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USS Virginia (SSN-774)
Encyclopedia
USS Virginia (SSN-774) is a United States Navy
attack submarine, the lead boat of her class
and the tenth vessel of the Navy to be named for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
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
. On 10 March and 11 March, the prospective submarine shot 12 dummy torpedoes into the Thames River
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 second submarine. She was commissioned
on 23 October 2004 under the command of David J. Kern
. This class of submarine is unique in that it features a Photonics Mast Program (PMP) that freed ship designers to place the boats'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 manned by relatively senior watchstanders and a pressure chamber to deploy SEAL
divers 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.
. 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.
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 this great nation and her allies."
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
attack submarine, the lead boat of her class
Virginia class submarine
The Virginia class is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines in service with the United States Navy. The submarines are designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions...
and the tenth vessel of the Navy to be named for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat
Electric Boat Corporation
The General Dynamics Electric Boat is a division of General Dynamics Corporation. It has been the primary builder of submarines for the United States Navy for over 100 years....
Division of General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
Corporation in Groton, Connecticut
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
on 30 September 1998 and her keel
Keel
In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, in British and American shipbuilding traditions the construction is dated from this event...
was laid down on 2 September 1999. She was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
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
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
and Lady Bird Johnson
Lady Bird Johnson
Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson was First Lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969 during the presidency of her husband Lyndon B. Johnson. Throughout her life, she was an advocate for beautification of the nation's cities and highways and conservation of natural resources and made that...
. On 10 March and 11 March, the prospective submarine shot 12 dummy torpedoes into the Thames River
Thames River (Connecticut)
The Thames River is a short river and tidal estuary in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It flows south for through eastern Connecticut from the junction of the Yantic and Shetucket rivers at Norwich, to New London and Groton, which flank its mouth at the Long Island Sound.Differing from its...
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
USS Holland (SS-1)
USS Holland was the United States Navy's first commissioned submarine, named for her Irish-American inventor, John Philip Holland, although not the first submarine of the US Navy, which was the 1862...
, the Navy's second submarine. She was commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 23 October 2004 under the command of David J. Kern
David J. Kern
David Kern, an officer of the United States Navy, was the first commanding officer of USS Virginia .Kern earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned in May 1981. Upon completion of nuclear power training and Naval Submarine School, he reported toUSS...
. This class of submarine is unique in that it features a Photonics Mast Program (PMP) that freed ship designers to place the boats's control room in a lower, less geometrically-constrained space than would be required by a standard, optical tube periscope
Periscope
A periscope is an instrument for observation from a concealed position. In its simplest form it consists of a tube with mirrors at each end set parallel to each other at a 45-degree angle....
. It is additionally unique in the U.S. Navy for featuring all-digital ship and ballast control systems that are manned by relatively senior watchstanders and a pressure chamber to deploy SEAL
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
divers while being submerged.
On 23 November 2005, Virginia completed her first deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
. On 12 January 2006, Virginia entered Electric Boat
Electric boat
While a significant majority of water vessels are powered by diesel engines, with sail power and gasoline engines also remaining popular, boats powered by electricity have been used for over 120 years. Electric boats were very popular from the 1880s until the 1920s, when the internal combustion...
's shipyard for post-shakedown availability, which was expected to last for most of 2006.
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 NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. 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
USS Virginia
USS Virginia may refer to: was a 28-gun sailing frigate built in 1776, captured by the British in the following year and recommissioned as was a 14-gun revenue cutter built in 1797 and returned to the Revenue Cutter Service in 1801...
. 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
Sic semper tyrannis
Sic semper tyrannis is a Latin phrase meaning "thus always to tyrants." It is sometimes mistranslated as "down with the tyrant." The phrase is said to have originated with Marcus Junius Brutus during the assassination of Julius Caesar....
” (Latin for “Thus Always To Tyrants”) appear at the bottom, which combined with the symbolism of the Commonwealth’s Seal
Seal of Virginia
The seals of the Commonwealth of Virginia are the official symbols of the United States Commonwealth of Virginia.-History:In May 1776 the Virginia colony declared its independence from Great Britain. On July 1, 1776, a committee of four was appointed to make a proper seal for the Commonwealth of...
, represents the triumph of Virtue over tyranny.
The image of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
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 this great nation and her allies."