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarine of the United States Navy. She is the second U.S. Navy vessel to be named for the U.S. state of North Dakota, the first being World War I-era battleship USS North Dakota (BB-29). The contract to build her was awarded to Electric Boat division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut, on 14 August 2003. Her name was announced on 15 July 2008. and her keel was laid down on 11 May 2012. She was floated on 15 September 2013 and was christened on 2 November 2013, sponsored by Katie Fowler, wife of Vice Admiral Jeff Fowler. She was commissioned in Groton, Connecticut, on 25 October 2014.

USS <i>Minnesota</i> (SSN-783) US Navy Virginia-class submarine

USS Minnesota (SSN-783) is a nuclear powered fast attack submarine, the 10th of the Virginia-class. She is the third United States Navy vessel to bear the name and the second of two named for the state, while the other was named for the Minnesota River.

USS <i>Delaware</i> (SSN-791) US Navy Virginia-class submarine

USS Delaware (SSN-791) is a Virginia-class attack submarine built for the United States Navy. The contract to build her was awarded to Huntington Ingalls Industries in partnership with the Electric Boat division of General Dynamics in Newport News, Virginia on 22 December 2008. This boat is the eighth and final of the Block III submarines that feature a revised bow, including some technology from Ohio-class SSGNs. Construction on Delaware began in September 2013. She was christened on 20 October 2018. She was commissioned administratively after the standard commissioning ceremony was cancelled due to public health concerns over the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Delaware was the first ever US ship commissioned while underwater. The official commissioning ceremony occurred 2 April 2022 at the Port of Wilmington, Delaware.

USS <i>John Warner</i> US Navy Virginia-class submarine

USS John Warner (SSN-785) is a nuclear powered Virginia-class attack submarine of the United States Navy. She is the first in the class to be named after a person; the first 11 Virginia-class subs were named after states. John Warner was originally to be built by the Electric Boat division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut, but the contract was later transferred to Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding. She is the second of the Block III subs, which have a revised bow and some technology from Ohio-class cruise missile submarines. The vessel supports 40 weapons, special operations forces, unmanned undersea vehicles, and the Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS).

USS <i>Illinois</i> (SSN-786) US Navy Virginia-class submarine

USS Illinois (SSN-786) is a Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine in the United States Navy. Named for the State of Illinois, she is the third vessel with the name, the previous two being battleships BB-7 and BB-65, which was never completed. She was built by the Electric Boat division of General Dynamics, the third of their Block III variants which feature a revised bow and technology from the converted sub-class of Ohio guided missile submarines (SSGN). The contract for the build was awarded on 22 December 2008 to Huntington Ingalls Industries in partnership with Electric Boat, and construction commenced with the keel laying ceremony on 2 June 2014, at their yard in Groton, Connecticut. First Lady Michelle Obama served as the ship's sponsor, and christened the boat on 10 October 2015. Illinois was launched on 8 August 2015 and completed sea trials on 2 August 2016. She was delivered to the Navy on 27 August 2016 and commissioned in a ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London on 29 October 2016. Then-First Lady Michelle Obama, as the sponsor, attended the ceremony and is considered to be an honorary member of the crew due to her support of military families and her involvement with the Illinois crew and their families.

USS <i>Washington</i> (SSN-787) US Navy Virginia-class submarine

USS Washington (SSN-787) is a Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarine of the United States Navy. Launched in 2016 and commissioned in 2017, she is named for the U.S. state of Washington.

USS <i>Indiana</i> (SSN-789) US Navy Virginia-class submarine

USS Indiana (SSN-789) is a nuclear powered United States Navy Virginia-class attack submarine, named for the State of Indiana. She is the sixteenth of her class and sixth of the significantly redesigned Block III, including a revised bow and VLS technology from the Ohio-class of guided missile submarines. Indiana was constructed by Huntington Ingalls Industries in partnership with the Electric Boat division of General Dynamics in Newport News, Virginia, with the initial contract awarded on 22 December 2008. Her keel was laid on 16 May 2015 and she was launched on 9 June 2017. The boat was christened on 29 April 2017 and sponsored by Diane Donald, wife of Admiral Kirkland H. Donald, USN (ret). She was commissioned on 29 September 2018 at Port Canaveral, Florida.

USS <i>South Dakota</i> (SSN-790) US Navy Virginia-class submarine

USS South Dakota (SSN-790), is a nuclear powered Virginia-class submarine in service with the United States Navy. The contract to build her was awarded to Huntington Ingalls Industries in partnership with the Electric Boat division of General Dynamics in Newport News, Virginia on 22 December 2008. This boat is the seventh of the Block III submarines which will feature a revised bow, including some technology from Ohio-class SSGNs. The keel laying ceremony took place on 4 April 2016. The boat's sponsor is Deanie Dempsey, wife of General Martin Dempsey. Her christening ceremony took place on 14 October 2017 in Groton, Connecticut.

USS <i>Oregon</i> (SSN-793) US Navy Virginia-class submarine

Oregon is a nuclear powered attack submarine in the United States Navy. She is the fourth vessel to carry the name Oregon, the 33rd state of US, and the 20th Virginia-class submarine. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced her name on 10 October 2014 at a ceremony hosted at the Battleship Oregon Memorial in Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland, Oregon.

USS <i>Vermont</i> (SSN-792) US Navy Virginia-class submarine

USS Vermont (SSN-792) is a Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarine in the United States Navy. She is the 19th boat of the class and the third vessel of the Navy to be named for the U.S. state of Vermont. Then Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, announced her name on 18 September 2014.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "USS Virginia". Naval Vessel Register . Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Analysis of the Fiscal Year 2012 Pentagon Spending Request". CostofWar.com. 15 February 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  3. ↑ "Virginia Class". General Dynamics Electric Boat . Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  4. ↑ Bergman, Julia (22 February 2018). "USS Virginia, one of the first fast-attack submarines to be integrated, returns home". The Day . Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 Ragheb, Magdi (9 September 2011), Tsvetkov, Pavel (ed.), "Nuclear Naval Propulsion", Nuclear Power - Deployment, Operation and Sustainability, ISBN   978-953-307-474-0
  6. ↑ "Validation of the Use of Low Enriched Uranium as a Replacement for Highly Enriched Uranium in US Submarine Reactors" (PDF). dspace.mit.edu. June 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  7. ↑ "US study of reactor and fuel types to enable naval reactors to shift from HEU fuel". fissilematerials.org. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  8. ↑ "Virginia-Class Program". Submarine Industrial Base Council. 22 December 2008. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  9. ↑ Graves, Barbara; Whitman, Edward (Spring 1999). "The Virginia Class: America's Next Submarine". Undersea Warfare. 1 (2). Archived from the original on 28 March 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  10. ↑ Mohl, Michael. "Virginia (SSN-774)". NavSource Online. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  11. ↑ Merritt, T. H. (13 April 2010). "USS Virginia Returns From Maiden Six-Month Deployment". Commander, Submarine Group Two. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "PNSY Completes First Ever Virginia-class Major Maintenance Availability". Naval Sea Systems Command . 10 May 2012. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  13. ↑ Nilsen, Thomas (13 November 2024). "Norwegian fishermen snagged U.S. nuclear-powered submarine". www.thebarentsobserver.com. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  14. 1 2 McDermott, Kenn. "The Seal of the USS Virginia (SSN-774)". USS Virginia Base.org. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  15. ↑ Byrne, Diane M. (11 October 2010). "Tom Liesegang, Metal Master". MegaYacht News. Archived from the original on 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  16. ↑ Liesegang, Tom (10 March 2010). "USS Virginia". Orka Fine Arts. Archived from the original on 16 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
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