Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will host a ship naming ceremony in honor of USS Indiana, June 22, at 10 a.m. CDT at the Indianapolis War Memorial, Indianapolis, Ind.
Indiana, a Virginia-class submarine designated SSN 789, is the third ship to be named for the state. The previous ship of the name, a battleship (BB 58), earned nine battle stars for World War II service that included downing several enemy aircraft during the Battle of the Philippine Sea (June 19-20, 1944). Indiana is home to the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, the Navy’s premier engineering, acquisition and sustainment organization which supports the nation’s maritime warriors.
This next-generation attack submarine will provide the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation’s undersea supremacy well into the 21st century. Virginia-class submarines will have enhanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities, and special warfare enhancements that will enable them to meet the Navy’s multi-mission requirements.
The future USS Indiana will have the capability to attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land area, littoral waters or other sea-based forces. Other missions include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare; mine delivery and minefield mapping. It is also designed for special forces delivery and support.
SSN 789 will be built at Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va., will be 7,800-tons and 377 feet in length, have a beam of 34 feet and operate at more than 25 knots submerged. It is designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship, reducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time.
Virginia-class submarines are built under a unique teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , June 22, 2012; Image: US Navy