Submarine Virginia Reaches Milestone

Since 07-29-04

From NSL UPDATE 06-24-04

Submarine Virginia Reaches Milestone
From Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The lead ship in the Navy�s newest class of fast-attack submarines, Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Virginia (SSN 774), was placed into service June 7. Entry into service marks the stage where the crew moves aboard the ship in advance of taking it to sea for the first time, and is a significant milestone in a new ship�s construction. "I stood topside with my crew as we raised our country's flag for the first time on Virginia, placing her in service," said Capt. David J. Kern, Virginia's commanding officer. "We are working now round-the-clock with Electric Boat, making our final preparations for sea." Virginia will begin sea trials soon and is scheduled for commissioning Oct. 23 at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Following commissioning, Virginia will be homeported at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn. Kern and the crew of Virginia are eager to take this new class of submarine to sea for the first time. "We're privileged to be the first submarine crew to be able to take Virginia to sea and demonstrate her many wonderful warfighting capabilities," Kern said. "We feel excited to be the first of many new submarines to be commissioned and delivered in this new century."

Virginia is a multi-mission platform with land, sea, and undersea firepower, advanced sensors, and other special features that will enhance the Submarine Force�s core competencies of stealth, agility, firepower and endurance. Virginia will bring greater integrated acoustic and non-acoustic stealth than any SSN at sea or under construction.

As the first post-Cold War designed submarine, the Virginia-class fast attack submarines (SSN) are designed for battle space dominance across a broad spectrum of regional and littoral missions, as well as open-ocean, �blue water� missions.

Virginia is equipped with sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements, to include the Advanced SEAL Delivery System, advanced state-of-the-art submarine communication and Electronic Support Measures systems with �Plug and Fight� electronics, advanced sonar sensors for Anti-Submarine Warfare and mine warfare, and land strike capability (12 Vertical Launch System tubes and four torpedo tubes for 16 Tomahawk missile salvo capability).

Virginia is 377 feet long, displaces approximately 7,800 tons, can travel in excess of 25 knots and has a crew of approximately 134 officers and enlisted members.

The next submarines in the Virginia class, which are currently under construction, are PCUs Texas (SSN 775), Hawaii (SSN 776), North Carolina (SSN 777), SSN 778 and SSN 779.