Huntington Ingalls Industries announced the newest Virginia-class
submarine, Minnesota (SSN 783), successfully completed alpha sea trials
Monday.
Alpha trials are the boat’s first round of at-sea tests and
evaluations. Minnesota is being built at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding
division, the Globe Newswire reported.
All systems, components and compartments were tested during the
trials. The submarine submerged for the first time and operated at high
speeds on the surface and under water. The Minnesota will undergo two
more rounds of sea trials, including one with the Navy’s Board of
Inspection and Survey, before delivery later this month. Minnesota is
anticipated to deliver approximately 11 months ahead of its contracted
delivery date.
“This submarine is the result of a lot of hard work by the
shipbuilders here at Newport News, our teammates at Electric Boat, and
the overall Navy organizational structure, including NAVSEA, SUPSHIP and
ship’s force personnel,” said Jim Hughes, NNS’ vice president of
submarines and fleet support, in a news release. “It is incredibly
gratifying for all of us to see this magnificent vessel operate so well
during her first at-sea period.
Minnesota clearly carries on the Virginia-class tradition of
continuous cost and schedule improvement while also raising the bar on
operational readiness and capability.”
Minnesota, named to honor the state’s residents and their continued
support of the U.S. military, is the last of the block II Virginia-class
submarines and is in the final stages of construction and testing at
Newport News Shipbuilding division. Construction began in February 2008,
and the keel was authenticated in May 2011. The boat was christened
Oct. 27, 2012.
Minnesota is the 10th ship of the Virginia class of nuclear-powered
fast-attack submarines. It’s the third ship to bear the state name, the Associated Press
reported. The first USS Minnesota was a sailing steam frigate
commissioned in 1857 that served during the Civil War. The second
Minnesota was commissioned in 1907. The 7,800-ton Minnesota will have a
crew of about 134 officers and enlisted personnel.
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