General Dynamics to Christen the U.S. Navy's Most Advanced Submarine, North Dakota, on Saturday.

WSJ ^ | October 29, 2013, 2:05 p.m. ET | WSJ

[Carriage Hill]

GROTON, Conn., Oct. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics Electric Boat will christen North Dakota (SSN-784), the U.S. Navy's newest and most advanced nuclear-attack submarine, at its shipyard here on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

- SNIP -

A live video and audio webcast of the North Dakota christening will be accessible online at www.gdeb.com. Webcast coverage will begin Saturday at 10:30 a.m. EDT; the ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. and conclude at approximately 12:15 p.m. The program will be available for on-demand replay for one week, beginning at approximately 2:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday.

http://www.gdeb.com

[Carriage Hill]

My cousin's daughter's daughter (USN) and several other relatives (GDEB contractors), as well as my sister (RN, RNP) will be there for the ceremony, starting Saturday morning:

http://www.gdeb.com

[Joe Brower]

Perhaps of interest.

[Jack Hammer]

New? Then no doubt there will be quarters aboard for homosexuals and women.

[Nervous Tick]

Spent a few years crewing on a 637 class SSN; I can only imagine how much more technologically advanced these new boats are.

[Carriage Hill]

I’ve never been on one; I’d love to go tomorrow, but have to work at a local FFLs.

[hattend]

Well, women anyway ... at first

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

What I’m looking forward to is the long desired dream of a “submarine carrier”, not of aircraft, but of recoverable Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs).

The Navy has developed underwater drone probes that use very little energy, using the temperature difference between shallow and deep water to propel themselves forward in giant sine wave motions.

By fitting these with passive sonar and enemy noise recognition patterns, a warhead and a high speed short range propulsion system that would kick in when needed, they could either deny a large area to enemy vessels, or send them into littoral waters to deny their use to enemy shipping.

[onedoug]

Thanks for your service. God Bless Texas!

[Charles Martel]

I thought that fast attack subs were usually named for cities, while missile boats got the state names. When did the USN change this naming protocol?

[Jeff Head]

Oh yes, Joe. Thanks. The advantage we have in undersea warfare is absolutely critical for our continued ability to dominate any potential agressor. The Viginia Class continues that advantage, lead, and domincance.

USS North Dakota, SSN-784, is the eleventh Virginia class boat, and the first Block III boat. Very good to see her in the water.

I try and keep after these things, as you know.

VIRGINIA CLASS NUCLEAR ATTACK SUBMARINES

[GreenLanternCorps]