GROTON, Conn., 30 Aug. 2008. General Dynamics Electric Boat, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, has delivered the New Hampshire (SSN-778), the nation's newest and arguably most advanced nuclear-powered attack submarine, to the U.S. Navy eight months ahead of schedule.
At a brief shipyard ceremony, Electric Boat president John Casey gave credit to the Navy, the shipbuilders, and the supplier base for achieving the early delivery date.
"This ship is a tangible reflection of the skill and craft of thousands of industry and shipyard workers. And it clearly demonstrates the nation's commitment to a strong national defense," Casey said during the ceremony.
"As a result of numerous production and process improvements, Electric Boat is delivering New Hampshire to the Navy in 71 months, 16 months fewer than the lead ship," Casey continued. "Put another way, we reduced the time between when the ship enters the water and when it is delivered from 14 months on the first ship of the class to less than 6 months on the New Hampshire."
New Hampshire is the fifth ship of the Virginia Class, the Navy's first major class of combatant ships designed with the post-Cold War security environment in mind.
Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding have received contracts to build the first 10 submarines of a planned 30-ship Virginia Class under a teaming agreement that splits the construction workload between the two shipyards.
Virginia-class characteristics
Displacement: 7,835 tons
Length: 377 feet
Beam: 34 feet
Payload: 40 weapons; special operations forces; unmanned undersea vehicles
Weapons Launch: Four 21-inch torpedo tubes; 12 vertical-launch system tubes
Weapons: Tomahawk land-attack missiles; Mark 48 advanced capability torpedoes
Crew: 134 officers and enlisted men
