Submarine USS Mississippi successfully completes first sea trials; to be commissioned in Pascagoula

The pre-commisioning unit of Mississippi (SSN 782), the Navy's newest Virginia-class submarine, returned to Groton, Conn., following the successful completion of its initial -- or Alpha -- sea trials April 9.

Under the command of Capt. John McGrath, a Neptune, N.J., native and 1990 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Mississippi departed Groton on April 7 to evaluate the submarine's seaworthiness and operational capabilities.

During the trials, the crew took the submarine to test depth, conducted an emergency surfacing, and tested the submarine's propulsion plant.

"Mississippi and her crew delivered an outstanding performance," said Rear Adm. Michael Jabaley, Virginia-class program manager. "The tremendous efforts of our shipbuilders and Mississippi's crew will result in the fastest Virginia-class delivery to date and put another very capable asset in the hands of Fleet."

Mississippi, the ninth ship of the Virginia class, is expected to set a new delivery record when it delivers after only 63 months under construction and 11 months early to its contract delivery date.

Indeed, all Virginia-class submarines now under construction are tracking toward early deliveries.

Additionally, Mississippi pioneered the ability to conduct land-based steaming which contributed to an approximately two week schedule improvement and will be applied to all future Virginia-class submarines.

"The success of the Virginia class is a direct result of the outstanding performance from our industry partners General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries -- Newport News Shipbuilding and our Navy team," said Rear Adm. David Johnson, program executive officer for Submarines. "This world's best Navy/industry partnership has relentlessly driven down cost and schedule while maintaining the high quality standards for which the Virginia class is known. The Fleet can't wait to take delivery of USS Mississippi and use her to accomplish our Navy's and the Nation's business."

Mississippi will next undertake Bravo Sea Trials and the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey Trials before delivery later this spring.

The submarine will be commissioned June 2 in Pascagoula.

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.