Thanks for the correction, you are right Newport News designed the 688.
I served on both a 688 and a VIRGINIA class boat I do know for a fact that the boats built in Newport News (SSN 775 USS TEXAS) had a large amount of problem in comparison to the (USS HAWAII SSN 776 and USS HAWAII SSN 778). Their postshakedown availability which was completed earlier last year, was extremely extensive. So you can talk about people you know who served on them. I served on them, and I work in the business of building submarines. Current EB has the market. It was a different story during the 1980s. NNS focus is mostly carriers.
I joined the crew of the Albany (753) during PSA and was precon on the Greeneville (772). They offered me precon on the Seawolf and I couldn’t run away fast enough. Not because of EB, but because of the dog-n-pony show. Some of my friends on the Seawolf told me I made the right choice. I don’t know much about the Virginia other than what was on the drawingboards of NNS while I was there. I do know not to buy the first model year of a new car and don’t be on the first boat of a new class.
Perhaps you can clarify. It's my understanding that both the design and construction of the Virginia-class boats is being executed by both yards under a teaming arrangement. Each yard designs and builds specific modules and final assembly of the vessel is alternated.
The concept was to keep both yards in the submarine business.